It Started with a Snap by Piper James

Chapter Nine

Ember

Damn it.

As soon as Ethan stormed out, regret washed over me, draining every bit of my energy. I let his pompous attitude get under my skin, again, and acted like a complete asshole. He was doing me this huge fucking favor, but I seemed to forget that every time he opened his mouth.

I didn’t know why his obvious disdain for me irked me so badly. I’d spent my whole life giving zero fucks what people thought or said about me, yet here I was, getting wound up and lashing out at him at the slightest provocation. What was wrong with me?

I decided right then and there that I would adhere to his wishes. I would talk to him as little as possible and just let him do his job. And when he was finished, I’d coerce some kind of statement out of Ryder and come up with a payment plan to pay back Perry Brothers Construction. And I would pay it back, even if it took me years to do so.

I refused to feel indebted to Ethan Perry.

I felt a little better after that, and a couple of customers came in, keeping me busy until Ethan got back. I looked up from the inventory list I was studying to see him walk in with a huge box in his hands. My eyebrows shot up as I looked at the picture on the box.

“It’s going to take a week and a half to get the condenser and all the parts I need to fix your central air, so I picked up this window unit for your apartment. It won’t help down here, but at least you’ll be able to sleep in comfort.”

As his words sunk in, I looked back up at his face in wonder. That was…sweet of him to do that. He was already doing so much for me, yet he took a moment to consider my comfort. My mouth fell open and snapped closed a couple of times as he turned toward the stairs in the back that led up to my loft.

“I’ll get this installed so it will be ready when you get back.”

His words pierced the fog in my brain, and I found myself chasing him up the stairs.

“What do you mean, when I get back?” I asked as he paused to study the window across the loft from my bed.

Setting the box down on the floor, he turned to face me and crossed his arms over his chest. I could see the impatience in his expression.

“You have a termite infestation, Ember. I called the local exterminators and offered them double the going rate if they’d come do a quick inspection tonight before coming back to tent the building tomorrow. The place has to be fumigated before I can start working on replacing the damaged wood, which means you’re going to have to stay somewhere else for a few days.”

I swallowed thickly. “How long?”

“It’ll take two to three days to fumigate, then you’ll need to stay away for at least another day to let the fumes air out. We could probably have you back in here by the weekend.”

“What about the boutique?” I asked, feeling panic rise inside me. “I can’t stay closed for that many days. I’m barely making it—”

I cut my words off, and thankfully I didn’t see any pity in Ethan’s eyes. I knew I couldn’t handle it if I did.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his expression softening the tiniest bit, “but you don’t have a choice. If we don’t get rid of the termites now, this whole place is going to be unsalvageable.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

He was right. I didn’t have a choice.

I also didn’t have anywhere to go.

A small whimper pulled my attention to my left. Kane was locked in his crate, where he’d been since I walked him after picking him up early this morning. Shit. Day one of dog-sitting, and I was already failing, miserably. Rushing over, I freed him from the crate and grabbed his leash from where it lay coiled on top.

Without another word, I picked him up and attached the leash to his collar before turning and heading down the stairs. Flipping my open sign over as I walked out, I set Kane on his feet and headed toward the park.

I needed to think, and walking the adorable pup would give me the perfect opportunity. When we hit the grass, he immediately stopped to relieve himself. Then he pulled me all over, sniffing the ground as he went.

Smiling, I pulled my phone from my pocket and snapped a picture of him. Then I pulled up my text thread with Dakota and sent it to her. A few seconds later, my phone chimed.

Dakota: Cuties! We just got off the plane. Perfect timing.

Me: How was the flight?

Dakota: Not too bad. The fucking drive to the airport was longer than the flight, itself. We’re tired, but happy to be here. How are things with you? Noah told me Ethan was coming by this morning.

Me: Ugh. Same old Ethan. But that’s not the worst of it. We have to tent for termites, which means I have to leave and not come back until at least the weekend.

Dakota: That sucks! Where will you stay?

Me: I have no fucking clue.

Dakota: Hang on a sec.

I found a bench and sat down. Kane happily sniffed the ground at my feet before stretching out in the grass and rolling onto his back. My phone chimed again.

Dakota: Go to the ranch. There’s a key under the flower pot on the porch. You can stay there as long as you need.

My heart kicked into high gear as I read her words a second time.

Me: Are you sure?

Dakota: Of course. Added bonus—Kane will be back on his own turf with his own yard.

Me: Is Noah okay with it, too?

Dakota: Ember, this is Noah. Get your ass to the ranch and make yourself at home. And don’t get all pissy because I’m telling you what to do. Just say thank you and pack your stuff.

A laugh barked out of me at Noah’s text. Because, of course, I felt my anger spike for a second at his choice of words. Bossy asshole. But in this case, it served my purposes.

Me: Thanks, jerk.

Dakota: You’re welcome, brat.

Dakota rescued her phone from him after that, and we texted back and forth a few times as I made my way back to the boutique. I looked up and spotted a boxy window unit poking through my loft’s window. Hopefully Ethan would be out of there by the time I went back up to pack.

Having him so close, in my home was…disconcerting. If we hadn’t been talking about the absolute upheaval of my life, I might’ve been a little nervous. Which was ridiculous.

Utterly fucking ridiculous.