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“Yeah, sweetheart?” My gosh, is Grant turning on the cowboy charm just to piss Dash off?
Dash flares his nostrils, but he’s an expert at the silent treatment.
“I don’t know if you were looking at me the way Dash here is suggesting but I’m not the kind of girl who leads people on. This might be awkward if you have no interest in me, but just so you know, I’m…”
His eyes dart from me to Dash, who’s still staring at me, and back again. “…you’re interested in someone else?”
“Something like that.”
Grant nods slowly, understanding exactly what’s happening between me and Dash, and I hope like hell he doesn’t tell Georgie.
He puts his hands up. “I’m not gonna lie, I would have happily taken a pretty girl like you out for a candlelit dinner but… I respect that.”
“Thanks.” I gesture for him to follow me. “Let’s find Jameson and that water.”
Grant laughs and turns on his heel. “Molly. I didn’t need a water.”
He walks back off toward the sleigh, leaving me and Dash.
Dash hooks his thumbs through his belt loops, his forehead tightens. “I shouldn’t have intruded…”
I stop him. “Better to nip things in the bud. He’s not my type.”
Our gaze connects deeply. It’s just like every other time before. Full of magnetism. Red-hot attraction and wanting. Nothing has gone away. I’m not sure it should. Whether Dash was being jealous or protective or both, I liked it.
Just then, Jameson comes out from the office. “Ready to go?”
I’m ready to go all right. Straight back into bed with Dash.
* * *
Dashing through the snow is a real thing. And in my life, it has double meaning. The sled was smooth, quiet, and a serene calming way to spend time in this beautiful environment. I thought it would add to the calm to sit between Dash’s mom and Jolie, but they only kept saying what a good job he and I did. What a great team we were and how surprised they were he wasn’t back up at Bird’s Eye now that I’m doing such a great job and he’s not needed so much.
They thanked me for pulling him out of his shell and said they noticed he’s been less grumpy since I’ve been around. Each comment distributes one more butterfly into my belly, flitting around, gaga for him. I watch him sitting in front of me the entire time, burly arm wrapped around his niece to keep her warm, as he listens to her talk in his ear the whole way around with his undivided attention.
When we finish, hop off, and empty the sleigh for the rest of the ranch workers, Sam issues an invitation. “I have Irish coffees and cocoa at the house for any takers?”
Every Hunter there accepts, and I take a step back toward the crew going on the sled next, just thinking if I want another ride with them or to get to other jobs.
Dash grabs my arm. “You’re coming, right?”
Jolie notices her brother’s hand wrapped around me and smirks. “Yeah, Mols, you have to come, too. But Sam’s drinks are strong. You have enough help here today? I’m not sure you’ll be back.”
I’m invited for drinks in the Hunter inner circle? Dash raises his dark, thick eyebrows and tilts his head, a second sort of invitation. How could I ever say no to those tempting green eyes?
But I need to make sure everyone is settled. I shuffle over to my crew. “You guys okay getting the horses back in the corral? And the lock?”
Hank salutes me. “We got it. Go have some fun. First snow of the year is cause to celebrate.”
“I’m in.” I beam. “You sure, Sam?”
Eve answers for her. “Leave no woman behind.”
Sam wraps an arm around Eve. “That’s our mantra. Of course we don’t mind. Just the opposite.”
Jolie drives me and Dash over to what we Starlight Ranch workers refer to as ‘the other side of the road.’ There’s a fork after driving in the main entrance off the main road, where a sign leads either to Starlight Ranch or down a road labelledPrivate. Here is the Hunters’ land they keep to themselves. Their private trails and homes…
We pull up in front of a sprawling house. Jolie lives at Bird’s Eye, so this must be Big Sky. And big it is. I’m sure there are bigger houses but none quite so beautiful. It’s ranch style, with a wraparound porch to provide three-sixty views of the mountains. The staircase covered in snow, and I don’t know how a building could be so substantial and so cute at the same time.
