Zander

I am an asshole.

My sister has always said it, my mum used to jokingly tell her friends after a few too many wines. Ex-girlfriends, too, of course.

Asshole, they say, and I don't disagree. But I also don't think it is a bad thing to want to live a quiet, private life. It's always black and white with me. Take it or leave it. However—in this scenario—I most certainly have been an asshole.

Nathan makes my blood boil like no other. Seeing his sister in my pub, my space—A rage unleashed inside me, consuming every rational thought that was in my head. I was already in a bad mood and now it's ten times worse.

"I didn't know," Cassie says, pinning me with a stern look. "But that was totally uncalled for."

Sticking my tongue against the inside of my cheek, I push back from the bar. Nearly every pair of eyes is watching me. Ignoring them, I stride out the front door. I see her long hair cascading down her back, moving in the night breeze. The sound of her crying makes me pause. A sinking sensation grips my gut.

"Brea," I say when I reach her.

"Come to harass me some more?" she spins, glowering at me with tear-filled eyes. "You firstly ask me on a date, only to stand me up, and now you yell at me in front of a bunch of the towns people and fire me at the same time. All because of something out of my control." She expels a harsh huff of air. "I really had the wrong impression of you."

Hardening my jaw, I turn my gaze away from those burning eyes and look out in the distance.

"I may have... overreacted."

She laughs humourlessly. "Yeah, you think so?"

"I find it hard to believe that Nathan hasn't concocted an evil plan to get you to work for me."

She blinks. "You are ridiculous. What... you think he has hired me to find your secret journal, or something? Listen to yourself." She shakes her head, wiping at her eyes. "I really thought you were special. Clearly, I was very wrong."

She goes to move around me, and I reach out, wrapping my fingers around her arm. "I'm sorry, Brea."

"Okay," she replies, refusing to look up at me.

"I really am."

"Got it."

"You can work here. For me. If that's what you want."

Scoffing, she tries to pull her arm free, but I tighten my hold. "Don't do me any favours, Cowboy. The damage is done."

"I don't like feeling like this." The whispered words fall from my mouth without my control. She freezes, finally dragging her eyes to stare into mine. "I don't like feeling out of control. I wasn't looking for... this." My hand moves between us. "And then you came along."

"Sorry to be such an inconvenience to your life," she spits angrily, storm clouds brewing in her narrowed eyes. "I didn't exactly plan this!"

My fingers travel from her elbow to her shoulder. She stills, her breathing coming out in short, sharp spurts. My hand glides across her collarbone, until it rests against her cheek. She leans into it.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I'm not good at saying the things that are going on in my head."

"I see that."

Gently, my thumb rotates across her jaw, teasingly running over her lower lip. She softens.

"You're a confusing man, Cowboy."

Lifting the corner of my mouth, I shrug. "That's a part of the fun."

***

The next morning, I roll out of bed with a yawn. Diesel blinks sleepily up at me. I give him a pat and then force myself to stand. After a coffee and a shower, Diesel and I are climbing into the ute. There are a few hours of work to do on the farm before I head to the pub.

After talking with Cassie last night, we agreed to roster Brea on today to continue training. A strange thrill runs through me at the thought. Rubbing my eyes, I try not to look as tired as I feel. I tossed and turned all night thinking about how I acted. And then my mind went... somewhere else. Somewhere far, far too inappropriate for a boss/employer scenario. The thought of being her boss, in more than one way, makes me feel hot under the collar.

"Don't look at me like that," I mutter, noticing Diesel side-eyeing me, as if understanding how not-appropriate my thoughts are.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about how tightly her shirt is spread across the swell of her breasts. How long and tanned those gorgeous legs are. How much I would enjoy having my head in between them.

"Argh," I groan, shaking my head, trying to rid the thoughts.

She is Nathan's sister. She is Nathan's sister. She is Nathan's sister.

By the time I get to the pub, I'm exhausted. I thought being busy out on the farm would occupy my mind, but sadly, it seemed to make it worse. I rushed the jobs so that I could get to town quicker.

