Page 58 of Only One Bed: Anthology Vol. 1
What You Need
Torrance Sené
“You’ve got to be joking…” Ness sighed and stared at the chalet standing proudly in front of them. Like some defiant, mocking bastard.Note to self: Add mountains to places I hate.
The passenger-side car door closed, and soon, her colleague Bree chuckled beside her. “They call this a resort?” She snorted. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. It’s a gorgeous place, but this issonot a lodge. There’s no one even here.”
“Didn’t need your commentary, thanks.” Ness rolled her eyes and pulled the property’s keys out of her coat pocket. The agency had stated it was an inn, and she’d expected multiple buildings with a spa or at least a few saunas—possibly a gym. Or even a ski shop with it being a terrain like this. A winter wonderland getaway tucked away in the Colorado Mountains. Appraising something like that would look amazing on her résumé.
It was the only reason she’d subcontracted Bree through work to come along for extra protection. She liked having someone with her in case of creepy men who had no idea what boundaries or human decency were.
The first few times that’d happened had been enough for her, especially after the last one. Another empty building, only that time with a squatter who was a little too happy to see her and had followed her around. She’d almost quit after that, but a friend mentioned hiring a bodyguard instead, since spending nights feeling unsafe was no way to get a job done. After meeting Bree, she knew it was the best way to keep her career moving forward.
But now, she’d be stuck with her. Alone in a house with no escape from the woman she’d been unable to stop thinking about since the day they met. The snow crunched beneath Ness’s boots as she traipsed up the steps to the stone and wood chalet, duffel bag in hand. She just needed to get through this weekend and back to forgetting about her coworker and the sweet way the corner of her eyes crinkled when she laughed.
The two women didn’t see each other often. Only when Ness needed a little extra protection on an away job. Ness enjoyed that, enjoyed the ability to push her out of her mind and focus on work. The last thing she needed was some stunning woman distracting her. She doubted she’d have much luck ignoring her this weekend, even if inviting Bree along had been her own idea. There wouldn’t be anything to divide their attention away from one another. No guests or staff to talk to. And she’d forgotten the latest novel she’d been reading on the nightstand back in town.
Her skin bristled the more she thought about being alone together. Bree threatened the tight rein Ness held over her life. And now she would have to deal with all this forced proximity.
“Didn’t realize I needed your permission to speak.” Bree’s heavy footsteps followed her up the stairs. “That possible promotion is really going to your head, huh?”
Ness clenched her jaw. She decided it was better not to reply and keep her attention on unlocking the door. Bree got under her skin, always offering unprompted opinions whenever they worked together. She had one job—to be a bodyguard—but she was always so damn chatty. And her voice was like silk against Ness’s skin.
Soft, smooth, … and distracting.
She should never have let the promotion slip, over after-work drinks one night. It felt like letting someone in a little more. And getting close to someone again, especially someone she worked with, didn’t fall within the current version of Ness’s five-year plan. Dating was a section of the pie chart she could live without.
The wind whipped around them both as Ness twisted the key, swinging the door open. The scent of cedar and pine greeted them and mingled with the musk of Bree’s perfume. But the interior felt no warmer than outside.Great.
“They knew we were coming,” Bree offered another unwarranted statement as she removed her scarf once they were inside and out of the wind. “The least they should’ve done was flip on the heat.”
Ness sighed. “I’ll call Mason and see what’s up.” She clicked her boss’s contact in her phone and let it ring. The late afternoon sun filtering through the windows glinted off Bree’s black hair and set off the dark blue highlights. She looked so gorgeous in that light.
What the hell?Ness shook her head.Nope. Absolutely not.You work with her, for God’s sake. She turned around and focused on the wall, denying her attraction.
It would be unethical.
Wrong. Taboo. And feel so fucking good…
Heat rose to her cheeks, and she paced through the room, putting a little more distance between them.Come on, Mason. Pick up the phone.
Suddenly, the ringing cut off, and the connection made an annoying beep that could only mean one thing.Fuck. “The signal dropped. Stupid mountains.” Ness pinched the bridge of her nose. Could things get any worse?
Bree bent over, admiring the antiques in a glass cabinet. Her ass looked amazing in those tight leggings. Tall boots accentuated her calf muscles beautifully. But then the rest of her gorgeous body disappeared under a puffy parka.
Yes, they definitely could get worse.
Ness swallowed. She’d hired Bree. Essentially, on paper at least, she was her boss. And as her boss, the last thing she needed to do was give in to this attraction. It was unprofessional. Not to mention it would put another woman at risk for a reprimand, and Ness didn’t want that. She wanted Bree to succeed as much as she did herself. So, these thoughts needed to go away and leave her in peace. They were here todo a job. That’s it. She needed her body to get on board with this fact and calm the hell down.
“Seriously?” Bree turned around and sighed. She shrugged her shoulders. “So, business continues as usual, then?”
“Yeah. We don’t really have anything else to do.” Ness chuckled wryly, crossing her arms over her chest and making her leather jacket squeak. “Might as well do my job and appraise the place. We’ll get paid either way.” Besides, she hated leaving anything unfinished. There was a reputation at work she needed to uphold. The cabin instead of an inn, the lack of heat and staff, these were just things she’d have to deal with, and adapt. They shouldn’t keep her from doing what she came for.
Bree’s eyes sparkled. “You say that, but this place must surely have something fun we can get up to.” A smirk pulled at her lips. “Use your imagination, Ness.”
Was that a flirt? Was she flirting?
Nah. Ness was simply imagining things. She had to be. It was merely a side effect of not getting laid in three years. Not since Anthony had broken her heart. She cleared her throat. She hated thinking of him. What kind of man dumps a woman just because he finds out she’s bisexual? Who does shit like that?Asshole.
