The stiffness gradually abandoned Harlow. “Well. That went better than I expected.”
A shirtless, sweaty West charged out of the workout room, and there was no need to guess why. He’d hoped to catch a glance of Jessie Kay.
West was like a starving man at an all-you-can-eat buffet around that girl. Problem was, he refused to buy a ticket to the meal.
Upon first arriving in Strawberry Valley, Beck had asked her out, slept with her, and when they parted on friendly terms, she ended up hooking up with Jase. Another one-time deal, but the damage had been done. To West, whose attraction to her had only developed after Beck and Jase’s association with her, the statute of limitations would never run out. She was forever off-limits.
“Hi, West,” Harlow said, smiling and waving at the guy. “We haven’t been officially introduced. I’m Harlow Glass, and I would love a chance to get to know you. Join me? I’m certain Beck was just about to leave.”
Excuse me? “I wasn’t.”
She flushed but didn’t rescind her flirtatious invitation.
West glanced between them before smiling and walking over. “Well. This should be interesting.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
HARLOW PRETENDED TO sink more comfortably into the couch as West eased beside Beck. Meanwhile, she wasn’t freaking comfortable. This might just be the most nerve-racking experience of her life. The man she wanted to want was side by side with the man she shouldn’t want, the first watching her with amusement she didn’t understand, the other with an angry glower she didn’t appreciate.
Trying to dredge up the confidence she’d had before the scarring incident, she batted her lashes at West. According to the seduction book, she had to be bold, and she couldn’t be afraid to show interest. She had to let the object of her affections know he had a chance with her, and just how far she would go to be with him.
“Tell me about yourself,” she said with a forced smile. “I’m interested in every detail, and I would enjoy nothing more than sitting here and listening.”
Beck gave his friend’s shoulder a hard shove. “All right. You are now officially dismissed.”
West leaned back, crossing his arms at his middle and an ankle over a knee. “Why would I leave? My schedule is wide-open right now, and I’ve got a past to unveil.”
Beck ran his tongue over his teeth and focused more intently on Harlow. “A new company policy has just been instated. No flirting with the staff. Ever.”
“But I wasn’t flirting.” Trying to flirt would be a more accurate description. “Learning about my new employer will give me an idea about what to expect on the job.” The one at WOH now, and later the one as West’s (possible) forever girlfriend.
“Since it’s for the job I just hired you for...” Beck shifted, his knee brushing against hers, making her gasp. “How about I tell you all about me?”
“You? Talk about yourself?” Her breathless tone embarrassed her, but she continued anyway. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Yes, Beck,” West said, no longer fighting the smile. “Go ahead and tell us all about your life. We are figuratively dying of curiosity.”
A soft animallike growl rose from Beck, the intensity of it baffling her. “Aren’t you needed elsewhere, Westley?”
What was his deal? He was acting like a jealous boyfriend who’d—
She fought another gasp, this one steeped in shock. Was he jealous?
No. No, of course not. As a one-and-done man, such an emotion was beneath him. Right?
“Schedule’s wide-open, remember?” West rubbed his hands together. “Start with your first memory as a child and end with your secret crush on—”
“Go.” Beck pointed toward the door.
“Me,” West finished with an outright laugh. He tried to cover the sound with a cough, then glanced at his wristwatch. “Well. I might have overstated my availability.” He cleared his throat and stood, already walking away. “I think I hear— What’s that, Jase?” he called, though no one had said anything. “You need me? No problem. I’m on my way.” He paused in the doorway to wink at Harlow. “We’ll have to do this again sometime.”
“Yes, please.” Had it been love at first sight? No. Was it a romance in the making? Maybe. As far as first interactions went, it wasn’t the worst she’d ever had. Go, me!
Beck peered at her for a long while, silent and brooding. “Want to tell me what that was about?”
“No, actually, I don’t.” He would just rat her out to West, maybe even warn him away.
The purr of a very large engine registered, followed by the sound of crunching gravel. Through the crack in the curtains, she caught a glimpse of a brand-new, luxurious RV. Beck had been dead serious about the signing bonus.
Tides of excitement boosted her to her feet. “That’s really mine? No matter what?”
“Are you accepting my job offer?”
And see her dream of becoming a paid artist come true at last? “Yes!”
He slowly unfolded from his seat, towering over her, both menacing and protective. “Then it’s yours. No matter what.”
“Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you, Beck.” She wanted to hug him. She wanted to climb him like a mountain. She settled for patting his shoulder. “I will be forever grateful.”
His gaze locked with hers, flames practically dancing in those golden irises. “I don’t want your gratitude, Harlow.”