Page 51 of Perfect Scandal
“That’s what I’m saying, honey.” She squeezes my hand. “You’re pushing yourself like you have something to prove. But Holden and Kaden already respect you as much as you do them, and they know no one can run this ranch like you do.”
Maybe. But will they feel the same when they find out I’ve fallen for their sister?
That’s the real question.
chapter 19
TESSA
Twelve.
That’s the number of times Jeff has called since I walked out of his office and went straight to HR.
No doubt he’s ready to stroke out wondering how that conversation went, but the HR director assured me that she would resolve the matter first thing Monday morning with JeffandSpencer. The meeting request she sent before she thanked me for coming to her directly undoubtedly kicked his panic into overdrive, and, I suspect, Spencer’s, too.
Which is why I left for Montana.
I could’ve gone to my parents’ or to stay with my cousin Devin at the Shadow River Ranch in case Spencer decided to bang down my door demanding answers, but neither of those options was as appealing as the prospect of falling into the safety and comfort of Dean’s arms.
Pulling up beside his truck, I cut the lights to keep them from shining into the bedroom window. I feel bad enough about putting him in a precarious position by staying with him, if only for tonight, but I’m tired of pretending there’s nothing between us when what we have makes me happy.
Grabbing my overnight bag from the back seat, I creep into the house as quietly as I can, locking the door behind me before I toe off my shoes… and run smack into a very solid and very warm chest.
“You’re late,” Dean says in a sleep-roughed voice as he puts his hands on my arms to steady me.
“Ugh.” I huff out the breath I was holding and slug his bicep instead of screaming. “You scared the crap out of me!”
“Payback for making me worry. I thought you’d be here forty-five minutes ago.”
“I stopped for coffee and a potty break, and there was an accident just over the state line. I had to wait a few minutes to get through.”
“Could’ve texted.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear.
I sigh at the gesture. His concern is sweet, and if I were him, I would’ve been worried, too.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you.” I press up on my toes for a kiss. “Forgive me?”
“Fine.” A low growl rolls in his chest as he wraps me up in a greedy embrace and deepens the kiss. “But just this once. And only because you smell so friggin’ good.”
Giggling, I pull back and step purposefully away. “None of that. Not now, anyway. You have to get up again in a couple hours.”
“Ball buster,” he grumbles under his breath before he takes my bag and leads me back to his room. “Does that mean you’re gonna make me wait to hear what Spencer did, too?”
“Yes. Mostly because I don’t want to get worked up again and not sleep.”
He glances over his shoulder, one eyebrow lifted. “That bad?”
“Yes, but rest assured, I took control of the situation, and big changes are coming.” If they don’t, I’ll quit. I won’t work with Spencer or Jeff anymore, and if they aren’t let go, I won’t work for that kind of company either.
Dean sets my bag on his dresser and pulls me against him once again. “I’m proud of you,” he says into my hair.
“You don’t know what I did.”
“No, but I’m proud as hell that you stood up for yourself.”
I am, too. My only regret is that it took me so long to do it. “Thank you.” I kiss his neck. “Let’s get some sleep. I’m going to lay low in the morning before heading over to the main house. If I have to, I’ll lie and say I stayed in Wyoming last night. But since Holden is gone, I can probably avoid Kaden for a while and not have to explain myself.”
He nods. “Alana’s covering shifts at the store all weekend, so she’ll be gone early, too. There’s a bout of the flu going around.”
