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We made a deal. I helped her out with herproblemto keep her from going down to town and ruining her life with some asshole from the bar. After that…well, maybe the deal changed. But that still doesn’t give me any right to think it can ever be anything more than that.

A deal.

A temporary situation.

Because nothing’s changed. I still don’t need an assistant. I still don’t want anyone living in my house with me. I’m still not in any position to share my life—in any capacity—with anyone.

We agreed on one month. Long enough for her to find something else.

“Your turn,” I say in an effort to shift my attention back to the board before I can let myself dwell on that particular line of thinking any longer than I already have. Because the reality is, wedidagree to one month. And that was almost three weeks ago.

We have one week left.

Lilly studies the pieces, but I can tell her focus isn’t on the game anymore. If it ever really was.

Maybe she’s thinking the same thing?

She studies the game a moment longer before finally sliding her piece across the board.

“Your move,” she says quietly.

I nod, but I’m not looking at the board anymore.

Lilly

After the game, I tell Luke I need a few minutes to check my email and retreat to my room with my laptop. It’s not a lie. Idoneed to check my email, but I also need a few minutes alone to process what happened tonight.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been intimate in every imaginable way. But somehow, in a few hours, over a simple game of chess, something shifted between us. I can’t make sense of it yet, but the way he looked at me…the way I opened up to him and he with me…this thing between us started to feel a little morereal.

But that doesn’t make any sense. Nothing about Luke and I make sense.

And it’s way too dangerous to let myself go down that line of thinking.

I blow out a breath and settle onto the bed I haven’t actually slept in for almost two weeks. Balancing my laptop on my crossed legs, I open it and navigate to my email program to see if there are any new replies to my job search.

When I first arrived on the mountain, I spent my evenings sending out dozens and dozens of resumes and applying to any job that I was even remotely qualified for.

I’d slowed down my job search in the last few weeks because…well, I’ve beenbusy.

But tonight was a stark reminder that I still needed to find a solution to my employment problem. And soon.

There was only one week left in the month we’d agreed upon.

I scan through my inbox. And then again, sure, I missed something.

But I didn’t.

It’s just one rejection letter after another. There are dozens of them, and not one letter of interest. It doesn’t make any sense. I’m more than qualified for the jobs I’ve been applying for. My references are solid, and I was at the top of my class. I should have my choice of jobs.

But… nothing.

My stomach tightens as I scroll through my inbox again, as if a job offer will magically appear this time.

It doesn’t.

I’m still staring at my computer screen when there’s a soft knock on the door. “Sorry to interrupt.”

I look up to see Luke, still bare-chested, and sexy as hell, leaning against the doorframe. There’s an automatic rush of heat between my legs at the sight of him. Especially when I see the slight smile on his face, that makes me wonder what dirty thoughts he might be thinking, and if I can get him to tell me.