Page 61 of The Mating Game
“Right,” I laugh.
I stretch my arms above my head then, and I notice that she eyes me, her gaze following the motion in a way that makes my alpha preen. So if I flex a little when I push my wet hair from my eyes after, well, that’s no one’s business but mine.
“We used to be so much busier than this,” I tell her.
She nods. “Jeannie told me a bit about it.”
“She told you about the new highway?”
Another nod.
“Well,” I go on. “After that…everything slowed to a crawl. We bleed money every year now, and sometimes I don’t even know how we’re keeping the lights on. We had to get a loan just to pay you and your brothers.”
Her mouth parts, and I immediately give myself a mental kick for saying that.
“Sorry,” I say. “Again, I don’t know why I told you that.”
And I don’t, really. For some reason, I find it easy to talk to Tess. Maybe it’s because of all thehelpingI’ve been doing. It’s hard not to feel comfortable with someone you half fucked in the snow.
“It’s okay,” she says gently. “I get it.”
“I guess you could say all this”—I wave my hand aimlessly in the direction of the lodge—“is a last-ditch effort.” I huff derisively. “Pretty pathetic, huh?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think so. You’re trying to save something you love. That’s admirable.” She gives me a stern look. “And it’s obvious that you love the place.”
I cast my eyes down to the water, trying not to think of my parents. The last thing I need to do is get all morose on her. “Idolove this place. My entire childhood was here, and the thought of changing things terrifies me.”
“I get that,” she answers. “I’m doing my best to revamp more than revise, if that makes sense.”
“I can tell,” I say. “And you have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
Her answering grin is blinding, and I feel my gut clench with want that is sudden and fierce.
“So tell me more about you,” I say, trying to take the focus off me.
“Well, you know what I do for a living and that I have three brothers.”
“True,” I say, “but there’s gotta be more to Tess Covington than that. Did you always know you wanted to do this for a living?”
“For what feels like forever,” she tells me. “It just seemed right.”
“Seems like it’s working out for you with all the social media stuff.”
She looks sheepish then. “Actually…I’m in talks with HGTV for my own show.”
“What?” My brows raise. “That’s pretty fucking cool.”
“It’s…overwhelming. And there’s a chance they’ll pass, but…I guess it’s cool just to be considered.”
“Your family must be thrilled about that.”
Her smile immediately falters, and she suddenly looks unsure. “Well…I mean…I’m sure theywouldbe…if they knew.”
“You haven’t told them?”
“They have a lot going on.” She fidgets in her seat. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear about my drama.”
“Unbiased third party,” I remind her. “Remember?”
