Chapter 23

23

He wanted that woman. His housekeeper. Her.

Fletcher contemplated just what that meant for him as he listened to her talking to one of her sisters. She sounded a little shaky. He just watched her as she puttered in the kitchen, her earbuds in as she talked. She was putting the cake away, and cleaning. Even though the kitchen was spotless. He got the impression Dylan had a few control issues. She liked things far more organized and orderly than he would have ever expected. She cleaned when she was nervous, anxious, preoccupied, and bored.

He just watched her—imagining slipping that little blue sweater over her head and seeing if every inch of her was as soft as he imagined. He could lift her into his arms and carry her down the hall. He had a nice, extra-large bed in there. Plenty of room for him to do everything he wanted to do to his housekeeper.

Over and over again. Forever.

He could keep her there forever.

He had five months and two days with her living in his house to go. Unless she called it quits, first.

Left him.

Fletcher almost snarled even imagining her leaving him.

No. Not happening.

He was going to use that time wisely to convince her she didn’t want to go anywhere. That she wanted to stay right there with him. His dad had told him and his brothers multiple times, when a Tyler man knew the woman he wanted forever, he just knew.

Fletcher had just known for a week now. He just hadn’t known what to do about it.

Fletcher was coming to terms with it. He wanted Dylan. Dusty’s pain-in-the-ass baby sister who had been taunting him since the very instant they had first met.

There were just a few obstacles first. Like the woman seemed incredibly jumpy every time he got near her. He was going to have to find a way around that.

Slow and steady, maybe. Show her she didn’t have to be afraid of him. He suspected Dylan was a bit of a runner. He made her nervous. He understood that now. Everything that had happened between them before had contributed to that.

Well, now he had to fix it.

She ended her call and then finished in the kitchen. She flipped off the lights and came back to him.

Fletcher’s entire body tensed at the image that evoked. Damn, he wished he could just carry her down the hall and keep her there all night. All night long.

“We probably have another hour to go. We’re going to finish this, and then I will put you on a system, Fletcher Tyler. And you will follow it. Or else.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He liked it when she frowned up at him like that. Big green eyes that showed every emotion, the soft pink lips that made a man hungry. And not for cake. Definitely not for cake. His hands almost trembled with the urge to just scoop her up and kiss her.

To see what would happen.

But that would be too fast for her. If he rushed her, he had no guarantee she wouldn’t run all the way back to the inn and stay there.

He’d figured that much out this week.

He’d have to lure her right back out again. That would get complicated. He wasn’t going to give up now. His best bet to get what he wanted from her was to have her here, in his home. With him. Where it felt like she belonged. “Let’s finish this. Everything okay at the inn?”

“Dahlia was upset about something. I guess that desk clerk Abby was saying mean things around her and Dahlia overheard. She wanted me to know about it. She’s really sensitive,” Dylan shrugged and then sank onto the couch. She pulled the throw his mother had knit so long ago around her shoulders. “I told her I’m not worried, and neither should she.”

“What was said?”

“My morals are apparently in major question. Did you know I was caught outside the community center making out with Mateo? And Quade? Or maybe it was or Quade. Both are tall and dark-haired, after all. I don’t know. I am the slut of the county. Everybody knows that, that’s why I am living here with you. Apparently, Uncle Gerald kicked me out of the inn or something. You took me in out of pity, by the way. We should probably make it look good next time we are at the inn at the same time. I can curl this wacky hair even more, dye it red, do the entire Orphan Annie thing. You want to be Daddy Warbucks?”

“And Abby Vanderguard told your sister this?”

“She said it right where Dahlia could hear, yes. Abby works at the inn, you know. She knows which one of us is the most sensitive. People like that know just who to bully.” A look crossed her face. One that told him Dylan was about to declare war if Abby didn’t leave her sisters alone. “I’ll take care of her next time I work at the inn.”

He'd gone to school with Abby. She had her share of problems back then—including a really bad attitude. Especially where other girls were involved. “She’s always been a piece of work. If anyone says anything to me, I’ll set them straight. In a heartbeat.”

“I’m not too worried about it. People have been talking about us since we showed up here. I’m getting used to it. We were invisible before, you know. That family people knew lived just down the road, but they didn’t even know all of our names. And they thought there were only three of us. Dahlia spent most of her time inside, reading. She and Devvie were rarely outside at the same time, I think. It’s taking us a while to get used to being in the center of the world here. It’s really annoying, actually.”

