“I don’t know what you call it in the big city, but around here, we call that hen-pecked.” Mason cackled as he sauntered away. “Don’t forget to watch where you walk, greenhorn.”
The moment Mason disappeared into the bunkhouse, slamming the door behind him, Jess twisted to confront Cord, her face stormy. His father had worn the same expression when, as a sixteen-year-old, Cord had wrecked his dad’s brand new truck.
“You’ve done your good deed for the day.” She bared her teeth as she squeezed the words out. “You can go, now.”
Yikes! Digging himself out of this hole wasn’t going to be easy.
“Why’re you upset?” He tried to look innocent.
“Why am I upset?” Her hands flailed in the air. “Maybe because the two of you discussed me like a piece of property.”
“That’s just guy talk. I didn’t mean it.”
“Then you said that line, you know how women are.” When she quoted him, she lowered her voice and added a huge helping of whiny sarcasm.
She was so cute when she was mad, Cord had a crazy urge to egg her on. Instead, he found a morsel of common sense and forced himself
to explain.
“I have to work with him every day. I need his cooperation.”
“What about that kiss? You can’t tell me you were trying to gain his cooperation with that.”
“You said roll with you. I was rolling. Anyway, it was only a peck on the cheek.”
“You kissed my neck,” she squeaked, her face flaming. “In front of everybody.”
Good thing he hadn’t kissed her on the lips, like he’d wanted.
“I’m sorry.” I’m sorry it bothered you, but I’m not sorry it happened.
“That’s what I get for lying,” she mumbled, her shoulders drooping like a popped balloon. “Humiliation.”
“My kiss was humiliating?” Not exactly what he was aiming for.
“Stop teasing me.” She snatched her straw hat off and gave him a playful swat on the arm. “I not only pretended you asked me to the dance, but I got caught lying about it. Pretty much the definition of mortification.”
“If you didn’t want to go with Mason, why didn’t you just say no?”
“I don’t know. He caught me by surprise, and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“Yeah. We men have such tender egos. You really have to be careful.”
This time, he succeeded in coaxing a grin. “It’s true. Men act tough on the outside, but inside they’re like delicate china.”
“Or eggshells,” he suggested.
“Exactly.” Her smile widened, then faltered. “And it’ll be eggshell powder when Mason finds out the truth.”
He wanted to put that smile back on her face. More than anything.
“If we go to the dance together, he’ll never find out.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Thanks for the offer, but we could never pull it off. It’s not just the dance, anymore. We’d have to pretend to be dating for the next four weeks.”
He drew his brows together, as if the idea were somewhat painful. “I’d be willing.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked, crossing her arms and drumming her fingers. “Oh! I get it. Nick really doesn’t want me dating Mason, does he?”