Page 2 of Flirty Situationship

I walk to the sink in the back of the room and flip the water. It only takes Kylie a minute to reappear from beneath the front counter with a bandage and a bottle of water. I reach to take the Band-Aid from her, but she doesn’t hand it over. Instead, she reaches across me and fixes it to my face herself. The cool touch of her fingertips along my jawline sends goosebumps rippling through me.

“Thanks.” I shake off the heat of her touch.

“Any time.” She gives me a warm smile. “Any chance you want to be the one to give that little angry ball of fur a permanent home? He’s not the friendliest, but you are the first person he’s let come more than an arm’s length.”

“Nice try, I can’t have anything else with a heartbeat living in my house. I’m stretched pretty thin as it is, but he’s a character. I think he might be your store’s permanent mascot. What are you gonna name him?” I take a sip of water.

“I never thought about naming him because I didn’t think he was going to be staying long. Hell, I’m not staying long once this place is up and running. I’m out of here. I can’t bring a cat with me because I don’t know where I’ll end up.”

“Yeah, that’s trouble for sure.” Even though it makes no sense, my heart sinks a bit in my chest at the realization that she is leaving.

I’m ridiculous.

I don’t even know her. She could be married although there isn’t a ring to be found. But what Ido knowis that she’s related to Bear and Beau Buckner. One of whom is my boss and both of whom would probably kick my ass for having the thoughts that I’m having about their little sister.

“Trouble… I like that maybe I’ll call him Trouble. Just for the time being.”

“Well, Trouble, welcome to your temporary home.” My phone vibrates in my pocket and I don’t have to look at it to know I’ve got to be on my way. “Your brother says you have just a couple weeks or so until you open the doors, is that right?”

“Something like that.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

“In that case, you let me know when there’s something I can do for you around here. I want to do my part. I’ll make sure you have plenty of good seating and plenty of stumps to put your pots on. But if there’s anything else let me know. I’ve got to head out, but it was nice meeting you.” I turn and head for the door, then pause. “The yard I work on is just out behind your property line so I’ll be around.”

“When?” I don’t miss the way she chews her bottom lip as she looks up at me.

“When what?”

“When will you be around? Tomorrow?”

My heart thuds in my chest. “I can be around tomorrow. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yeah, I’ll find something by then.”

CHAPTER 2

KYLIE

“Ouch!Damn you Trouble. I’m trying to make you a permanent fixture at this plant store and you’re over here taking swipes at me.” I look down to find the stupid, adorable, cat left a mark on my shin this time.

He looks up at me, eyes widening but I don’t by that act for a single minute. Today alone he’s knocked a plant off the shelf and broken a terracotta pot by spastically jumping inside of it. He’s earned his name even if he is melt-your-heart cute.

“You want to live back on the mean streets of Lumberjack Lagoon, don’t you?”

“Oh stop, we both know you are incapable of turning that little guy out into the woods.” Ash sprays the back window with a glass cleaner and starts wiping. “I don’t know why you don’t want to stay here. The endless stream of hot lumberjacks cruising by the back window is an unexpected perk.”

My face reddens. For a moment, I wonder if Ash can read my mind.Has she somehow caught onto the fact that Winston has been here every day after she leaves since we met? Can she tell that I’m obsessed with him? That I watch the window she’s cleaning right now just on the off chance he’ll walk by like some kind of teenager in love?

Of course, she can’t. Just because she has known me since college doesn’t mean she has some kind of superpower. I haven’t mentioned a word about Winston to anyone, there isn’t any reason to mention him. He’s just someone I love flirting with while I’m on this brief intermission from my real life. Besides, I don’t know anything about Winston’s real life and I definitely don’t want my brothers knowing anything about mine.

Our father left when I was young and Bear stepped into the role before I was old enough to know the difference. He carried the burdens of our family so I didn’t have to. I think he’s forever going to see me as a child. So as far as I’m concerned, the less he knows about my love life, the better.

Beau on the other hand will fall all over himself trying to bro-up anyone he thinks I’m remotely interested in. With him, it’s all shirtless fist bumps and invitations to golf on a Saturday. There’s a reason I moved away, this town can be stifling. But I know coming back until things with Mom settle was the right decision.

“Thank you for helping me get this place up and running. The one thing my hometown can guarantee in return is big beards and even bigger… axes,” I let out a giggle and unpack the pet water bowls that will live permanently outside of our front door.

“I hope to find that out for myself sometime before I go back to the city.” Ash winks and I shoot her a look. “They don’t make them like this anywhere else and I’m away from my kid so it seems right I should get a lumber-snack.”

“No jugement here,” I laugh. “If that’s your goal, meeting it shouldn’t be too hard. Just stay away from my brothers. Bear’s still angry from his divorce and Beau’s… well, he’s Beau.”And please stay away from Winston, not that I should care, but still.

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