Page 18 of Worth the Rush
“Here’s your latte,” Winnie says, and I walk over to grab it from her.
“Did you say he had a brother?” I whisper conspiratorially, and we both giggle.
“Right? God, he’s beautiful.” She outright eye fucks him while he checks his phone and sighs. “He does though. Two.” She winks.
“Yeah? Single?” I ask, playfully.
“Both.” She laughs and looks out the window. “Oh, here comes one now,” she tells me quietly. Another chime, and then I hear a voice that I can’t seem to escape.
“Winnie Parker, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Please forget my brother and marry me instead,” hedeclares and Winnie dissolves into a fit of laughter. I turn to look at where he’s speaking from. Alder’s arms are crossed over his heart, and he’s covered in a small dusting of snow. It’s snowing again? He looks good. Too good. I’m surprised I didn’t see the similarities before. It’s obvious these men are brothers.
His smile falters slightly when he sees me.
“Ivy?” he asks, confused.
“Hi, Alder,” I reply.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. I’m picking up the bakery order for the resort,” he explains.
I nod at him “Yeah, I hear you have an in with the owner you’re trying to tempt into an affair,” I say, hitching a thumb back at Winnie. “Though in the five minutes I’ve been here, it's been made fairly clear that she’s already spoken for. At least that’s what I gathered from the smokin’ hot kiss they shared in front of me a couple of minutes ago.” I grin, and he grins back at me. Damn, there’s that fucking dimple.
“Ohthat? She’s just trying to make me jealous.” Then he winks at her. “It’s working by the way,” he adds, and Rhett growls at him.Growls.I can’t help it, I start laughing. Winnie joins me. I take a sip of my latte.
“Holy shit. This is amazing.” I turn toward her. “Could I get a cinnamon roll and two of those molasses cookies for the road,” I ask.
“Of course.” She’s still chuckling when she answers. “So how do you two know each other?”
“I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier, but I’m the new hospitality manager at The Edgemont, so we’ll be working together,” I answer.
“I also gave her a ride home last night after her car slid off the road,” Alder cuts in.
“He also ran me over in the snow yesterday morning, so maybe don’t try to sound like such a hero?” I’m looking at him now as I say this. I reach for my wallet, but he stops me. His hand on mine, causing that familiar shot of heat to run through me.
“Allow me to start making amends then.” He doesn’t break eye contact with me as he sets his card down on the counter in front of me, assuming to pay for my baked goods and coffee.
“Okay, Casanova. It’s on the house tonight,” Winnie says with an eye roll and I laugh. He smiles, and Rhett laughs from behind us.
“We’re going to AJ’s Tuesday night for drinks, and there will be live music. It should be a good time. Do you want to come, Ivy?” Rhett asks me. Alder is looking at me like he knows my answer will be no before I say it. And it would have been if he wasn’t looking at me like that.
I turn to Rhett before speaking “I’d love to. Thank you so much for the invite.” Then I look at Winnie “Thank you for the coffee and treats, Winnie. It was so nice to meet you,” I tell her honestly. I don’t have a lot of girlfriends…or friends really.
“Anytime, Ivy. Please come back and visit me. I’m glad I’ll be seeing you around.” She smiles.
“I will absolutely be back for more coffee. I’ll see you all Tuesday night then.” I walk to the door and turn around so my back is pressed against it. When I turn, Alder and I end up face-to face. I gasp.
“I thought I’d walk you to your car,” he says.
“I think I can manage.” My voice betrays me, I don’t sound very sure.
“All the same. I’ll feel better if I know you make it therewithout sliding into a ditch.” He winks and now I’m pissed off backing out the door with him following me.
“First of all, I was in an SUV that slid into a ditch, I’m told there was very hard-to-detect black ice on the road. Secondly, I would have been fine without you stopping.” I poke him with the hand that’s carrying my coffee as I end my little rant. He chuckles and then sighs.
“Be that as it may, Ivy. You couldn’t have made me leave you there alone. I’m finding it hard to leave you alone at all.” It sounds almost like a warning in his deep voice.
“I think I could have made you do whatever I wanted,” I say in a low voice as we make it to my SUV. Why am I flirting? He grins.
“That,”—he pauses opening my door when I click the unlock on my fob—“is probably true,” he agrees, and I snort, surprised. I was expecting an argument.
