“Hey, just in time! You can eat lunch before you and Ty head on out to fix the fence,” Kaylee said.
All I could do was smile as I said, “Hey, Kaylee.” Then I turned to Merit. “Merit, how are you?”
She seemed to flinch at the cold and distant tone I put into my voice when I spoke to her. Fuck, I wanted to kick myself. I had no idea why I had spoken like that to her. Frustrated? Angry? Hell, I wasn’t even sure how I felt about anything anymore.
“I’m fine.”
“Nice car,” I added, still hearing the prick in my voice.
She smirked. “I found a little extra money in my checking account, so I bought it.”
I couldn’t help it—I felt my mouth twitch with a hidden smile.
Then, I looked at the blonde, who was now smiling even wider as she stared in my direction.
“Someone introduce me to this tall, dark, and handsome man,” the blonde said as she made her way over to me and held out her hand.
When it was clear neither Merit nor Kaylee was going to introduce us, I spoke. “Dirk Littlewood.”
She glanced down at my cock and smirked. “Little? I doubt it.”
Okay, holy shit, this woman went right for it.
She laughed when I didn’t reply. “Amy White, I’m new in town.” Amy glanced over her shoulder and clucked at Merit and Kaylee with her tongue as she shook her finger in their direction. “How many other handsome men are you hiding in this town?”
Merit forced a smiled and then turned to Kaylee, who was glaring at Amy. “Amy just moved into the ranch down the road. She stopped by to introduce herself,” Kaylee said. “I invited her to join us for lunch.”
Merit asked Kaylee, “Do you need any help?”
Kaylee nodded. “If you don’t mind getting the plates and silverware to the table.”
“Not at all,” Merit replied, not looking back over at me and Amy—who was now looking at me like I was a fresh piece of meat, and she the hungry wolf.
Amy wrapped her arm around mine. “Let’s get to know each other better, Dirk, shall we?”
For a quick second, I thought about how easy it would be to take this pretty little thing for a walk and bury myself inside her, forgetting all the bullshit that was going on for a few minutes while I pounded into her. But then I looked up and saw Merit watching us, a pained expression on her face, even though I knew she was trying to hide it.
I also knew this woman wasn’t the woman I wanted, and no matter how much I tried to make myself think I wanted meaningless sex, what I really wanted was Merit.
“You ladies don’t mind if I steal this cowboy for a few minutes while you get lunch ready, do you?” Amy asked.
Something crossed Merit’s face, but it was gone as fast as it came.
Before Merit could reply, Kaylee did. “Sorry, Amy. Ty has something he needs to show Dirk in the barn.”
Ty looked at Kaylee, clearly confused, before they exchanged unspoken words with one glance. “Right, sorry, Amy. I’ll only take him away for a few minutes.”
Amy pouted, then smiled again and said, “No worries, I’ll come with you.”
Ty looked at Kaylee and gave her an ‘I tried’ shrug as Kaylee looked back at Amy. If looks could kill, the girl would be laid out flat on the floor.
As we headed out of the house, Amy wrapped her arm around mine once more and started to speak. “So, Dirk, please tell me you’re single.”
I laughed. “I am indeed single.”
Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Well, finally, something nice about Montana.”
Chapter Eighteen
MERIT
I watched as Amy walked out the door with her paws all over Dirk. And he flirted with her. The bastard actually flirted with her. I’d never been so angry in my entire life—and I’d never wanted to punch a person like I wanted to punch her.
“Here, let me take that glass before you break it with your bare hands,” Kaylee said as she removed the glass from my hand.
“My God!” I said, still watching the door. “Did you see how she threw herself at him? Who does that to a guy they just met?”
“Yes, I did see that. Little Amy ruined everything!” Kaylee declared as she slammed a pan down on the counter.
I jumped and placed my hand over my heart. “Christ, you scared me, Kaylee.”
She pointed toward the front door. “That…that…woman is screwing everything up!”
I blinked a few times and then shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Dirk didn’t seem to mind the attention.”
Kaylee went on talking, more to herself than to me. “Well, Dirk walked in. Of course she’s going to turn all, ‘Oh, let me see if I can get into his pants because he’s hot.’ What kind of woman does that? I know what kind, but I’m too much of a lady to utter the word!”