I pushed the door open and stuck my head inside. “Hey.”
He masked his surprise well, but I didn’t miss the jerk of his shoulders. “Hey to you.”
I slipped into his office, shutting the door behind me, and leaned against it. “Busy day?”
Sighing, he clicked his mouse a few times. “Always, but especially this time of year. You’re not busy?”
“No, I am. I just finished meeting with Javier. He asked me to help him rework some things on the schedule.” I cupped my hands over my mouth like I was telling him a secret. “And it was difficult to look at him without wondering if he’s a spicy daddy.”
Cormac snorted a laugh. “I had the same problem when I saw him this morning. Please thank Henrik for ruining my working relationship with him.”
I saluted him. “I’m on it. I already put him on the kids’ hike for the week—his nightmare.”
His brow dropped with worry. “Maybe we shouldn’t put him in charge of children…”
“Don’t worry. He’s astonishingly good with thembecausehe’s frightened of them. He practically backflips to keep them entertained and happy so they don’t chew his face off. Besides, a little exposure therapy will do him some good. Maybe.”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “It sounds like you’re helping Javier out.”
“Yeah…he can’t get out there as much as he’d like. He had knee surgery in the spring, and things aren’t as healed as he expected. I offered to pick up the slack since I’m the most familiar with the ranch and have gotten to know the strengths and weaknesses of all the guides.”
“It’s not too much?”
“No.” His concern sent a little curl of delight through me. “It’s not too much at all. I like that he trusts me, and making spreadsheets has always been my cup of tea.”
“No one has ever said that.”
I pointed to myself. “Besides me. I said it.”
His mouth quirked, and I was so relieved to see it I could have burst. The way we’d parted yesterday had been heavy. Too heavy. I still had hope we could somehow find our way back to…well, not the way we used to be, but something that resembled it, though.
“So, Zara, what brings you by? Just saying hello?”
“I found I couldn’t walk by your office without seeing your face.” I pushed off the door and moved closer, stepping around the chairs in front of his desk. “Can I make you dinner tonight?”
He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head to look up at me. “Do you know how to cook?”
I rolled my eyes. “It would be awfully cruel of me to invite you over for dinner and expect you to cook it.Yes, Cormac, I know how to cook. You’ve eaten my mother’s cooking plenty of times. I learned from the best.”
When he didn’t answer right away, I braced myself for rejection. In truth, I probably deserved it. I wouldn’t have blamed him for wanting nothing to do with me.
“Okay.” He rose to his feet and it was now me looking up at him. “You talked me into it.”
All the dread that had gathered in my chest fled in a whoosh of breath. “Oh, good. I had a feeling reminding you how good a cook my mom is would do the trick.”
“That was what did it. I’m in it for the food,” he said wryly.
“I know. The company is for the birds.” Smiling, I backed toward the door. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“We are.” He watched me, humor dancing behind his icy blue eyes. “I’ll tolerate you if I have to.”
“That’s all I ask.”
He offered me a warm grin. “See you tonight, Zara.”
I smiled back, and if it was wobbly, I couldn’t have helped it. “Tonight, Maccie.”
As I passed the reception desk on my way outside, Melanie gave me a look so sharp it could have cut glass, but not even a little side-eye could bring my good mood down.