pleasure, sweet cheeks.”
Sweet cheeks?
Penelope wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or appalled.
But he did just fix her car, so she’d let it slide this time.
Tristan stowed his toolbox behind the second seat and climbed into the truck. He backed out of the driveway and waited for her to follow.
They drove about thirty minutes before arriving in the picturesque town of Maico. He turned down Sorghum Avenue. Tooting his horn, he stuck his arm out the window, pointing at Wyatt’s Automotive Services.
Yeah, yeah. She got the hint.
Across the street was the town square—a quaint little park with huge canopy trees. Surrounding the square were a dozen or so mom-and-pop stores, including a market. The crowning jewel, though, was the large, Colonial-style courthouse.
“I have to paint that,” she said. Getting her car serviced didn’t seem like such a chore if she could sit in the park with her sketchbook.
Another ten minutes and they pulled into the entrance to the Walker’s Run Resort. Unlike the posh, contemporary-style resorts in the city, this one looked like a huge log cabin, with its giant wood pillars and rafters, and natural stone accents. Penelope loved it immediately.
Tristan waved her toward the valet service, while he parked a little farther away, in a spot designated for resort security.
When she stopped, her door opened and a handsome twentysomething’s face ducked inside. “Welcome to Walker’s Run.” He offered her hand to help Penelope out of the vehicle. “Are you checking in?”
“Sort of. I have a meeting with Cassie Walker. I’m supposed to start working here.”
“Penelope Buchanan?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks, Jimmy. I’ll take her in.” Tristan waved toward the doors. “After you,” he said to Penelope.
“My car?”
“Jimmy will take care of it.” Tristan’s hand rested against her lower back.
Oh, boy.
Hopefully the bones in her legs wouldn’t melt before she reached Cassie Walker’s office. Penelope would hate to meet her new boss while imitating a puddle at Tristan’s feet.
He held open the heavy wooden doors for Penelope to enter. The lobby was just as charming as the outside, with polished wood floors, richly colored rugs and tapestries, and dark leather couches and chairs in the seating areas. And, her instant favorite, an indoor totem pole with the faces of three wolves carved into it, so lifelike they appeared to be jumping out of the wood, and topped with a fierce-looking bird—its wings spread as if to protect them.
I love it. I love it. I love it.
Tristan chuckled softly.
“Oops. Did I say that out loud?”
“No. Your face is very expressive. Makes it easy to read your thoughts.” He winked. “Every last one of them.”
The waggle of his dark gold eyebrows did not bode well for her.
They stopped in front of a windowed office, the blinds partially closed. Tristan rapped his knuckles against the wooden frame of the open door before stepping inside the office, Penelope in tow. “Hey, Cassie.”
A petite woman with striking red curls pinned back with a silver clip looked up from her computer. “Tristan, hi. What are you doing here? Don’t you have a meeting with Gavin?”
“I do, but I wanted to introduce you to Penelope first.”
“Penelope Buchanan?”
Penelope nodded.
“Oh, I’ve been expecting you.” Cassie stood.
Tristan’s phone buzzed. He quickly answered, “On my way,” then shoved it back into his pocket. “Gotta go.” He clasped Penelope’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “It’s been a pleasure, Nel.”
“Nel?” First sweet cheeks, now Nel. Had he really forgotten her name already?
Smiling, he leaned close, his lips brushing against her ear. “Like you said, Penelope is a mouthful—and a bit formal, considering you’ve seen me naked.”
“Penelope?” Cassie stared at her curiously. “Are you all right?”
“Um, yeah.”
Tristan was no longer in the office, but Penelope’s body still registered his heat next to her.
“Sorry, I’m a bit distracted.”
“Tristan has that effect on women.” Cassie laughed softly.
“Not on you?”
“I’m very happily married and Tristan, well, he’s family.” Cassie waved to a chair in front of a simple but solid wooden desk.
Penelope took her seat, swallowing her question as to Tristan’s marital status. She hadn’t seen a ring, but these days lack of one didn’t necessarily indicate the man was unattached, and asking her new boss personal questions about a stranger seemed unwise.
Casually, Penelope glanced out the glass interior window of Cassie’s office and glimpsed Tristan nearing a side corridor. He turned, his gaze locking on hers. A current passed through her body, warm and exhilarating. He tipped his head and disappeared down the hall.
Several seconds passed before she breathed again.
“Please don’t get your hopes up.”
Penelope snapped her attention back to Cassie. “Excuse me?”
“Tristan is a great guy but a huge flirt. I don’t want you to be hurt or misled.”
“I assure you, my heart is quite safe from his charms.” She wasn’t foolish enough to invest serious hope in a man out of her league.
“Good.” Cassie withdrew several forms from her desk drawer and fastened them to a clipboard. “As we discussed on the phone, the resort is experimenting with new programs this summer. Originally, we planned to hire you as an assistant to the children’s arts-and-craft teacher. However—” An apprehensive grimace replaced Cassie’s smile.
“You’ve decided not to hire me?” Penelope swallowed her disappointment.
“Oh, we want you to work for us.” A loose curl bounced free from the silver clip in Cassie’s hair. “But we do have a slight change. The instructor you were going to assist left unexpectedly. Instead of assisting, you’re now in charge of the program.”
Excitement
