“Lilah, you work at the ranch?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah. I work for Zach. Have you met him?”

“Just for a second last weekend.”

“I mean I sort of work for him and Jesse—”

“Not for much longer,” Jesse said as he walked back into the room. He flopped his massive weight down into a recliner in the corner that seemed to have been custom-made for his size. The black Lab wandered over and settled under the footrest.

Lilah shrugged, rolling her eyes. “I got promoted.”

“You did?” Sam said, surprised.

“Yeah.” Another shrug.

“You don’t seem so excited,” Amanda said.

“Well, I’m getting my own office and everything, but now I have to work downstairs with Delfi. I’m going to miss working upstairs.”

“I’ll show you the office blueprints later,” Sam said, throwing Amanda a lifeline. She had no clue what Lilah was talking about.

“We ready?” Jesse asked.

“Yeah, let’s do this shit.” Corie settled farther into the love seat, her hands still draped over Vega’s legs. Jesse held up the remote and pressed play. Amanda tried to focus on the most eighties movie opening she’d seen in a long time, but as the ridiculous movie and Corie’s hilarious commentary went on she realized the tension she’d spent the whole drive trying to chase away had settled back on her shoulders. She was tight all over and all she could think about was Dru and what mood of hers would be waiting for her when she got home to LA.

“You okay?” Sam asked quietly.

“Yeah, just thinking about work stuff.”

“Listen, you’re in Charming now, baby. You can leave that all behind.”

Amanda couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Uh, I’ve never seen this before. When do they get to Manhattan?”

“You got an hour at least!” Corie yelled across the room.

“Are you serious?” Lilah replied.

“Will you please,” Jesse groaned, his tone somehow dry. “I’m trying to watch the best movie ever.” Amanda chuckled to herself, but her leg accidentally brushing against Sam’s shifted her attention again. A tingle rushed down her thigh and again she was fighting the memory of what it felt like to have Sam’s fingers brushing over her bare skin.

“Sorry.” She shifted closer to Lilah, putting a little distance between herself and Sam’s muscular legs. Those jeans should have been illegal. He didn’t say anything, but she heard the small rush of breath leaving his nose as he scooted to the other end of the couch. Same, bro, she wanted to joke. The frustration had been building inside her from the moment she saw him in the lobby of the lodge. Normally Amanda was confident in her decisions, but as Lilah offered her a throw blanket from the back of the couch, another twinge of regret hit her. She could think of much better sources of warmth.