Page 21 of Forbidden Flame

“I know that.”

“Do you?” I asked, raising a brow. “I can date if I want to.”

Teddy narrowed his eyes on me. “Are you saying you want to date that Monroe?”

“That Monroe has a name. I’m not saying I want to date him. But if I wanted to date someone, you don’t get a say in it.”

Teddy seemed to relax. “I knew you wouldn’t like that asshole.”

“Oh, my god. He’s not an ass.” He was the furthest thing from it. He was sweet and attentive and made sure I felt cherished and desired last night. My entire body heated just thinking about the things we’d done. I’d never been so uninhibited.

“We need to brainstorm ideas on how to drum up more business.”

“We need to get through this holiday season first.” I was drowning in pie orders and holiday activities at Izzy’s school. I couldn’t manage one more thing. Another reason why Cole Monroe was a bad idea.

I wanted him, but I couldn’t have him.

Chapter 5

Cole

The way we said goodbye didn’t sit right with me. I hoped Daphne would give me something to go on, but I could tell she was shutting down. She wasn’t going to leave any crumbs for me to follow. I knew better than to ask for her phone number.

I should have been focused on my job with Heath’s new contracting company and proving myself on the farm. I wasn’t interested in a serious relationship, even though I couldn’t get Daphne out of my head.

All I needed was a good night’s sleep, and I’d forget all about how Daphne made me feel for the first time in years.

I’d numbed myself to relationships after the ups and downs of living with my father. The way she listened to my life story and hadn’t judged me for it? She got to me.

But that wasn’t enough to sacrifice my place on the farm or my position in Heath’s company.

The next few days, I lost myself in work. I took extra shifts at the farm and worked long hours on the kitchen we were renovating.

It was easy to work more hours because my cousins were all seeing someone special. They wanted more time with their significant others, and they were quick to accept my offers to take their shifts.

I’d be the rock that the Monroes could depend on. As they became more immersed with their families, I’d have the time to put into the farm. At some point, they had to acknowledge that. I just had to keep going.

The other thing was, I wanted to get Daphne out of my mind. I found the only way possible to do that was to work to the point of exhaustion.

Any time someone mentioned Daphne’s pies, I felt a pang. I missed her. I wanted to see her. But she’d shut down any possibility of that. I didn’t have her number, and I couldn’t just show up on Calloway property.

No Monroe would be welcomed there, especially not one who’d won a date with their youngest sister.

She was off-limits. I just had to remember that.

Tonight, I’d worked late, installing the fixtures in the kitchen. It was something we could work on tomorrow but kept me busy tonight.

When I heard a door open, I took off my headphones.

“You still here?” Heath asked as he walked through the house.

“What are you doing here?” I asked to avoid his pointed question.

Heath appeared in the doorway. “I was just checking on the progress.”

“We’re ahead of schedule.” I wanted Heath to know he could trust me. That I was someone he could count on.

Heath leaned against a counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s because you’re working late.”

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