Page 10 of Everything I Crave

“Thanks, but I think I’ll do it on my own. All my stuff is mostly still in my car anyways.” Another thing that had been an argument with Mom. She was afraid I was going to flee to another state again. So maybe just fleeing to Gunnar’s won’t be as bad.

I clean up our dishes, and the mess I made with the vegetables before I go grab my clothes from, well, my room.

“You can keep the shirt for tonight. I’ll order you some today. Mack is the only woman I’ve ordered shirts for recently, and I don’t think you guys are quite the same size. I might have a smaller men’s shirt, but I’ll search the boxes today too,” he grimaces.

Mack is an older woman, she’s the size of a linebacker and his usual backup for trouble but she typically stays in the kitchen cooking some of the best food I’ve ever eaten from what I remember at the engagement party.

“Got it. Leggings good?” I ask.

He looks down, and I spin my legs so I can keep my eyes on him but let him see the rest of me. The grip he has on the doorframe tightens.

“No. No leggings.”

I giggle at his determination to not be attracted to me.

“Fucking Christ, what did I do?” He walks away into his own room and shuts the door.

Game on. I am going to find the tightest pair of jeans I can for tonight. Even if it isn’t comfortable for me. At least I’ll know he’s just as uncomfortable.

Chapter Six

Gunnar

What the hell did I get myself into?I think as I shower before heading down to meet Colton in The Bar.

I royally messed up, letting Willow not only work here but move in! The tight leggings didn’t leave much to the imagination, and as soon as she left, I texted my sister that she is to throw away all her leggings. The thought of a man, or worse those preppy frat assholes on her campus, thinking these things about her makes the rage bubble just beneath the surface of my skin. Then I’m reminded that I’m having these thoughts about my friends’ sister, and now my employee.

Yup. Totally screwed.

Colton:At the back door.

Me:Yup, coming.

And there is the perfect dose of cold water my thoughts needed.

Colton is Willow’s brother-in-law, and one of my best friends.

He’s here to install the new bar he built before we open tonight. Saturdays we only open for dinner, not lunch. I need time to recoup after the Friday night rush.

“Hey man.” I greet him, opening the door.

“Hey yourself, heard a little rumor about you today, my friend.” He grins like a Cheshire cat.

“I can only imagine, what did I do this time?” I ask, immediately regretting the question.

“Heard you hired a certain red headed beauty, and invited her to live with you.”

Damn it. Already?

“News travels fast, huh?” I shrug like I’m not nervous about the situation.

“Yup. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lorelei shows up today. She’s not happy with you.” He drops the tools he was carrying in, and stares at me. “Just don’t hurt Willow, ok?”

“It’s not like that, man. She’s damaged, damaged like I was. I can recognize the look and behavior. I simply offered her a place to land and a way to make some money.”

Colton scoffs at my answer. “Sure. We’ll see how that goes. I don’t know if you’ve met Porter and I? But we said the same thing. These Harper women are built differently.” He walks over to his truck and grabs his tool bag out the back.

“Really it’s not, even if she wasn’t the girls’ sister, she’s barely twenty-four, I’m almost thirty. It wouldn’t work.”

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