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CHAPTER THREE

Cash

I slumped over the front desk, chin supported on my right hand, and checked the time on my computer screen. It read 6:50 p.m.

I sighed wistfully, like a princess trapped in a castle. If only some prince would come kiss me and set me free. Or was it that he needed to cut my hair? My hair was short enough already, and I liked this style, so maybe it was just as well?—

“Brr! The air-conditioning is chilly when you’re wet. My nips are getting all hard. Look, Harrison!”

Harrison attempted to shush his loud boyfriend as the two entered from the door that led out to the pool. While Harrison wore board shorts with a towel draped over his shoulders, Noah was clad in only tiny briefs that left little to the imagination and held the towel over one arm, doing little to shield his nips from the cold.

I grinned, happy for the distraction. Today had been relatively slow, aside from taking Declan’s call and checking these two in earlier. We’d booked a large group reservation around 1 p.m., a request for room service at five, but largely it had been quiet on the home front.

If it weren’t for Grandma Kitty’s visits throughout the day to talk about everything from her favorite television shows to her little crush on old Chester—which Brooks was going to love when he found out—I’d probably have died of boredom by now.

No chance of that with Harrison and Noah heading toward me, half-naked and dripping wet.

“You two look like you’re enjoying your stay.”

“It’s great,” Noah said, giving an excited wiggle that drew my eyes to his very exposed body. And he had a lot of body to expose. He owned every bit of his beefy thighs, jiggly ass, and furry belly, though, and it was actually pretty damn sexy. “I had three daiquiris in the pool.”

I chuckled. “I can tell.”

Harrison grimaced. “For a big guy, he’s kind of a lightweight. Sorry. We’ll go to our room and put on some clothes. The hotel really is great. I’m glad Declan sent us this way.”

Noah rubbed his nipples. “I could use some help warming up.” He gave me a coy look. “When do you get off shift? You look downright hot. ”

I shot a look Harrison’s way, but his gaze was more appraising than concerned.

“I’m off in a few, but I’m actually headed over to the B and a third cabin built on the rise of a small hill with a staircase and deck that extended up into the trees for some amazing views.

I rapped on the front door, hoping someone would be around to open it for me since I didn’t have a convenient hookup with a key tonight.

A few knocks later, a cute woman in a Weekend Hookers hat answered the door. “Hey! Declan was fetching us some cards for a poker game. You want to join?”

Poker? Really?

She stepped back and headed for the dining area where Declan served breakfast. I knew because I’d gate-crashed a couple of times, to his immense displeasure.

I trailed behind her. “Is Declan playing with you?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Doubtful. He’s more of a loner. Likes his crosswords and his gardens.”

I smiled fondly. “That sounds about right. Actually, I’m just?—”

“Cash?” Declan’s voice cut through my explanation as he entered the room with a silver case. “What are you doing here?”

I widened my eyes. “Just checking to see if you have a gambling license, sir.”

Declan set down the case, which the B it’s the least I can do.”

“That was a long time ago, and you were invited by guests,” he said.

“Not the last time.” My eyes met his and held for a long moment. The memory of that ghost of a kiss rose in my mind. I wondered if he ever thought about it? Probably not. But it haunted me.

Declan cleared his throat. “Uh, yes, well that was just… You don’t owe me anything for that. You never did. Not that night. Not now.”

I cocked my head. Something about the way he said that struck me as odd. But I couldn’t quite figure it out, so I shrugged it off. “Okay, well, maybe I just want to be friends.”

“Friends?” he said, forehead creasing.

“We got off on the wrong foot, and that’s on me. I knew you weren’t comfortable with me coming here so often, and I did it anyway.”

Declan looked confused. “Cash, you don’t have to explain all that. I realized the last night you were here why you were doing it. It had nothing to do with me.”

I chewed my bottom lip. That was partly true. I was avoiding going home a lot of those nights. But I got a sort of childish thrill out of cracking his composure, too. Declan was so closed off, so immune to my charms.

Something about him had always gotten under my skin.

But acting like a kid pulling pigtails was never the way to win a man like Declan. I knew that much.

Most of that was better left unsaid. It would only make Declan uncomfortable—and I was trying to do the opposite these days.

“Well, all I really wanted to say was that I hoped we could start over on better terms.”

“It’s not really necessary,” he said. “But sure.” To my surprise, he played along and held out his hand. “I’m Declan Sullivan, owner of this B&B. Nice to meet you.”

I grasped his hand, reveling in his strong grip, rough with calluses. One I could too easily imagine on my cock, damn it.

My eyes met his, and I could swear there was a spark—and not just one way. I resisted the urge to flirt and ruin all the progress I’d just made.

“Hi, Declan. I’m Cash Hicks. I work at the nearby resort, and I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. So if you need help with anything around here, just give me a ring.”

Declan gazed at me searchingly for a long moment before releasing my hand and stepping back. “That’s very neighborly of you, Cash. I’ll be sure to do that. And if I can do anything for you—” He stopped abruptly. “Well, not anything. ”

I chuckled. “Don’t worry, Declan, we’re being neighborly. No sex favors. Unless you’ve got more exciting neighbors than I do?”

He smiled ruefully. “No. Uh, I’d be glad to help you out sometime if you ever need a place to stay or…or…something else I can do.”

“Actually, I’m staying in my own bed these days,” I said, giving him a direct look that I hoped he’d interpret correctly, “but thanks for the offer.”