“Hey.” I knocked on Katherine’s open office door.
“Hey. Are you done for today?”
“Yep.” I took my usual chair, the one I sat in every afternoon at this time. “My relief has arrived.”
Annabeth had hired a local high school girl to work the desk after school each evening. It was a great hire for the long-term resort staff. For me, it meant that after four o’clock, I had nothing to do but go to the cabin. Alone.
“Want to have dinner?” I asked.
“I can’t tonight.” Katherine rolled her eyes. “I have a town council meeting.”
“Well, look at you. You’re on the town council.”
She shrugged. “I took a seat after Liddy stepped down last year. Rain check?”
“Sure.” I smiled, wishing I had her jam-packed schedule like the one I used to have in Boston.
Because if I had meetings and appointments each night, I wouldn’t go home and dwell on the fact that I’d had sex with Easton last night. I’d already spent the day overthinking it.
What had I been thinking? How was I supposed to be around him now? How was I supposed to act during family dinner or when he came into the lodge or when I ran into him outside?
Had that just been another one of his hookups? Did he do that with other people at the resort? There were some pretty girls who worked here. I’d seen them coming and going as they worked. In a way, they reminded me of Katherine, Londyn and me at that stage. Had any of them caught Easton’s eye? Had any of them begged him for a riding lesson?
Bitches.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Katherine asked.
I blinked. “Huh?”
“I don’t know where you were right then, but the look on your face was murderous.”
I groaned and folded forward, dropping my face into my hands. “I had sex with Easton.”
“What?” Katherine shrieked. “When?”
“Last night.” I cringed. “And . . . eleven years ago.”
“Sit up and spill.”
I obeyed. “He came over last night to deliver firewood. I asked him to stay for dinner and . . . sex.” Incredible. Unforgettable. Wild sex.
“You’re blushing, Gemma,” she teased.
I covered my cheeks with my hands. “He’s . . . well, you’ve seen him. He’s gorgeous and infuriating and overwhelming.”
“So last night. What about eleven years ago?”
“It was the night before I left. He was living in one of the apartments beside the staff quarters, remember?”
“Yeah. I took his apartment when he moved out.” She scrunched up her nose. “Eww. You had sex in my bed.”
I giggled. “Sorry.”
She waved it off. “Continue.”
“I was outside watching the sunset. And he found me.”
Easton hadn’t known it at the time, but I’d been outside watching the sunset and memorizing the line of the mountains since I’d been ready to leave. And for the first time, he hadn’t given me a chin jerk and kept on walking. He’d stopped, leaned against the same fence rail, and stared at the horizon.
We hadn’t talked much. He’d asked me if I liked it here.
I’d told him the truth.
Yes.
I’d always loved the Greer Ranch.
But that hadn’t stopped me from leaving.
“We stayed outside until after sunset. When he escorted me inside, he had this look. Like he wanted to invite me into his room, but he wasn’t sure I’d say yes. It was the first time I’d seen just a tiny crack in that confidence of his. So I kissed him.”
I’d spent the night in his bed until he’d fallen asleep, and then I’d snuck out. Before the sunrise, I’d walked the miles to the highway and had hitchhiked my way to Missoula. Then I’d hopped on a bus and left for Boston.
“That explains why he was such a grumpy bastard those months after you left,” Katherine said. “I always thought it was because he was mad at you on my behalf. Which was sort of sweet, in a big brother way.”
“Oh, I’m sure that was part of it too. He loves you.”
“Like a sister. They all love me like a sister.” The light dimmed in her eyes for a split second before a smile spread across her pretty face. “Is this a bad time to remind you that we have a no-fraternization policy for employees?”
I picked up a paperclip from her desk and threw it at her head. “You’re not helping!”
She laughed. “Sorry. What are you going to do about him?”
“I have no idea. He’s . . . complicated.”
The attraction between us was this steady charge, this undercurrent impossible to ignore. If we weren’t at each other’s throats, fighting, it was futile and well . . . that had led to us fucking against the cabin wall.
“What would you do?” I asked.
“Talk to him. He’s dealing with a lot right now and he’s supposed to be in charge, but people forget to talk to him. They forget to ask what he thinks or how he feels.”
I loved my friend. And I loved her even more for seeing Easton’s struggles when everyone else around here seemed oblivious.
It wasn’t my place to decide how to proceed after last night—Katherine was right. I’d made that decision last time by leaving and had taken Easton’s choice away.
I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
So three hours later, I drove the Cadillac to his house.
It was dark outside because I’d waited until after dinner before getting in my car. I hadn’t wanted to get here and have him still be working somewhere on the ranch. Katherine had written down directions to his place, and I’d held the sticky note in one hand while I drove with the other.
I’d had to drive away from the lodge and across the highway, to a section of the Greers’ property that wasn’t used for the resort. This was pure ranch country with open meadows bordered by groves of trees and barbed wire fences. The gravel road to his home followed a wandering stream, and when his house came into view, it stole my breath.
The house was centered in the field with the mountains rising up in the distance. The roofline matched almost exactly to the highest peak on the horizon. Golden light flooded through the abundant windows, beckoning me closer. The umber wood siding matched the other buildings on the ranch.
The home, commanding in size and stature, made a bold statement yet fit absolutely in its natural surroundings. It was exactly what I’d expected from Easton, yet surprising at the same time because of its sheer elegance.
The garage door was open as I pulled into the driveway and Easton came outside with a red rag in his grip.
My heart fluttered, seeing him in a pair of jeans and simple white T-shirt. Stubble dusted his jaw and his hair was mussed from a long day’s work. A dull throb pulsed between my legs at the sight of him. Damn, he was hot.
Was he wearing boxers today? Or was he going commando again?
I’d come here with the intention of talking and talking only, but if he showed even the slightest interest, I was going to break that plan.
I sat in my car, parked, but unable to shut it off and get out. I simply stared at him through the windshield.
And he stared back.
Easton broke first, a frown crossing his handsome face as he planted his fists on his hips in a silent ultimatum. Was I coming or going?