“Hey.” The Lovewell people had no right to judge me based on that. This place was freaking Beverly Hills compared to where I’d grown up. Snobs.
“This town is proud, and the people hate change. Trust me, they’ve treated my brothers and me way worse over the last couple of years. Hebert Timber is a stain on Lovewell and its pride. The chief of police has had it out for us, like we’re the reason my dad ran a successful drug trafficking ring under the asshole’s nose.”
My stomach knotted with concern, even as my interest piqued. “I guess that explains why he won’t meet with me.”
“Officially,” he mumbled. “Soon enough, he’ll show up at the office with a minor infraction or some half-baked excuse to poke around.”
Wonderful. Just what I needed, more law enforcement with their noses in my business, messing things up.
“But if you want to talk to him, the trick is to get him on his turf, where he can’t get away from you.”
I stood straighter and took a step closer, curious. “How do I do that?”
“The Moose.”
Moose? I frowned. What was he talking about?
“How are you at darts?” he asked.
“Terrible.”
“Even better. He hates to lose. I’ll help you.” He relaxed a fraction, his posture easing, and I got a hit of his scent. The pine tree and strong man combination that I definitely didn’t like at all. Nope. It was repulsive.
But despite how annoying good he smelled, his idea was a good one. I wouldn’t let the officials in town ignore me just because they could and then mess things up when I wasn’t expecting it. I would make them meet me on my terms.
“And the mayor?” I asked.
He ran his hands through his thick, dark hair. “That one’s easy. The diner. He eats breakfast there almost every day. He’s usually with his cronies and hates to look bad. You can corner him and bust his balls in front of his poker buddies. He’ll do whatever you want.”
A rush of gratitude flowed through me. After fumbling around in the dark for the past week, suddenly, the lights had been turned on.
Moved by his kindness, I touched his arm. Instantly, I realized I’d made a big mistake. A massive mistake. His forearm was thick and warm and had a dusting of dark hair.
My fingertips tingled, but I pushed the sensation away.
“Thank you,” I said.
I hated that I needed his help. That I was floundering so badly he had to come to my rescue. But this job was way more complex than I’d anticipated, and I needed a solid plan.
“I want to help,” he said, his voice low, his tone deep, as he angled in just close enough for the gold flecks in his blue eyes to distract me. “People are afraid of me.” He shrugged. “Comes in handy sometimes.”
No shit people were afraid. And I was one of them. Though not for obvious reasons. No, I was terrified because Gus was defying my carefully crafted low expectations. He was smarter, kinder, more thoughtful, and more strategic than I’d given him credit for. And he could do some real damage if I let him.
“Getting the company back on track will be a lot easier if we work together,” he said.
He wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t want to need him. And there was no way in hell I’d admit to him that I was in over my head.
Behind him, the doors to the gymnasium opened, and people filed out.
I leaned forward, and his eyes flared. His chest rose and fell, and the air between us sparked with tension. We did not get along, and we had nothing in common. It had been a mistake to think that I could work with him.
“I work alone,” I said, affecting an authoritative tone.
As a slow grin spread across his face, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
My entire body froze, and my lungs seized at the contact.
His rough fingers ghosted over my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “We’ll see about that, Dragonfly.”
And then he was gone, off into the crowd, leaving me confused and, for some inexplicable reason, breathless.
Chapter 5Chloe
Somehow, we’d made it through another few days, though they hadn’t been easy. Work was chaotic and confusing, but I was starting to get my bearings.
JJ was up to her eyeballs in reports and soil samples, and Karl was running around, doing his best to keep me on schedule and keep the company running.
Then there was my least favorite employee.
He’d been gone all week, overseeing road repairs. The office had been blissfully quiet without him. One less unwelcome distraction.
But now he was back. And he was standing at my office door.
He was wearing dark wash jeans that hugged his thick, muscular thighs perfectly and showed off his lumberjack bubble butt. God, it was unfair.
I stayed behind my desk, silently willing him to stay where he was. One whiff of his sexy, earthy man scent, and I’d be done for.
