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Ugh. I really don’t need to hear this.
This is exactly why I don’t do one-night stands.
“I’m attracted to you,” he said.
Wait, what?
He looked like he had hot coals in his boots. Like he needed to run far and fast to get away from the pain. “In a way I’ve never…” Roughly, he scratched the back of his head. “This is not normal for me.”
Hold up. “What’s not normal?”
“Me being this…drawn to a woman. I like women. Love them. But I’ve never…no one’s ever…” He jammed a hand into the pocket of his worn jeans. “After a hookup, I don’t think about them. Their scent doesn’t fuckinglinger…” He scrubbed his face with both hands. “Dammit.” Finally, he looked at her. “Look, I can’t explain it. The way you smell, it’s like it connects with something in here.” He smacked his chest like the whole idea made him angry. “It doesn’t make sense. It just gets me all worked up. I mean, even standing this close to you makes me want to—” With a harsh shake of his head, he put an end to his rant. “My point is that I can’t be around you.”
“You can’t be around me because you’re attracted to me?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”Werido.“Well, like I said, I’ll find somewhere to live.”
“That’s just it. There’s nowhere you can afford to rent. Calamity’s a small town, but in the summer, we have a million people coming through.” He motioned to the window. “The Tetons, Yellowstone, the whole wild west thing. Anyhow, like I said, these cabins are just sitting here, so you’re welcome to stay. Rent-free.” He swallowed. “But it’s best if we keep our distance.”
“Because you get all worked up around me.” It might be funny if he wasn’t so upset.
“Exactly.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. I’m up at three baking, and then I’ll be working at the festival from noon till nine at night. Our paths won’t cross.”
Relief came out of him in a rough exhalation. “Okay, good. Good.” And then, he turned and headed back out the door. At the threshold, he stopped. Glanced back at her. “I like you, Grace. But four days ago, you were supposed to get married.”
“That’swhy you’re all worked up over this?Ian?”Whatever. She didn’t need to hear his excuses. “I’m not looking for a relationship. I’m not fantasizing about some future with you. I’m here to make money.”
“Believe me, I know. It’s not you I’m worried about.” And with that, he was gone, taking all his chaos and wild energy with him.
Leaving her with some facts.
I don’t have to move.
I get to stay here.
And Jaime Dupree wants me so badly that he’s freaking out.
Wow. Wow, wow, wow.
It helped to know it, considering she couldn’t stop thinking about him. About his hands and his mouth. The way he’d taken what he wanted from her and given more than she’d ever thought to ask for.
But he was right. They couldn’t get involved. She had an enormous job ahead of her—working at the festival plus baking. She didn’t have time to sleep, let alone have some wild fling.
So, there you go. Everything’s settled.
She grabbed her phone off the counter and called home. It only rang once before her dad answered.
“Grace?”
“Oh, hi, Dad. I thought I was calling Mom.”
“You were, but I saw your name, and I wanted to say hey to my little girl.”
He was so sweet, and it made her feel worse about what her ex had done to them. “I’m so sorry about all this. It’s killing me that Ian stole your money.”
