Risky (Adventures in Love 2)

“We know you don’t want someone stepping in at the last minute, and yeah, we shouldn’t have agreed to hire Everly without you, but we knew you’d find something wrong with her too,” Mav says, and my jaw clenches. I want to say he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but he and Tanner both know me better than anyone.

“Does she even know how to ride a four-wheeler, clean fish, change a tire?” I ask, grasping at straws, because the chance of her having to do any of those things is very unlikely.

“No, but she can learn.” Mav shrugs, then adds, “The important thing is she knows how to run an office. The rest, we can teach her how to do if it’s necessary. We just need you to be nice and to not scare her off.”

“I’m not going to scare her off.”

“Right.” Tanner presses his lips together. “You stomping into the office and acting like a growling beast really gave the impression that you’re someone who’d make a great boss.”

“I wasn’t a growling beast.”

“You were.” We all turn at that comment from Everly to find her standing at the top of the stairs with her shoulder resting against the post and her arms crossed over her chest. Her posture is casual, but the hint of annoyance in her expression makes me wonder how long she’s been there. “But it’s okay. I get it now that you were caught off guard.”

“He didn’t know we hired you,” Tanner tells her, and she dips her chin slightly; then her gaze meets mine.

“I know you don’t know me, and I’m aware you have some issue with the fact that I have a kid, but me being a mother is the reason I’m the best person for this job. As a single mom, I need a stable income in order to provide the best life for my son, and in order to get that income, I need to work. That means I will show up when I’m scheduled and do everything in my power to keep working here, and if you give me a chance, you won’t be disappointed.”

“I don’t have an issue with you having a kid.” I zero in on that comment, trying not to think about why I’m so relieved that she said she’s single, and she tips her head to the side and shrugs one shoulder like she doesn’t believe me.

“You’ve brought up me being a mom twice now and acted weird about it each time,” she says, coming down the steps to where we’re standing.

“I never acted weird about it, and it’s rude to eavesdrop, you know.”

“Maybe,” she agrees, and damn if there isn’t something about her attitude that is so attractive.

“Well, as entertaining as this is, I need to go,” Tanner says, patting me on the shoulder. “Cybil’s checkup is in an hour, and I’m meeting her at the doctor’s office before I head out to meet the guys delivering the gas to the tank on the back of the property.”

“Sure,” I reply. “Is dinner still on for tomorrow?”

“You know it,” he says, then looks at Everly. “If you’re not doing anything tomorrow evening around five, you’re welcome to join us, and bring your son. We normally get together for dinner at my place before and after we have a big group come in.”

“Oh.” She glances at me quickly. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it.”

“Don’t let this grump be the reason you don’t join us.” Mav claps me on the back, and she smiles, making her prettiness even prettier.

“I’ll think about it,” she agrees as my cell starts to ring. I pull it out of my pocket, and when I see it’s my dad calling, I take a step back from the group.

“Sorry, I gotta take this.” I turn and head up the stairs while putting my cell to my ear, all thoughts of Everly, her smile, and the fact that she’s single taking a back seat to my current reality.

Chapter 3

EVERLY

After yawning for the third time in a row, I push away from my desk and head out of my office. The closer I get to the kitchen, the stronger the scent of freshly brewed coffee gets. Sampson has been keeping me up the last couple of nights, and that, mixed with having a job I have to get up for and be at early, means I’m exhausted.

I reach the kitchen and pause in the doorway when I see a woman mixing something in a large metal bowl. Maverick and Tanner both told me that Blake’s mom, Janet, runs the kitchen when we have guests, but I haven’t met her yet.

I shift on my feet as I debate turning around and heading back to the office, coffee seeming less important than it did a few minutes ago. For whatever reason, Blake isn’t my biggest fan, and I’m not sure if he’s shared his dislike for me with his mom.