Page 10 of Ghost's Obsession

Something about working with Heather’s got me tied up in knots. Working with her is both easy and the most difficult thingI’ve ever done. I can feel myself getting overly focused on her. I need to step back, but everything about her draws me in.

I step back into the clubhouse and round the corner towards our table—voices drift to my ears.

Heather and someone else. A woman.

“Just letting you know, sweetheart,” the second voice is low and seductive, “Ghost likes his girls fun. And quiet. You look a little too uptight and serious for him. Outsiders always are, so don’t think anything is going to come of the two of you spending time together.”

I don’t even need to see her to know who it is. I recognize Roxy’s voice. She’s been hanging around too long, always looking for a way to dig her claws into one of the brothers. Looks like now she’s got her sights set on me. Heather’s with me, so she must’ve looked like a tempting target—one Roxy thinks won’t bite back.

“Cute,” Heather says flatly. “But I’m not interested in crawling into his lap. I was hired to build a living space, not settle down in one.”

Roxy gives a dry little laugh. “Sure, sweetie. That’s what they all say.”

I step up behind her just as Heather crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, clearly ready to hear what I have to say.

Roxy hasn’t noticed me yet. She’s too busy playing alpha in a game Heather’s not even trying to play, much less win.

“Roxy,” I say, voice low.

She flinches and slowly turns around to face me. When she sees the look on my face, her eyes go wide for a second. She’stried to play me for a fool one too many times, and today I’m not having it.

“Oh hey, Ghost. Just sayin’ hi to your new little friend.”

“Don’t lie to me. I heard every word you said.”

Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out, so she closes it again.

“Heather is here as my guest. On club business,” I say, stepping between them. “So quit hovering and stop annoying people who don’t want your company.”

My tone drops, hard and clipped. “Go away.”

She steps back, lips pressed into a pout, but the fire in her eyes is still there.

“You’ve changed,” she says bitterly.

“No,” I tell her, “You’re just not used to me being so direct with you.”

Her eyes flick to Heather one last time before she turns on her heel and storms off, heels clicking against the old floorboards.

I let out a slow breath and turn back towards Heather, who’s already gathering her pages like nothing happened.

“Sorry about that,” I say.

She doesn’t look up. “You don’t have to apologize. She’s territorial. And rude. But I’ve dealt with worse.”

I ease back into my chair. “Still, she was outta line.”

Heather meets my eyes. “You handled it.”

There’s a pause. Just long enough for the moment to settle.

And then she flips the next sketch around like nothing happened. Just like that, she’s all business again. Only now, something in her eyes is sharp. When she looks at me, it’s like she sees something she didn’t expect.

She slides the last sketch back into her folder and straightens the stack of paperwork like she’s sealing the moment up tight.

“I’ll reach out to the structural engineer today,” she says. “I’ll accept the appointment he offered for Friday.”

“Good. I’ll leave early to make sure I’m there by six.”

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