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“I don’t have space to deal with this right now. I need to be focused on getting my dad to let go of the reins.”
Tessa blew out a breath. “Fine. Want to go tourist trapping with me? I find it an excellent way to get out my frustrations.”
“Look, I don’t judge you for it, but that’s just not my cup of tea. You enjoy, though.”
“Suit yourself! But if you ever change your mind, just know that a lot of these sleazebags would love the idea of a threesome. It’d be easy kills.”
* * *
After Tessa left,I thought about what she said for a long time. I already knew what frustrated me about my dad. I found my own way, figured out where I could be of value to the business, and made things happen.
And in two days, Jake had ripped it all to shreds.
Perhaps that wasn’t fair. He didn’t exactly rip it to shreds. But he accused me of not thinking through or vetting my changes thoroughly before implementing them, which was a punch to the gut. I saw a lack, and I stepped up to make changes. As CEO, I’d have to be decisive. That’s how it worked. If I was constantly second-guessing myself, I’d never get anything done, and my father would accuse me of being weak-willed.
Jake’s gentle criticism was frustrating. He wasn’t being a dick, just telling me what he thought directly. I hated that he made sense, even more than I hated that he was so damn attractive while telling me how I’m doing everything wrong.
Even today, when I knowingly set him up to be sweaty and miserable at the lemonade stand, he was still handsome and impossibly attractive. Even his sweat smelled good. That was weird, right? That I thought his sweat smelled good?
There was something about him that appealed to me in a way I couldn’t deny. And he seemed to genuinely want to help.
So maybe we couldn’t be lovers right now, but perhaps it didn’t mean we had to be enemies either. Maybe I could tone down my attraction to the man and meet in the middle… as friends?
Vowing to give it more consideration, I went to bed planning to focus more on what Jake had to say, and not so much on how his lips moved when he said it.
* * *
The next morning,I wasn’t even surprised when Jake tapped at my door a minute after nine.
“Come on in, Jake. You really don’t have to stand in the hallway like that.” I smiled to show I meant it in a friendly way, and my smile naturally widened when my gaze landed on him. Once again, he wore a full suit and tie, not a hair out of place, and he treated me to a rare smile in return. It was entirely unfair for him to look that good and expect me to keep my hands to myself. My tongue swept over my lower lip instinctively and heat pooled in my belly.
“Sorry,” he stepped inside and sat down. “Military habit.”
“Is the suit part of that habit?” I gestured. “Surely no one told you that was required? I think my dad only wears a suit about three times a year, aside from board meetings.”
He shifted, obviously uncomfortable. “To be honest, no one really told me anything about a dress code, so I erred on the side of caution. I’m pretty sure I saw one of the VPs in jeans yesterday.” He leaned forward to transmit this information in a low voice, as if he were telling a dangerous secret.
I couldn’t help the laugh that followed. “We encourage the VPs to dress appropriately for their duties, so it’s possible. Whenever Jen is going out to the stables, I know she feels more comfortable in jeans when she’s around the horses.”
“You oversee the stables, too?” He flipped through a sheaf of papers in his hands as if checking for a bullet point he missed.
“Not exactly. She just likes to ride, so sometimes she takes her lunch break on horseback.”
“Oh. Well, I suppose that’s a perk.”
“Yes, one of many. Speaking of, are you enjoying the gym?”
“I haven’t gotten in there yet, I’m afraid. Still adjusting to the schedule and altitude.” He looked almost embarrassed by this admission, like going a week without hitting the gym was shameful.
“That’s fair. It can take a while. But regardless—you don’t have to wear a suit, if you don’t want to. Pretty much anything you see others wearing is okay. I wouldn’t recommend the jeans for office work, though, just a tip.” I smiled, and he beamed back at me.
“Duly noted.”
“So, I assume you have an agenda today?” I gestured to the folder in his hands.
“Well, first I wanted to ask what was on your schedule for the day.”
“How kind of you.”
