Page 57 of Flippin' Cowboy

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That got her full attention. She tucked her phone away and turned to face him. He spotted the edge of a bite mark peeping out from the top of her turtleneck and fought a smirk.

“No, just busy.” She heaved a sigh. “The wallpaper we picked for the parlor is on backorder, with no ETA. I’m trying to find something comparable that’s in stock.”

Nick groaned in sympathy. “Welcome tomymorning. All the flooring we ordered for upstairs is suddenly out of stock, as well.”

“You’re kidding me. Brandon swore he had enough for our entire project!” Her eyes flashed with irritation.

“Well, Brandon either lied to us or found someone else willing to pay more for it,” Nick said. “Either way, we’re SOL.”

“I’m sure Karla is going to want to film that as a dramatic moment,” Winnie said dryly. She dropped her voice and launched into a fake-dramatic voiceover, “With just weeks to go before the inn is due to reopen for business, can Winnie and Nick find a solution to this flooring crisis?”

Nick laughed. “No kidding. I mean, I already compromised my standards by agreeing to buy brand-new flooring in a historically accurate width when I wanted to get reclaimed Douglas fir—”

“But Karla’s budget isn’t made of money, and the asbestos and lead remediation already wiped out the contingency fund,” Winnie finished solemnly. “Restoration. The fun never stops, does it? At least we passed inspection and can move on to drywalling and painting.”

Nick spotted his opening. “Speaking of fun,” he said, trying hard for a casual tone, “do you have any plans for tonight?”

Winnie looked away. “Look,” she began.

His heart sank. Nothing good ever happened when someone began a sentence with that word.

“I had, um, a great time last night. And I really appreciated everything you did for me—” Her neck and cheeks flamed under their heavy coat of foundation. “—at the viewing party, I mean. It was…” She bit her deliciously plump lower lip, making Nick wish he were the one doing that. “A gift. A precious gift.”

“But…?” he prompted.

Because in a speech like this, there wasalwaysa “but.” He should know. He’d given variations of this same speech to his occasional one-night stands. He hadn’t realized how much it sucked to be on the receiving end, though.

Last night, he could’ve sworn that there was more between them than just great sex. There had been a genuine connection.

Maybe he’d spooked her. Or maybe her dickwad ex had given her trust issues.

But he wasn’t ready to give up so easily.

“But I think it would be best if we just stayed friends,” Winnie said. “I mean, especially since we don’t know whether The Renovation Channel is going to give us a second season. If not,you’re going to be moving on as soon as we wrap up work on The Soiled Dove Inn, right?”

Nick blinked. Winnie had been thinking about their future? This wasn’t just a case of “morning after cold feet?”

Well, he could work with that. All he needed was a fair chance. Because there was something special about Winnie Snowberry. Something worth fighting for.

“Okay,” he agreed. “Friends it is.” And he saw her relax, as if she’d been bracing herself for an argument. He added, “How about ‘friends with benefits?’”

Her face grew even redder. It was so fucking adorable.

Then, to his relief, she nodded. “Okay. I can do that.” She chewed on her lip some more. “I’m sorry, Nick, but I’m not ready for anything more.”

Yep, dickwad ex issues, he thought.

“That’s okay,” he assured her. “And this friend would like to offer you some benefits at your place tonight, after I read Kegan his bedtime story.”

She hesitated, clearly torn.

He waited with a hunter’s patience. Pushing too hard might spook her.

Finally, she said, “I’d love to see you for some more, uh, dessert.”

∞∞∞

A few hours later, Nick decided that his favorite position was with his face buried between Winnie’s warm, velvety thighs.