Page 58 of Bargain With the Boss

When she lightly brushed against me at the stairs I had to swallow down a groan. I wanted to drag her against me. To make sure everyone knew she was mine.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t and that made me surlier than it should.

She was Jude’s sister which made it sticky. I honestly wasn’t sure how upset he’d be if I was into her, but the fact that we had to work together made another layer of problems.

When we got to the lobby, I stared down a man looking at her.

He put up a hand in surrender and looked away. Annoyed at how easy it was to feel proprietary, I hustled her out the door to the valet. Jerry hopped up and ran for my car, leaving us on the sunny sidewalk.

“Maybe I should have put up the rest of my hair.” She tucked a curl behind her ear as the wind kicked up.

“I like it down.”

“All men like it down. We’re the ones who have to deal with it.”

I took her shawl from her and draped it over her shoulders, over her hair. “Short drive.”

“Fine.”

I swapped a bill for my keys on the way by. Jerry gave me a wide grin and went back to his station. Pulling out, I turned toward the lake. Instead of the congested area near the food trucks and boardwalk, I kept driving.

Her red hair floated around her face, the shawl little help in keeping it under control. I caught the smile on her face and turned up the radio. The acoustic rock song suited the sunshine and the moment.

When we got up to the vista, I went a little farther. There was a rocky lookout closer to the water. I’d been in a bidding war for the property, but lost out to a nearby architect.

As long as it wasn’t Maitland, I hadn’t been overly pissed about it. We’d worked with Kainoa N’ai a few times and he was all about keeping the land, as we were.

But it was one helluva view and I knew he wouldn’t mind me showing it off.

He was still working on the perfect blueprints for his home.

When I pulled into the pitted road she gave me a look.

“Just wait.”

“Okay.” She left the shawl behind when I opened the door for her.

“A friend of mine bought this land. I was bidding against him until I figured out it wasn’t one of Maitland’s friends.”

“It’s very rough.”

“Kain will work with the land and wants to make a home.”

“That really is important to you.”

I simply nodded and took her hand and led her across the uneven ground to the path that led through some overgrown flowers.

She fingered a few of the purple and white blooms. “I’ve never seen so much wild rose of Sharon.”

“Is that the name? We have a ton of it over here.”

“Yes. It does tend to take over if you aren’t careful.”

Surprised, I grinned down at her. “Are you a plant lady?”

She shrugged. “Maybe a little.”

Interesting. I remembered her looking around the garden in rapt attention as well. Not just a suit then. I filed away the detail and led her up to the natural rock formation. I wasn’t sure if it was from an old hunting post or just someone who also had an affinity for the view, but I loved it.