Page 46 of Bull Rush

“Deal.”

I smile at her easy agreement.

“Don’t get excited. You smell like sweat and hay.”

“That used to turn you on.”

“Still does, but you’re not getting in the bed like that.”

“No?”

“No.”

“What am I doing?” I slip my hand down into the warm water, following the curve of her body underneath the bubbles until my fingers slip between her legs. I use my index and middle finger to tease the sides of her clit. Her head tilts back, more of her hair slipping over the edge, and she rolls her lower lip between her teeth as a soft moan escapes.

“More of this. Giving me the orgasm I deserve, and then taking a long shower before you come to bed.”

I lean over the edge of the tub, kissing the side of her neck and making my way down to her breast.

“I can do that,” I agree, because I might not have my girl back, but she’s willing to play, and that’s the first step.

TWENTY-ONE

Hazel

I’m bouncingaround the inn this morning, trying to make sure all the activities are set up for the weekend, confirm the performer for our late-night local history and cupcakes event, figure out what’s wrong with one of our dryers, and confirm the menu Kit’s put together for the fall menu changeover that’s coming in a few weeks. Then, hopefully, we can start putting in produce and grocery orders and be that much closer to set for our next big round of guests. Grace comes back to my office, though, to tell me we have some special visitors. I raise my brow in question.

“Amelia’s here, and a couple who say they’re friends of Ramsey’s?”

I’d forgotten what day it was and missed that it was Amelia’s arrival, and that was on me, but I had no idea Ramsey had invited friends out.

“They all have reservations?” I ask, wondering if he comped them on my behalf.

“Yes.” Grace looks thoughtfully between me and my bookkeeping.

“Okay. Start checking them in, and I’ll be right up there.” I rack my brain to see if Ramsey mentioned anything, but I don’t remember it.

Amelia, on the other hand, has come back year after year to visit the inn. She’s a sweet older woman, and she always reserves the same room with a view of the ranch and the mountains beyond it. She’s obsessed with Kit’s cooking, and I always manage to spend some time with her each visit, listening to stories about her childhood and the exotic trips she and her husband used to take when he was alive. I smile just thinking about her because she’s one of my favorite guests.

When I reach the lobby, Grace has already checked the couple in, and they’re gathering their bags.

“Can I help you with anything?” I ask. Several of our employees went back to college earlier than anticipated this season, so Grace and I have been doing the check-ins, the request runs, and the baggage until I hire someone new. Which needs to be sooner rather than later and a thing I need to get on the to-do list.

“Nah. I think we’ve got it.” The guy smiles at me, and I immediately recognize him when he does. He’d been on the TV over and over again speaking out in Ramsey’s defense and giving testimony about his character to the court. Cooper Rawlings. The former star wide receiver for the Queen City Chaos, Ramsey’s teammate, and the guy whose life he saved. The woman next to him also looks familiar. She did a lot of the press work for Ramsey in the wake of his arrest, and she was also related to a football player for the Seattle Phantom, if Iremember correctly. I’m racking my brain for her name when she steps forward and introduces herself.

“I’m Beatrix Xavier, and this is Cooper Rawlings. We’re friends of Ramsey’s. You must be Hazel?”

“That’s me.” I smile softly.

“This place is gorgeous. I can’t believe how beautiful it is out here. And so cozy inside. I can’t wait to see the rooms. I hope you don’t mind that we just popped in. I saw you had a room available, and I knew if we called ahead, Ramsey would tell us not to bother.” Beatrix is all warmth and smiles. The kind of person who’s hard not to like from the moment you meet them.

“We just want to check up on him. Make sure he’s doing all right after everything,” Cooper adds.

“Of course. We’re so happy to have you. If you want to go up and get settled in your room, I can go find Ramsey out on the ranch and send him back here.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind? We don’t want to impose.”

“No. No problem at all. I think I know where he is anyway.” I turn back and wave at Amelia who I can tell is waiting to talk to me. “I’ll be right back in a bit! Grace can get you checked in.”

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