Playing With Trouble (Desire Bay 1)

“Exactly!” he said. Finally someone was seeing things his way.

“Which is why she’s working so hard at the floral shop, I bet. Think about it. That’s what she knows. Just like you work so hard to avoid it. You stay in your comfort zone. It’s human nature. Also a sign of stubbornness.”

“Yes, she is stubborn,” Jake agreed.

“I was talking about you, smart-ass.”

Shit, Jake hadn’t thought of that. He never took time for the flower shop because there was no point, and Walt had never seemed interested in it anyway. Come to think of it, Jake hadn’t thought of a lot of things. Like why Walt seemed sad whenever it came to that part of the business. But Walt was happy when Laura was there running it. And he also hadn’t thought of how her eyes had gotten so wide and her shoulders had sunk a little when he’d been harsh with her earlier today. But Laura Baughman was tough. Nothing could get that woman riled, he was sure. Except riled for her claws to come out.

But hurt?

No way. She was strong. She was out to do her thing and driven as hell. Always had been.

“Whatever her reasons,” Jake started, “it doesn’t change the fact that she could seriously damage the business.”

His sister nodded. “I know you care about Walt and the company, but she’s his daughter.”

Jake closed his eyes for a moment and heard the squeak of the fifth wheel outside. Laura was home, likely walking around in there. Maybe getting ready for the engagement party tonight? He didn’t know, and he couldn’t get sucked into her feelings or any of that. He had to treat this like a business. Because it was. Wanting her and lusting for her were different than feelings.

“You look like you’re going to throw up,” his sister said.

He might. He just might. Because he had the sneaking suspicion this wasn’t going to get easier. He had three weeks until Walt would step in and make some kind of decision.

He needed a shower and at least a few beers to numb this kind of thinking. Good thing he was heading to a party at a bar tonight. Complete with booze, friends, and now flowers. Baughman Home Goods flowers.

He couldn’t escape Laura’s presence even if he tried.

Chapter Ten

Laura had spent the last few hours pacing in her camper, only to stop to sit down and work on a little home project.

After an hour and a glass of wine, she looked over her work of art and decided it was good enough. But she wanted it perfect.

So she grabbed one more flower, placed it in the vase, and . . .

“Yes!” She clapped happily at her work. She had a few flowers left over from the centerpieces and had decided to make her own arrangement.

Dusting her hands off on her jeans, she unrolled her long-sleeved sweater and glanced in the mirror, deciding quickly that she needed some lip gloss. Not that she had a big date or anything. In fact, she had zero plans other than finishing the bottle of Riesling in the fridge.

But she did have something she needed to make right.

With a final breath, she picked up the vase and walked out of her camper and up the porch steps until she was faced with Jacob’s front door.

It seemed so quiet inside, but his truck was still there. So he couldn’t have left for the party yet. She hoped the bar looked great and people liked the centerpieces. Part of her wished she could be there to meet people and try to give off some kind of good impression. Since she was coming up short lately in that department.

She knocked on Jacob’s door and heard his heavy footsteps coming from the back of the house. Her heart picked up in pace and she gently tweaked one of the dark purple flowers when the door opened.

He was fresh out of a shower, and she was instantly engulfed with the spicy scent of his soap. He was clean shaven and wearing dark jeans and a red-and-black-checkered button-up that looked like it was made of soft flannel.

She wanted to touch him so badly to find out.

“Hey,” he said and looked between her and the vase of flowers she held.

She cleared the cobwebs of lust away and held out her offering. “Having something alive in your house makes you live longer.”

He grinned and took the vase. “My first choice would be for you to be in the house. For the sake of my health and all.”

“I never said I want you healthy . . . ,” she teased.