After skinny dipping with my boss, I thought it would feel uncomfortable, but it isn’t. What I really feel is antsy. Lars has initiated close contact and a bone-melting kiss, but he has deliberately left me flustered and craving more.

I FaceTime Jesse as soon as I reach the house. As soon as she answers, I lay back on my bed.

She squints at me. “You look…hmmm…what’s that look? Aroused. Oh, wait. Is that drool? Have you been reading smut? Or have you been opening the big book of Lars the Cowboy,” she teases.

“Jesse, I don’t know what to do,” I wail.

“So you have been opening the big book,” she pounces.

“I might have glanced at the first page.”

She laughs. “Remind me again what’s on the first page?”

“We skinny dipped in the pond and kissed.”

“This sounds like a very interesting book,” she says with a mischievous grin. “Why don’t you see what’s on the next page?”

“I want to, but it’s such a bad idea.”

“Why is it a bad idea?”

“Because—”

“—Yeah, yeah,” she pretends to yawn hugely. “I remember how this soap opera goes. You like him, but you don’t want to like him, because you’ll never see him again after this job. I think it’s bullshit. You should just sleep with him and be done with it.”

“Well, I just wish I hated him more than I do. Then maybe I could do what you say. Go to bed with him, enjoy the sex for what it is, and walk away without a second glance.”

“You only have like ten days left. Just do it. You’ll be fine,” Jess encourages.

“Nine days,” I correct.

“Even better. Fuck like rabbits at night...dirty, sweaty, flesh slapping flesh, meaningless sex, and keep your distance during the day.” Jesse is making it sound like a walk in the park, but that’s partly my fault. I’ve been seriously under-exaggerating my feelings for Lars

“Jesse, I have feelings for him,” I finally admit with a sigh. “And they’re growing. A lot.”

She sits up straighter. “Oh, mistake! Since when? I mean, the guy doesn’t even know your real name.”

I bite my lip. “I know he doesn’t. Okay, I just needed to talk this out and hear you say the words. Thank you, Jesse. I love you,” I say and hang up. She can’t give me good advice in this situation because there’s no good advice to give. My phone continues to ring as she tries to call me back, but I put it on silent.

I stand from my bed, walk toward my dresser mirror, and stare at my reflection. I would have never guessed that being someone else could be so difficult. It was meant to be just a job and nothing else, but now I’ll be leaving a piece of my heart behind in Montana. My phone rings again and with a sigh, I go and pick it up, thinking it is Jesse—but it isn’t.

Strange, Tamara has never called at this time of the day. I accept the call and she comes on. She is still in bed.

“Hello, Tamara,” I say politely.

“Don’t you know how to take a good photo?” she asks sourly.

“What?”

“That photo you sent of that Lars guy. It might as well be the backside of a fucking rhino.”

Holy purple cows! This woman is unbelievable. “Well, I didn’t want him to know that I was taking his picture,” I explain.

She yawns. “Take a couple more and send them to me this morning.”

“It’s already evening here and I won’t see him again today. I’ll do it tomorrow,” I promise.

“All right. Get me shots that show his body.”

A steel claw grips my stomach and I try not to show any emotion on my face. “Okay,” I whisper. Thank God, the screen goes black. She disconnected the call. Slowly, I put the phone down on the dresser.

Oh God. She wants him for herself. When I leave, he’s going to think I’m her, and he’s going to sleep with her. An imagine of her bouncing on the blond man flashes into my mind. The blond man morphs into Lars and my heart hurts. I lean on the dresser and lower my head. Nine days. I have nine days to lose the feelings I have for a man I shouldn’t have fallen for in the first place.

I don’t know how long I stand in my room and try to brainstorm ways to stay away from Lars, but I know there is no way I’ll be able to do it. On top of that, I don’t even want to stay away from him.

Finally, I rouse myself, and begin peeling the clothes off my body as I walk into the bathroom. I have plenty of time to take a hot shower and clear my mind before dinner, so I do. When I get out, I feel no better. Maybe I’ll take a walk around the ranch, I think as I get into a pale pink, low cut T-shirt with a shredded back. It’s cute and not too revealing, with a tank top underneath. Then I throw on a pair of frayed light shorts. They are inappropriately short, but there is not much choice.

Quickly running a brush through my hair, I go into the kitchen to look for Emma Jean.