Fangirl Down (Big Shots, #1)(35)

Except that if she understood him better, there was a chance their golfer-caddie relationship could become stronger. He’d never given a second thought to that kind of thing in the past. Wells played how he wanted. He didn’t need a second opinion when it came to hitting a ball into a hole. He just got it done. Except that he wasn’t getting it done anymore.

And that suddenly mattered a lot, because when he lost, so did Josephine.

Of course, that had been the same deal with caddies in the past, but he’d never taken anyone on exclusively. His caddies of tournaments past were well established and had financial security. Other options. This was different.

The other not-so-tiny detail that set Josephine apart from his former golf partners was that he wanted to fuck her so bad, he’d woken up growling her name and thrusting in his closed fist. Imagining her auburn hair spread out on his pillow, her nails scraping down his back, her tits bare and bouncing. Damn, he’d come as hard as a bullet train. And truth be told, he’d felt guilty as sin about it afterward, especially considering he was her boss, for all intents and purposes.

But doubly so, because he’d ruined her night.

Hung up on her best friend.

Even now, thinking about what he’d done—and her devastated reaction—made his chest feel like a hollow cavity. He’d spent three hours last night tracking down an email for Tallulah at the research facility and God himself couldn’t keep Wells from making up for that mistake. No matter how long it took. Otherwise, he’d be haunted by the memory of Josephine’s unshed tears until the day he died.

A totally normal way for a golfer to feel about his caddie.

Wells dragged a hand down his unshaven face. One more minute of waiting and he was going in there to get her. Why was it taking her so long to collect his bag?

Finally, the door opened and there was Josephine, ducking beneath the arm of the man who was holding it open for her. Same guy she’d been sitting with at the bar last night.

Was something going on there?

His vision turned an alarming shade of gray, heat prickling his scalp beneath his cap.

“Oh.” Josephine’s gait halted when she saw him waiting. “Wells.”

The other caddie split a look between them. “I’ll see you down there.” He stuck his hand out to Wells. “Good luck today.”

Wells wasn’t sure how he felt about this dude yet, but Josephine was watching him, her frown increasing with every second he hesitated. “Yeah,” Wells muttered, shaking the young man’s hand. “You too.”

As soon as the other caddie was out of earshot, she goaded him. “Being civil wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Actually, I’m crumbling inside.”

“Poor gargoyle.” With a shake of her head, she started toward the course and Wells followed. He trailed behind on purpose, taking plastic rolls of glucose tabs out of his pockets, carefully unzipping various compartments on the golf bag, and stuffing the plastic tubes inside. Grape flavor. “I’m glad you’re early. Some practice swings would be—”

“Is something romantic happening there?” Wells interrupted.

She blinked back at him over her shoulder, but thankfully he was done stocking the bag with sugar reinforcements, as Josephine’s mother had suggested. “Is there something romantic happening where?”

Wells drew even beside her. “Between you and that kid.”

“First of all, his name is Ricky and he’s Tagaloa’s caddie. We spent the entire day with them yesterday. Ringing any bells?”

“Barely.”

She rolled her eyes. “Second, no. He has a girlfriend. Two of them, actually. Both of whom come second to his Komodo dragon, Slash.”

“Good,” Wells grumbled, the world comprised of colors again.

Josephine’s cheeks deepened with a blush, ever so slightly. “Not for the second girl, I’m guessing.” They walked in silence for several yards. “Was there something else you wanted to speak to me about?”

“Yes.”

They continued walking.

Wells knew what he wanted to express, but he had no clue how to verbalize it.

“It’s not that I don’t want to take suggestions out there, Josephine. I’m not that fucking stubborn.” That last part left her looking skeptical, which was fair, but he pressed on. “It’s like . . . once my round becomes a dumpster fire, I just want to hurry up and burn it all down.”

“You’re self-destructive.”

Despite that glowing sentiment, he really liked how Josephine just jumped into the deep end of the conversation with him, without any pomp and circumstance. “That sounds way worse than what I said.”

Josephine stopped walking and backed off the path, so the pairs behind them could pass. Setting his bag down in front of her, she tightened her ponytail. In the . . . God, the cutest way. Why was everything she did so endearing? “Why do you want to burn it all down?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to go any deeper with this explanation.” His neck was getting hot. “Can we just leave it at dumpster fire?”

“Afraid not.”

Wells cursed. He picked up his ballcap and dragged a handful of fingers through his hair before fitting it back on. “I’m only humoring you because I feel like a Batman villain after last night.”