Take the Chance (Top Shelf Romance #9) - Brittainy Cherry Page 0,246

blue eyes, the fair skin, the pearl necklace, the graceful hands. I couldn’t see her legs beneath the table, but they drove me crazy anyway. Then there were other things, not even physical—the lilt of her voice, the excitement in her smile, the confidence she had in herself and her ideas, the genuine enthusiasm for our farm. Other than a few nervous glances early on, she’d hardly seemed rattled by my presence. And I’d been a fucking mess.

So I’d taken it out on her, on all of them. Tried to make them feel guilty for distorting my dream, when I knew they were just trying to build on it. But dammit! I didn’t want things to change around here. I didn’t want the farm to be something new and different. I didn’t want to be someone new and different. And Margot, who’d never been told no in her life, didn’t understand what it was like to feel like you were losing control of what mattered to you. None of them did! This wasn’t just about weddings at the farm. It was about everything in my life feeling so slippery all of a sudden. About being unable to hold on to what mattered.

I sighed, closing my eyes as she drew closer.

But I shouldn’t have treated her that way. It wasn’t her fault I was so drawn to her. She had no idea that she was part of what was making me feel so unsteady. I owed her an apology, but after that, I needed to stay away from her.

I opened the door before she even knocked, and her mouth fell open in surprise. I was surprised too—she looked so different. Her hair was wet, and although she wore a flowery summer dress, she had no makeup or jewelry on. My heart knocked against my ribs. She’s so beautiful.

Beautiful and fucking furious.

Her mouth snapped shut, her eyes narrowing. “I have something to say to you.”

“So say it.” I joined her on the porch, shutting the door behind me so the cat didn’t try to get out. I figured I owed it to Margot to let her bitch at me. What could she say that I hadn’t said to myself?

First, she parked her hands on her hips and then she poked a finger in my chest. “You’re not nice.”

I almost smiled. “No?”

“No. I don’t know what you have against me, but I’m not here to make you miserable, I’m here to do a job. And I’m just as sorry about yesterday as you are, but you did not have to be such a jerk to me today.”

“No, I didn’t. And I’m sorry.”

“And you—” She blinked at me. “What?”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I was a jerk today. You didn’t deserve it.”

She looked to the side and then back at me. “That’s it? You’re not going to argue with me?”

“Did you come here looking for a fight?”

She huffed. “I don’t know. Yes.”

“Well, there’s nothing to fight about. I was a dick.” I stuck my hands in my pockets and took a small step back. Margot sweet and bubbly in broad daylight was tempting enough—Margot feisty and looking for trouble in the dark was downright dangerous.

“Why’d you do it?” she asked.

“That’s hard to explain.”

“Were you getting me back for spying on you?”

“No.”

She chewed her lip for a second. “What about that stuff about my shiny hair and blue eyes fucking with you? What about telling me I’m your problem?”

“You’re not my problem. That came out wrong.” My problem is the way I feel standing so close to you.

She didn’t appear convinced. “What about what happened yesterday? In the barn. Are we ever going to talk about that?”

I shrugged. “It was a mistake.”

That earned me an eye roll. “No shit.”

“Then why’d you ask?”

Her brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Because you confuse me. I never know whether I’m coming or going with you. One minute we’re kissing, the next you’re yelling at me to get out. This morning you’re an asshole, tonight you apologize.” She slapped a hand to her forehead. “I can’t keep up.”

“You don’t have to. Aren’t you leaving soon?” Please say yes. I can’t go on like this, wanting you this way.

“In about ten days.”

Fuck. I wasn’t sure I’d make it.

Suddenly she clapped her hands over her face. “God, what am I doing here? I must be crazy. You’re a client.” She stepped off the porch and started hurrying down the path away from the cabin.

“Margot, wait!” I was relieved she was leaving, but I