Page 17 of Sparks Flying

More than anything, it pissed me off that I even cared.

“Okay, well, good. Let’s get down to business then.”

I’d already been briefed on the latest Collector intel. And I already knew that Archie had a team searching for any weaknesses. I wasn’t convinced they would find any. I was very good at what I did. Though, Bailey spotting that animal trail up the cliff face was the first time I had seen it. If she hadn’t pointed out exactly where it was, I would have sworn she was bullshitting me.

I certainly never wanted my own ego to result in putting my town at risk, so I would humbly listen to all their findings.

“Basically, there’s not much to report from today’s findings. We sent people out to check small possible concerns, like that area you met Bailey in, but nothing was found to be overly concerning.”

“Great. That’s the best news all day.”

Bailey growled at me. “Yet,” she said through gritted teeth. “We haven’t found any breech concerns—yet.”

“And I highly doubt you will.”

“We’ll see,” she said in challenge.

“Calm down. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I really don’t want to play referee. Bailey, are we going to have a problem?”

“No, sir.”

I hadn’t meant to get her in trouble. She was just so easy to get riled up and she was adorable when she was aggravated.

“Is there anything I need to know about?”

She looked into my eyes, but there was nothing to see there. I was sorry I’d pushed back at her. I just couldn’t seem to help myself. I knew I was being an ass, and that wasn’t really me. I was the fun-loving guy, nothing serious. Yet somehow her mere existence seemed to get under my skin in a way no one else ever had.

“No, there’s nothing going on here. Just a fun little rivalry,” I said.

But this wasn’t fun.

And the look of surprise mixed with hurt and maybe a tinge of anger felt like I’d just sent a spark of lightning straight through my own chest.

We wrapped up the meeting quickly, and I was ready to call it a night. Before I finished clearing my office, Ryan and Elias walked in.

“Knock, knock, baby brother,” Elias said.

“Stop calling me that.”

“Uh-oh. Someone is not in a very good mood this evening.”

“Did they find something concerning?” Ryan asked.

I sighed. The last thing I wanted to do was worry them. Ryan was the mayor of Ravenden and someday Elias would step up into our father’s shoes to sit on the Congress Counsel as head of the Davenport Flock.

“Nothing concerning.”

“Then why the bad mood?” he asked.

“I wasn’t in a bad mood until you two barged in. I was just packing up to leave.”

“Hot date?” Elias asked.

“Who this time?” Ryan added.

Bailey’s face popped into my mind and it made me even angrier.

“None of your goddamn business,” I snapped.

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