Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1)(68)

He chuckles. “Oh, nah, man. Scott is my last name. Derek is my first. But everyone calls me Scotty.”

Scotty. I almost roll my eyes. What is it with men in this town who introduce themselves using a nickname when they have a perfectly professional-sounding first name?

“Okay, Derek. Do you need a rundown?”

He looks confused, his almost-baby face scrunching up. “Oh, no, I’m good.”

“Okay, great.” I cross my arms and stare at him.

His gaze flits over my shoulder to Rosie, then back to me. “Okay, great,” he repeats.

And then he’s off, walking back out to actually do something he’s supposed to.

“That was entertaining,” Rosie pipes up from behind me. She’s smiling when I turn to face her, but it drops quickly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She turns and starts clicking on her computer. “How was Cora this morning?”

“Are you still in pain?” I watched her walk around the office gingerly all day yesterday, and today I’m done with it.

“Why? Are you going to give me another orgasm to help?”

“If you ask really nicely.”

That has her eyes snapping up to mine. “Well, Aunt Flo is here, so you probably wouldn’t want to.”

I shrug. “That’s what showers and dark towels are for.”

Her blue eyes go comically wide. “What did you just say?”

“Rosie, I’m a grown-ass man. Your period doesn’t scare me.”

She blinks back at me, pure shock painting her face, and carries on like I didn’t say that to her at all. “It’s just the first couple of days that I feel like shit. Same old. I’ll be good as new by tomorrow.”

“Go home.”

She snorts, eyes back on her screen. “No. There’s nothing wrong with me. You already overpay me. I’ll work. You just don’t want Scotty making googly eyes at me while I sit at my desk.”

I don’t want Scotty anywhere near her, but I won’t admit that. “No, I don’t want you working while you’re not feeling well. This isn’t an emergency room. Nothing is so pressing that you need to torture yourself being here. And I pay you in line with industry standards and an amount befitting your level of education.”

She sighs, sounding exhausted. “Ford, women have been working through their periods forever. Stop micromanaging me. When I get home to my shitty bunkhouse and pet mouse—who I think I might name Scotty—I will eat junk food and lie in bed feeling sorry for myself like a big girl.”

Pet mouse?

She really needs to stay at my place.

I turn away, knowing a losing battle when I see one. But not before I toss over my shoulder, “Just because women have been working through their periods doesn’t mean they should be.”

“Knock that off,” she mumbles to my back. “Nice Guy Manager doesn’t sound nearly as cool.”

I can’t help but chuckle as I reach into the pocket of my leather jacket and pull out my keys.

“Where are you going? You just got here!”

“I have an errand to run.” I toss her a wink as I stride out the doors. “I’ll be back later.”

“Wait! Is running errands code for masturbating again? Was it awkward with West there?” She shouts it loud enough that Scotty fumbles his paintbrushes out of the back of his truck.

Her laughter fills the air, and at least that means she’s happy.

And even if it’s at my expense, I’ll take it.





When I return that afternoon after running errands, Derek Scott is still checking Rosie out. I swear the guy is part owl. He can be facing the wall opposite her and somehow turn his head about ninety degrees.

I find myself wishing he’d turn it a little too far as I flop back into my chair. Then I open my email and fire one off to Rosie.


Rosalie,

We should work at the house. These paint fumes aren’t healthy.

Have a happy day!

Ford Grant

CEO and Producer at Rose Hill Records

I don’t look up when her computer pings. And when I hear the whoosh sound of the incoming email, my stomach flips. So lame.


Good afternoon, Dr. Grant,

I think the paint fumes are helping my cramps. So maybe they’re healthy after all! Scotty seems fine. So who’s to say?

All my best,

Rosalie Belmont

Business Manager and Natural Health Consultant at Rose Hill Records P.S. How were your “errands”? Did you stop by the bank and make another donation? Bet you didn’t even need a magazine this time.

She giggles as I read it, and I catch Scotty drool while gazing in her direction.


Nurse Rosie,

Scotty does not seem fine. He’s a grown man who introduces himself by a nickname that his friends probably called him when he was the high school quarterback here in town.

Get your laptop and say goodbye to the stray puppy dog so he can finish his work.

My errands were fine. I didn’t use a magazine the first time, and if I were to do it again, I wouldn’t need one either.

Have a happy day!

Ford Grant

CEO and Bation-Master at Rose Hill Records

This time I get an unladylike snort out of her before she looks up and mouths across the room, Bation-Master? I knew she’d like that one.