Page 35 of Misguided Vows

“Well?” Will asks.

“You need to leave. I have work to do. And shouldn’t you be chasing someone down and getting your bounty money somewhere or something?” I wave him off as Honey approaches me. I ignore Will as he and Dawson begin talking.

“Why does it look like we just walked into something we shouldn’t be a part of?” Honey whispers as we enter the shop.

I sigh, exhausted and somewhat perplexed. Honey has been very vocal about becoming friends, but I don’t know where to draw a line since I’m working for both her and Dawson. But it’s the same feeling I have with Maria, that it’s an immediate friendship and surely they know more about Will than I do being his friend. She’s already prodded me so many times about what’s happening between us, and I want answers, too. Why is he so persistent? But I don’t want whatever is happening between Will and me to ruin this gig for me. “He just won’t leave me alone,” I tell her with a casual shrug, trying to probe casually. When she looks over her shoulder, he’s staring at me while still in conversation with Dawson.

“Looks like he doesn’t intend to leave you alone. He seems mesmerized.” She laughs. “These are for the workers, by the way. I made them fresh today for everyone.”

Jerry is walking past when I tap him on the shoulder and point to the baked goods. His eyes go wide as he happily takes them from Honey and whistles to the other guys working. I’ve never seen men stop so quickly, and they meet in the middle of the room to look through the bag.

Honey seems pleased with herself.

“I didn’t know there was anything between you two before he recommended you to redesign the shop,” she quietly whispers.

I roll my eyes. “There is no us. And I don’t know why he won’t leave me alone. Yesterday he almost got me murdered by a beautiful Russian woman. I’ve never been more terrified in my life. If looks could kill, I’d be dead.”

“You aren’t talking about Anya Ivanov, are you?”

My head whips around. “Do you know her?”

“Of course. And if Anya wanted you dead, you would be dead without a doubt.” She pauses, raising a brow. “What did you do?”

I scoff and head to the back of the shop so I can get farther away from Will. I’m somewhat reluctant to speak with Honey since her husband hired me, but she also has that immediate “you can tell me and trust me with anything” vibe. Damn her for being so kind.

I lean against the counter and pull out my camera. I take a few photos for my social media before I hesitantly say, “He made a bet with me.”

“A bet?” she asks, confused. A few of the men thank her for the baked sweets, and she smiles brightly at them. I have the distinct feeling if her husband saw her smiling at other guys, he’d sack them all in an instant. What is it with these men?

I can’t imagine Will being possessive, but then I think about how he spoke to the contractor. I push the thought away, reinforcing to myself that Will and I aren’t anything.

I pick a piece of lint off my shirt, then explain, “Yes. You see, I have issues with saying no to things I could win and I also love a challenge.” I give my best eye roll. “Anyway, he bet me I couldn’t get some guy’s number.” Her eyes go wide, as if already knowing where I’m going with this. “Turns out he was married.”

“You tried to get River Bentley’s number and you’re still alive?” She laughs, quickly covering her mouth as she tries to stop herself. “I’m sorry, but she’s killed for far less.”

I don’t know if she means in the literal sense, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Which makes her one hell of a dangerous woman, and yet I find myself confessing, “I kind of liked her. She went over to Will and tore him a new one.”

“Yep, that would be Anya. River and Will have been friends for a long time.”

“Of course they have.” I sigh. He must’ve planned the bet the moment he spotted River at the bar.

“I don’t know Will too well, but River and Dawson seem fond of him. From what I’ve heard, he’s never taken interest in a woman. Serious interest, that is.”

I roll my eyes, because I don’t think Will is taking me seriously, at least I hope not because I don’t do serious. I’m certain this is just sexual tension we both need to exploit.

I have very mixed feelings regarding Will. I must confess that I haven’t had any man try this hard to be with me. It kind of gives me a small boost of serotonin. But part of me thinks it’s absolutely crazy to entertain the idea of us, and that I should stay as far away from him as possible.

But what could it hurt? He could turn out to be my best lay ever. He could fuck like a god. Hell, he could give me multipleorgasms, which I have a feeling he knows how to do for the simple fact that he made me come with his fingers alone.

That in itself is a hard task. The only way I have ever been able to come prior to our encounter was with vibration on my clit. And yet, this man traps us both in the tiniest bathroom and manages to do it all within five minutes—with only his fingers. So yes, there is a small part of me that wonders if I should lose this bet. I would be stupid to give him that power over me.

But I think it’s a game I want to play. And I may very well lose on purpose just to get him away from me—or better yet, on top of me.

“I can see you thinking. You like him,” Honey says.

“No. No, I don’t,” I reply, baffled as to how she even came to that conclusion. She hums as her husband walks in, and I notice Will has finally taken a hint and left.

“I hear you’ve met almost everyone,” Dawson says, and I sag in defeat. It’s becoming rather difficult to keep the professionalism here. Will gossips just as much as any woman. Even though I’d just been doing the same.

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