“I’m sorry. But if it gets too bad, I’ll kick asses for you.”

She looked at him. Batted those eyelashes. She was so pale, he had to look close to see them. “You would do that for me?”

Fletcher just acted. He didn’t think it through. He just wrapped his hands around her small waist and lifted her off her feet. Until they were eye to eye. “I’d fight armies for you, Dylan Geraldine. You are the kind of woman men fight to the death for. Remember that. Now…let’s get this finished. Aren’t you supposed to be in bed before midnight or something?”

“I like my routine. I like my routine,” she grinned, looking adorable. “The day after tomorrow is my day off, I may just sleep until noon.”

“Go right ahead. Nothing is stopping you.” And when he had her in his bed, he would keep her there long past noon, every single chance that he could. Show her what a woman like her did to a man like him.

Or maybe they’d just go to bed early every night…very early…

Fletcher’s entire body was tight and ready to do just that. He wanted her. More than he had ever wanted another woman in his life.

But for now, Fletcher lowered her to her feet, and they got back to work.

He was still sitting next to her, valiantly ignoring the urge to pull her closer and show her what she was doing to him and fighting sleep himself when a soft weight landed against his shoulder.

Fletcher looked down.

Soft blond hair hid her eyes from him, but he knew.

Dylan was fast asleep. And about to fall to the floor.

He wrapped his arms around her.

Fletcher hiked her closer, sure she’d wake up at any moment and he’d have to explain himself fast. She didn’t.

It didn’t get better than this. He had gotten to hold her tonight, after all.

He pulled the blanket over them both and just stayed right where he was as his eyes drifted shut. He’d get up in a bit, but for now, Dylan didn’t have a clue what she had done to him tonight. But she’d catch on eventually. He was sure of it.

He was looking forward to the challenge.

* * *

Someone was shaking her awake. Dylan was warm and comfortable, damn it. She didn’t want to go anywhere. She opened her eyes and…growled.

Her father was standing over her, staring down at her. Anger on his face and his arms crossed. What had she done now ?

“Just what are you doing, sleeping with that man ?”

“I think it’s rather obvious,” Dylan said, sitting up quickly. As Fletcher did the same, right next to her. “I was sleeping. In case you missed it.”

Well, it was also news to her. She’d give her father that, but what was her father even doing there again anyway? She was now on Fletcher’s lap. And, well, it was morning, and Fletcher was a man . A young, perfectly healthy, very—um… virile… man.

She could feel obvious proof of that before her right palm. She moved her hand— fast.

Dylan felt her cheeks flame.

“No kidding.” Fletcher glared at her father—and his brother. “I’m going to change the damned locks this afternoon. What in the hell do you two want now?”

Fletcher’s hand was on her hip, holding her right there in place.

“Careful. Anyone messes up my filing system will pay. In dire ways,” Dylan said, grabbing a pile of receipts when Ben almost sent them to the floor. She looked at Fletcher, heat hitting her cheeks. “We worked too hard last night for you lunatics to just mess it up.”

She’d apparently slept the entire night in his arms. Soundly. She hadn’t woken even once. Well, except that one time when the house had been dimmed and there had been a slight chill in the air and she had just snuggled closer without thinking about how crazy it was.

Because it had felt right and good and like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

Where she wanted to be. She’d felt safe in his arms last night.

She’d never forget his blue eyes staring at her then—as he’d pulled her even closer. And just held her. As she had pressed even closer. Not a word had been said, but they had both been awake and well aware of what they had been choosing. She’d chosen to sleep in Fletcher’s arms. All night long.

Wow. This was a bit unexpected here. “Guess we fell asleep. Nothing more sleep-inducing than tax deductions.”

“Yeah.” He rubbed a hand over his face. Strawberry-blond hair stuck up everywhere. His hair curled, just like his brothers’. It made her want to touch… “Forgot to set the alarm. I need to get outside. Ben can help me with the stock.”

“I’ll have breakfast ready when you get back,” she said softly, momentarily ignoring her father staring at her like he had a right to just barge in. Again. “I think we got all of it finished last night.”

“Hallelujah. And thanks.”

“Yeah.” Her eyes met his.

And nothing felt the same.

It probably never would again.