Page 5 of A Forbidden Spring
His lips twitch, and just when I think he isn’t going to say anything else, he adds, “I was supposed to be running a different location. My brother was supposed to be in charge of this one.”
“And you thought you’d take that frustration out on the people who work here?”
“Not my intention, no.”
“Ah, a lucky side effect then.”
“You talk to all your bosses like this?” he asks, sitting back in his chair, the move giving him a regal air like a king looking down on his subjects from his throne.
“Gotta play along to get along, Mr. Ellis, and your big-city attitude won’t do you any favors here.”
“Thanks for the tip, Miss Sterling.”
His eyes spark with amusement like he’s daring me to ask if he has atipfor me. AndGod, how I wish.With the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up and his corded forearms on display, I’m practically salivating at the thought.
“You’re welcome,” I say instead as I make my exit.
“Miss Sterling?”
“Hmm?”
“You’d do well to remember that while I appreciate yourhelp,I am still the one in charge here.”
Our eyes lock for a second before I step back out into the hallway.
Merrick Ellis can certainly think he’s in charge.
He can think whatever he wants.
4
WREN
I’m not sure there’s ever been a week longer than this one. Every part of my body is sore, and the irony isn’t lost on me that I’d feel this way as a massage therapist. I just have to make it through dinner at my parents’ and then I can soak in my tub until the water’s cold and my hands are wrinkled.
Soon, so soon.
But not yet.
Settling into the driver’s seat of my car, I blow out a breath and then growl as my phone buzzes in my purse.
What now?
BEAU: I picked up dessert so you can come straight here
WREN: That bad?
BEAU: Everyone is in love and the bourbon isn’t helping
WREN: Where’s Jesse?
BEAU: Still on his way
WREN: Be there soon
Grinning,I toss my phone into the cupholder and pull out of the parking lot and onto the main road. In the past few months, my brother Lake and my cousin Reid found love in Wintervale. Reid’s had been new and Lake’s had been years in the making.
My oldest brother, Beau, and our younger brother, Jesse, remained blessedly unattached, an unfortunate situation—at least according to our mother who wanted us all to find that special someone.
