Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
My mouth goes all dry and I feel a headache coming on as the bad news sinks in.
“You set my lodge on fire?”
“Not the whole lodge! Just the reception area! Some curtains, the wall, the carpet, that nice painting of the sun setting over the lake. Oh, and the copier, some computers, and one phone got damaged when Mr. Reynolds sprayed the fire extinguisher. He was a little heavy-handed with it.”
“Mr. Reynolds put out the fire?”
I nod as I force out a demented smile. “Yes, he did.”
He looks at me for a long moment. I can’t tell what the heck he’s thinking. He’s showing no emotion on that beautiful face. He would make a heck of a poker player.
“Am I fired?” I blurt out.
“No,” he says in a low voice. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Oh, thank goodness. I take a breath of relief. I really don’t want to lose this job. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to keep it until now.
“In that case,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow. “There’s more?”
I take a deep breath, pull my shoulders back, and I just fucking go for it. “I would also like to formally announce my interest in the open managerial position.”
The corner of his mouth shows a hint of a smile for a quick second before it vanishes completely. “Oh, you would?”
“Yes, I would,” I say in a firm voice. “I think I would make a very thorough, efficient, dependable manager. Despite this last incident, my track record is flawless.”
“You’ve only been working for me for ten days.”
“Yes, and every single one of them, flawless.”
“Except for yesterday.”
“Correct. Except for yesterday.”
He looks at me for a long moment as the song thumps in the background. Those sexy lyrics are heightening everything. I can’t tell if Mr. Wallis wants to fuck me like an animal or wring my neck.
He exhales the breath he’s holding and grabs a fresh log. I watch, wondering what the heck I should be doing, as he picks up the ax and slams it down, splitting the log in two.
“Come here,” he says in a rich deep voice that sends shivers snaking down my spine.
I gulp as my feet start moving, taking me to him. It’s like he has control over my body and it listens to his every command without any input from my brain.
“Tell me more about yourself.”
“More about me? What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
I can feel my cheeks blushing as he looks at me while he places another log on the chopping block. Those blue eyes… They’re mesmerizing. It’s like they’re seizing my soul and refusing to let go every time they’re on me.
“I’m a… from Minnesota.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What?!”
He looks at me with narrowed eyes as my cheeks flare up. I could burn down this whole forest by rubbing my cheek on a tree.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
I shake my head. “No.”
Wait, why am I telling him this? He’s my boss. Is that even legal for him to ask?
Hold on, does he look… relieved?!
He’s breathing a little easier and those big arms and round shoulders don’t look so tight.
I start to get all shaky with nerves again as he watches me. He’s so intense. It’s unnerving.
“So… Sorry to bother you with the bad news,” I say as I walk backward. I slip on some wet ice and recover with an awkward laugh. “I’ll fix the wreckage from the fire and order a new copier. You stay here and finish your vacation chopping wood… shirtless… with no underwear on… I mean…”
Shit! This is going horribly wrong. Why isn’t my damn brain working? It’s all muddled up in there.
“I’ll take care of the mess and you stay here and play with your wood.” I close my eyes, slowly dying inside as I back away. “I mean, I’ll fix the lodge. Nothing to worry about. It was nice meeting you and I look forward to working under you. On top of you!” My cheeks are so hot they’re melting. “Not that I’m going to be riding on top of you or anything. That would be inappropriate.”
Stop talking! Just stop fucking talking!!
“I’ll see you at work.”
I turn and practically run to my car. I jump in, start the engine, and get the heck out of there with my heart pounding in my chest.
That did not go as planned.
But at least I’m not fired.
Yet.
Chapter Three
Owen
I park my truck in my reserved spot and then close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, trying to calm the edginess I’m feeling.
It doesn’t work. She’s in there.
I open my eyes and feel my heart pounding as I stare at the lodge, knowing the girl of my dreams is waiting for me.
My thoughts have been obsessively focused on her since she ran off my property yesterday afternoon with those adorable cheeks blushing a scarlet red.