Ward thanked Michael Parenti and Ted Dulchek for coming out to Silver Creek and asked them to draw up an estimate for revamping the ranch’s website. Then he turned to Phil. “Would you and Reid mind seeing Ted and Michael out? There’s something Reid wants to go over with you before he rides out to check on the cattle. I need to talk to Tess about Brian and Carrie’s wedding.” Tess, who’d been quietly sidling out of the room, stopped in her tracks and tried to remember how to breathe. Oh Lord, she was going to be alone with Ward. “Really, I can handle this on my own.” She hoped the asperity in her voice masked the fact that her pulse was beating triple time. Somehow, despite her repeated assurances, Ward had marched her back to her office, a small space that had shrunk two sizes now that he was standing in it. When she breathed she caught the soapy clean scent of him. It was making her lightheaded, and she was terrified she might say something irrevocably stupid, like, “Goddamnit, kiss me.”
