I think I’m in love.
At least with this new accounting system Bronco put in place. It’s going to make my day-to-day life so much easier since it tracks everything. I was having to do all this stuff myself before, and it would take up so much time. It’s something that has to be done so I know where I need to cut some things or add others in order to turn better profits. This man is making it really hard for me to not like him.
He’s so damn confusing. With the way he treats me, you wouldn’t think he’d be the type of man that would buy a woman. Maybe I should stop focusing on that so much. The bought part could be about me running this place and not the sex. Then again, he did say there was one thing he really wanted. Instantly I’m wet, and I roll my eyes at myself.
“I haven’t stepped in the room and you’re already rolling your eyes at me?” I glance up to see Bronco standing in my open office door. My heart leaps, and there’s no denying I’ve missed him. I was even disappointed when someone brought me lunch and it wasn’t him. I’d been tempted to text him, but somehow I held strong.
He’s got that handsome smirk on his face that makes my insides flutter like a first crush. I suppose he is, which makes it easy to understand the word crush now.
I start to smile back until I see the beautiful blonde next to him. She’s dressed in a soft purple blouse and slacks. She’s standing right beside Bronco, but her attention is down on the clipboard in her hand. I suddenly feel underdressed, but then I remind myself this is a rodeo.
I push back from my chair to stand. Yesterday, I would have never believed that I could work in my father’s office. Today the only thing that’s the same about the room is its location. I don’t know how Bronco pulled it off so fast, but he did. I’m finding that he’s capable of anything he puts his mind to.
“I wasn’t rolling my eyes at you,” I say as he steps into my office. The woman follows behind and finally lifts her head to give me a bright smile.
“Hi,” I greet the woman, holding my hand out.
“Tracy, this is Ms. Savino,” Bronco says before she takes my hand. This is the engineer.
“Call me Charlie. Ms. Savino is my mother, and Bronco knows it annoys me.”
Bronco grunts. “She doesn’t need to call you Charlie, that's too friendly. And let her hand go already.”
Charlie laughs but does as Bronco asks. “Didn’t know you were the jealous type. Interesting.” She pushes her glasses up her nose as Bronco folds his arms over his chest. I’m not sure what’s happening here.
“Is everything okay?” My eyes drop to the clipboard in her hand. Bronco has gone from teasing me to annoyed, and now I think he might be angry.
“Everything is great actually. Fabulous, in fact.” Charlie’s smile grows even bigger.
“So the structure is fine? We’re good.”
“For now yes, but there are some places that could be updated because in time they’ll be an issue, but Bronco’s already taken care of it.”
I let out a breath. I’m so relieved. “Okay, you two had me worried.”
“Oh, I think Bronco’s scared for the first time in his whole damn life.” Her tone is filled with playful happiness. These two clearly know each other somewhat well.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” he grumbles back at her.
“Always,” she chirps. “I’m one of the most sought-after structural engineers in the state.”
“Yeah, you’ve brought that up about a thousand times over the years.” I get a sense they could go back and forth all day, so I cut in.
“It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you so much for coming out here at the last second.”
“The pleasure was all mine.” She winks at me.
“Charlotte,” Bronco snaps.
The engineer shrugs, not at all sorry, before turning and leaving the two of us alone.
“Charlotte?” Now I’m the one annoyed. What happened to Ms. Savino or even Charlie as she requested? Charlotte for some reason sounds really personal to me. Actually, everything about them together felt too personal. I hate it, and I know what it is. It’s plain old jealousy, which is not good. I can’t get jealous over Bronco and other women because I’ll never make it.
“She hates when people call her that, but Aunt Jenny gave her the name, so it’s her fault.”
“She’s your cousin?”
“Yep, and an annoying one at that.” He walks over and gives my door a shove so it closes behind him. The room somehow shrinks two sizes now that he’s in here with me.
“Annoying? She rushed over here to do an inspection.”
“Right.” He lets out a sexy chuckle that is so deep it makes my nipples harden. How does a laugh turn someone on? He’s done something to my body and somehow flipped this switch that I can’t seem to locate. Even now with the scent of him filling up the room, my body is starting to tingle. “She came to see you. I forgot she’s got a thing for short brunettes.” He mutters the last part. Wait. Was he jealous?
A thrill runs through me, and I know it’s terrible to be happy because of it. Jealousy is a horrible feeling to have, but thinking of Bronco being angry because someone wanted me has my world once again being turned upside down.
“I missed you.” He leans up against the closed door. He looks like he’s fighting himself not to come over to me as the muscles in his arms flex.
“Well, I’ve been right here. You could have stopped by any time.” I sit back down and try to focus on my computer screen. I can play it cool too.
“You didn’t text.”
I can’t help but glance up because I swear there is a pout to his words. When I see his expression, I know I’m right. He’s pouting. Somehow, he can pull it off because he’s still as sexy as can be.
“I missed you too, Bronco.” The words are out of my mouth before I can try and stop myself. When his face lights up, I don’t regret it either. Faster than he should be able to move for a man his size, he’s across the room and kissing me. “Bronco,” I moan against his mouth.
“Fuck, we can’t do this here.” He’s right, but I only press myself tighter against him. I don’t know what it is about Bronco, but it feels so right with him.
A knock on the door has both of us freezing, and the only sound is our heavy breathing.
“Walker?” Nina’s voice sounds from the other side of the door. It’s a reminder that I’m at work and the staff are arriving. The doors will be opening soon to customers, and I’m in my father’s old office moaning like a buckle bunny.
It’s the cold splash of water that I need.