It's relatively quiet when I walk inside. I notice her straight away. Blood rushes to my groin as my eyes travel down her body. Making a beeline for her, I lean against the counter, enjoying the view even more up close.

"Hi, Angel."

Turning, she focuses on me for a moment. I study her expression as she takes in the red dirt clinging to my clothes and the streaks of sweat down my skin.

"Hi, Boss."

God Damn. I'm in trouble.

"How are you?" I ask.

Raising an eyebrow, a slow smile spreads across those pretty lips. "Oh, so it's like that, huh?"

"Hmm?"

"Back to the flirty small talk?"

Leaning onto my forearms, I link my fingers together. "Would you prefer I be mean?"

The shift of her eyes to my lips makes me smirk. There is no denying that we both are feeling this intense chemistry.

"Maybe," she replies.

Fuck...

"Get me a drink," I say, my smirk widening. "Like a good little girl."

Her lips part and two blotches of red appear. I think both of us like that far more than we care to admit.

"What do you drink?" she asks in a low tone that makes me feel even more hot and bothered than I thought was possible.

"Whiskey."

I admire the effortless way she moves behind the bar, as if she has worked here for years. She slides it across the counter. I take a greedy gulp, never removing my gaze from hers.

"Hi Boss!" Cassie calls, effectively killing the mood. Reluctantly, I drag my gaze from Brea. "Wasn't expecting you this early."

I don't miss the surprised glance Brea sends me way, probably piecing together that I came here earlier, just to see her. Finishing my drink, I grunt at Cassie in greeting. I head straight out the back. Once my office door is closed, I lean onto it, exhaustion seeping through my bones.

Now that I'm here, I really should get on top of the work that is piling up. The office chair groans as I sit down. Running a hand through my hair, I look at the pile of documents that I've put off for far too long. Swearing under my breath, I begin to sort through it. Hopefully this will get my mind off the pretty blonde bartender who is on the other side of the wall.

There's a soft knock at the door about half an hour later.

"Come in," I call.

The door swings open and Brea enters. She closes it behind her and walks toward the desk, papers in her hands. I gesture for her to sit. She does and I definitely don't notice the way her shorts ride up her thighs.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey."

"How's it been today?" I ask her, leaning back in my chair. I twist my glass in my hand, the amber liquid sloshing up the inside.

"No one has yelled at me and said I don't belong here," she says with a pointed look. "So, I'd say better than yesterday."

Embarrassment floods through me. Clearing my throat, I nod.

"Well. That's good."

"Mmhmm."

"What have you got there?"

She leans over, passing them to me. Our fingers brush and our eyes connect. Smirking, I lean back.

"Cassie gave me these to fill out."

I silently thank Cassie for always stepping in and helping me wherever she can, with no complaint.

Her writing is a neat scrawl across the pages where she has filled out her details. Nodding, I open the drawer to my right and put them inside.

"Great. Thanks."

"That's all," she says, getting to her feet.

"Brea."

She turns back to look at me. "Zander."

"Let me make it up to you. A do-over date."

She scoffs, raising an eyebrow. "That sounds an awful lot like what I suggested before you—shocker—rudely rejected me."

"That was then," I shrug. "This is now."

"You're my boss."

"I know."

"There isn't a policy against that?" she questions.

"I make the rules."

"Right."

"So?" I ask, tilting my head, assessing the way her cheeks are growing more flushed by the moment. "Will you go on a date with me?"

"Thanks, but no thanks," she smiles sweetly. "The offer on my end has expired. Take care, now."

My mouth falls open as she leaves without a backward glance. Throwing my pen on the desk, I curse, feeling humiliated and frustrated. I understand that it's payback, but she has bewitched me. I can't think of anything else, but her.

Now she is working for me. I'll see her every day.

God damn it.

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If you enjoy steamy small town romances, check out my novel 'Meant to Be' which is available on Amazon, Book Depository, Pothi (for India readers) and is free on Kindle Unlimited!