“I was a baker and I worked the front counter.”
“Are you from Fallen Peak?”
“No, Tulsa.”
“Why were you working in Fallen Peak then? No jobs in Tulsa?”
“My sister lives there. She works at Sweetie Pies too. I was just helping out over winter break.”
“But not this summer?”
I shrug, not wanting to tell him that it depends on if I get this job or not. “I’d like to stick around here if possible. I just started putting my own roots down, and I think it would be good for me to be grounded for a bit.”
Why did I say that?It’s true, but it feels like I just revealed another part of myself to the persistent man sitting across from me. Griz tilts his head to the side, studying me. I fidget in my seat, squirming beneath all the attention he’s giving me. What does he see? A pathetic girl playing dress-up like my mom would say?
“The job is for a housekeeper,” he finally says. “Your duties will include cleaning, cooking a few meals, possibly grocery shopping, and a few other housekeeping chores. How does that sound?”
“Wait. Are you… are you seriously still offering me the job?” I ask, a bit taken aback.
I thought for sure there would be more questions, or maybe he would give me a hard time. I did assault him last night, after all. I mean, he deserved it, but still.
“Of course, darlin’,” he says with an easy smile. I want to hate his term of endearment for me, but my stupid hormones go berserk everytime he saysdarlin’in that raspy drawl of his. “If you still want it, it’s yours.”
“I…” Blinking a few times, I find myself saying, “I’m not sure I do.”
I thought I had him all figured out. I thought he would be a pig or try to come onto me again. Then at least it would be easy to turn the job down and leave.
That hasn’t happened though. He’s actually been… nice.
“Afraid that you’ll fall in love with me?” he teases with a hopeful smile.
Just like that he ruins it.
“Not even a little,” I huff out, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m not usually a brat, but something about this man… god, I can’t decide if I want to scratch him or pull him closer so I can wrap my body around his.
“Want to bet?”
“Bet that I won’t fall in love with you?” I ask incredulously. “That would be the easiest bet in the world to win.”
“Then it’s settled. Work for me for a month, and if you don’t love me by the end of thirty days, I’ll pay you for the whole summer and let you leave.”
“And what happens if I lose?”
“Ah, so you’re already starting to fall for me then,” he says as he leans closer to the table. Damn that grin, slowly taking over his face, his full lips parting to show straight, white teeth. Does he have to smell so good? Even after a morning working on the ranch, Griz smells spicy and woodsy, with a hint of manly sweat and the outdoors.
“Um, no,” I lie through my teeth. “I just would never agree to something without knowing all the terms.”
“Smart girl,” he purrs, those deep blue eyes flashing with something wicked. My thighs squeeze together as my core clenches. Holy crap, this man’s voice is potent. “If you lose, well thenIgetyou,” he says simply. My heart trips over itself in my chest.
For one brief second, I start to wonder if my no dating rule is in trouble here.
FOUR
Griz
I try notto let her see that I’m holding my breath as I wait for her to answer.
Is she going to accept the bet?