One More Taste (One and Only Texas #2)(31)

He ignored the intense coil of lust tightening inside him, the same maddening sensation he was constantly battling to ignore every time he was in her presence. What an entitled jerk he was for even thinking bawdy thoughts about his employee. “Nothing about her, that’s what.”

“Oh, come on,” Shayla said. “Doesn’t she ever take off that bandanna and toss her hair around, all Sports Illustrated swimsuit model-like?”

If Emily were to do that, he’d never endure it with his professional integrity intact. “Stop. I’ve got a busy day. I’ll talk to you later.”

With his fork, he skimmed a bit of whipped cream off the top of the pancake and tasted it. There was no way he’d keep his resolve not to eat it as long as it was sitting in front of him. He buzzed Haylie. “Could you come on in?”

A moment later, she opened his door wearing a guarded expression. Maybe he’d interrupted her work with the typing app.

He pushed the plate in her direction. “Emily brought me breakfast, but I’m not going to eat this. I mean, it looks great, but I’m not hungry. Would you like it?

Haylie looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Are you crazy? Emily brought me pancakes, too, and I’m telling you, they’re OMG good. Rule number one is to always eat whatever Emily puts in front of you. She’s the best cook ever.” She paused, that guarded look returning to her face. “Even if nothing about her is seductive, her cooking sure is.”

Whoa, shit. “You heard me on the phone.”

“It’s an old building. The walls are thin.”

A knot formed in his throat. “Emily … did she…”

Haylie tucked her hair behind both ears. “No. She was in a hurry to get back to her kitchen, and it’s a good thing she was because I think that would have sucked for her to hear you say that about her.”

It would have been a disaster, and not just because his words had been unflattering, but because Emily deserved so much better than a skeevy boss who commented on her physical attractiveness in any way.

Haylie might not be very efficient or computer savvy, but as he always said, someone who’d give you their honest opinion, even when it was uncomfortable, was worth their weight in gold. “It’s the mark of a good secretary, and a good friend, that you’d risk such an awkward conversation with your new boss to look out for Emily. And me, too. Thank you.”

She preened a little at that.

“Hey, after you finish eating the breakfast Emily brought you,” he said, “how would you feel about taking me on a tour of your favorite places around the resort, give me the low-down and catch me up on the gossip? I’ve got a little time this morning, and I’d like to take one last look around to orient myself before the structural engineers arrive.”

“Oh, I already finished. It was too good to eat slow,” she said with a wave of her French-tipped nails. “And I’d love to show you around. Nobody knows this place better than I do. I mean, except Carina and my mom and dad, and Granny June.”

He had to smile at her, she was disarmingly genuine in a way he never would have guessed from the way she presented herself. That would teach him to judge someone before he’d gotten to know him or her.

A shadow filled the door behind Haylie. “Morning, darlin’,” Ty said to Haylie. “Better stop that yapping and let the men work.” He accompanied the quip with a wink to Knox, as though to say, These frivolous women, am I right?

The whole mentor/protégé dynamic was wearing thin on Knox, as were the occasional sexist barbs Ty lobbed at Haylie whenever the mood struck him. He and Ty had only worked together for a week, but it had gotten to the point where all Ty had to do was open that big mouth of his, and Knox’s teeth were instantly on edge.

Knox walked to his coat hanger. He shrugged into his suit jacket, then settled his Stetson on his head. “Something I can do for you, Ty?”

Ty moseyed up to Knox’s desk and peered down at the apple pancake.

“Breakfast from Emily. You’re welcome to it. I’m not hungry,” Knox said.

To Knox’s surprise, Ty took him up on the offer, picking up the fork and digging in. “I take it from your lack of interest in her cooking that things aren’t going well with Emily?”

On the contrary, they were going well. A little too well for Knox’s own good. “She’s terrific. Talented, like you told me she was. But breakfast isn’t my thing. No big deal.”

Busy chowing down, Ty grunted in response. Little bits of cinnamon apple clung to his goatee. Knox decided he’d better get out of there before he let his disgust show on his face. “All right, Haylie. Let’s get going.”

Knox was halfway out the door when Ty asked, “Where are you two off to and can it wait? I thought we’d sit down today and go over the calendar for the rest of the year, make sure we’re on the same page.”

“Sounds good for another day. I’ve gotta check something out before this afternoon’s building inspection.”

The fork dropped onto the plate with a clatter. Ty’s eyes narrowed. “What building inspection?”

Gotcha, you lying criminal. “With my team of structural engineers. The first step in our expansion plans.” If anything, Ty’s eyes narrowed even more, so Knox added, “I must have forgotten to mention it. Guess you’re right about needing to sync up our calendars.”