Free Sweet Reflection by Grace Henderson Page A

her head and kiss it right off her. But I’ve become accustomed to putting my feelings aside and acting like a jackass.
    "Did you have a reason for coming here, or did you just want to ruin my day?" I ask pointedly, raising my hands and my voice to match. I know I'm overreacting but I never did have a good hold on my emotions and this girl is making it worse.
She starts walking towards me slowly. Her gaze is on me, her eyes holding mine. I take a deep breath in and let it out harshly as she gets closer. I'm waiting for her to yell at me, I know I deserve it, but she's wearing her poker face and it makes me uncomfortable. I swallow hard as she stops abruptly right in front of me and tilts her chin up sharply, confronting me.
She hardens her voice, "I had a very good reason for coming here." Her eyes are still looking at me searching for something. After a few seconds she closes them, and her body stiffens. "And it didn't involve you."
    I'm shocked at her attitude even though I'm not. It's always been harsh words between us. Sure, we've argued back and forth and at times I get so pissed off I want to throw something. But this, this is different. There's no underlying sexual tension. There's no hunger in her eyes. It feels like she really hates me.
I don't know what to say, but before I can think of anything she's walked straight past me and is on the other side of the barn. Ryan turns as he hears her approach and grins, leaning down to kiss her cheek. I recognise the look in his eyes as they sweep over her body and the tight little skirt she's wearing because it’s the same as mine. If I could get away with it I'd warn him away from her but he's on Blake’s team and I have no claim to her anyway, as much as it makes me want to put my fist through the wall.

"Darling, how is the bedroom coming along?" Alex startles me. I tear my eyes away from Laurel and turn to face Alex. I first notice her outfit. She's wearing a short black skirt that shows off her long legs and a skimpy little strapless top that's showing way too much skin. It's not like her to dress like that and when I lift my eyes I notice she's twirling her hair round her finger. She's acting like she's a sixteen year old with a crush not a grown woman with a business empire.
"Good. Bedroom will be done tonight. Just got to paint. But the guys are working on that now."
She raises an eyebrow and looks past me towards the back where Laurel and Ryan are still laughing with each other.
    "Doesn't seem like they're doing much work to me. She's distracting your men James, and you're allowing it." She pulls back to look at me, and I stifle a chuckle because if Ryan was actually one of my men I'd probably have fired him eight months ago when he kissed my girl. I shake my head, she isn't my girl I tell myself again for the millionth time, it's not going to happen.
"Well, I can't wait to see my new bedroom and give it a test drive." She winks and leans in forward, "Maybe you can ride with me," she whispers in my ear and grazes her hand against my arm as she walks away.
    She's another one that pushes my buttons. I don't know what it is with the women in my life but it's like they get under my skin. Make me feel, and Alex doesn't make me feel anything good at all. A long shudder racks my body as I think about what we did and what I'm trying to keep from happening again. As I turn back round to see what Laurel's doing I realise she's been watching us. I don’t think she can see us properly because I’m in the way, but she’s still frowning. Ryan's leant back against the wall with a cocky grin on his face, and as I watch how close they're standing, I remember Alex's words about how I'm allowing it to happen. He may not be a member of my team but with Blake gone, I'm solely in charge of the project so it’s stopping immediately. She has to go. I stride over to them and grab Laurel's arm.
    "It's time to go." My voice is hard, harsh, but I don't care. I just need her to get