Page 32 of Every Single Wildflower
Low voices are in the background, but I block them out as I clean up the floor. I’m reaching for the last pen when a largetanned hand snags it from the concrete. I glance up to see Maddox crouched in front of me, twisting the pen between his fingers.
“Everything ok in here, Goldie?”
Goldie.
My breath hitches and a flock of birds take flight in my belly at the nickname he keeps insisting on using.
“All good.” I reach for the pen, but he yanks his hand back.
“You sure?”
I let out a huff. “Yes.” I push to my feet. “Go back to your meeting. Looks like you were about to get a happy ending.”
I want to die the second the words leave my lips. My cheeks flush and the asshole in front of me curls his lip into that sexy smirk that I have come to loathe.
“Does that bother you?’ He tilts his head.
I scoff. “Why on earth would that bother me? The only thingbotheringme is the fact you conduct yourextracurricularson this ranch during business hours and with married clients for that matter.”
That’s good Ivy. It's about business. The ranch. Adultery. Not your fragile heart mangled by the cowboy who is now full-on grinning.
“I don’t mix business with pleasure," he says, holding out the pen for me.
I snatch it, my fingers brushing along his rough skin as I do. Tingles spread up my arm, and I don’t miss the way his grin falters.
Did he feel it too?
I clear my throat just as Cooper steps into the doorway of the office. “Hey guys. Fire captain is here.”
Thank God. Maybe he can put this fire out for me. It’s been burning too long for Maddox Sheppard.
Chapter twenty-five
Maddox
Warren Nixon tucks his clipboard under his arm, then extends his hand to me. “Maddox.”
I take it, before he moves his eyes to Ivy. “Good to see you, Ivy.” He opens an arm as she steps up to him for a side hug that’s completely innocent.
But that innocence doesn't stop the wave of possessiveness crawling inside of my skin when his hand brushes against her back.You got some nerve, Shep.
“Hey Warren. Thanks for coming out.” She keeps her gaze averted from mine, and I’m even more convinced now that everything she said the other night was a lie. She wants to seemindifferent, but she was jealous in the office. It was written all over her pretty face and it had me feeling some sort of way.
“It would probably be easier for you to take the side by side. Getting through with a truck will be a bitch.” Cooper leans against the door of his pickup.
“That’s fine.” Warren pulls his clipboard out. “It might take me a while given the amount that was damaged. But I’ll find the source. It’ll take me a couple of days to do my official report, but I’ll have something by at least tomorrow or the next day.”
Cooper nods, tossing him the keys before he steps over to Ivy. “You look tired.”
“Is that code for you look like shit?” She rolls her eyes.
“No. It’s code for you’re spending too much time in dad’s office.” Cooper drapes an arm over her shoulder. “Why don’t you get some fresh air.”
“I don’t need fresh air. I need all of this to be settled so I can go back to my normal life.”
I feel a sharp pinch in my chest at her words.
“Well fuck me, Ivy.” Cooper removes his arm. “I’m sorry this is so inconvenient for you.”
