Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Callie said, “For the record, I love the idea. Working on private land means that Rand Holloway could protect us and our personal property.”
“You’re still mad because someone stole your iPod out of your car.”
“Hell yes. I mean, when we leave the restaurant at night, we have to walk together,” she reminded me. “If we were on the ranch, then A, we wouldn’t have to be open as late as we are now because we wouldn’t have to conform to other restaurants’ hours at the resort, and B, we’d be safe and so would our stuff because who would screw with the guys on the Red Diamond? Everyone knows the scariest guys in the county work for Rand Holloway.”
“So if we’re booted off, you’re all good relocating to the ranch?”
“We all are,” Kevin affirmed, smiling at me. “We took a vote.”
Of course they had. They were proactive, my group. “Well, hopefully it won’t come to that, but if it does, I could see us out there on the Red.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Really?” Kevin asked me. “You would consider that? Really, really?”
“What’re you, ten?”
“I’m just shocked, is all.”
“Well, yeah, I would consider it.”
“Ohmygod, that’s awesome,” Callie squeaked. “The only thing I was worried about in all this was you not wanting to be on that ranch, but if you don’t care, if it’s fine, then I’m over the moon. I would never do anything to make you unhappy.”
“I know.”
She leaned over to hug me.
“Why’re we doing this?”
“Just hug.” It was a brief clench where she kissed my cheek, then leaned back. “I was so scared. So please don’t ever put yourself in danger again.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promised.
“Back to the situation at hand,” Kevin told me, patting my leg. “Gillian’s still going to try and get one over on her people, but as long as we have a plan, we’re good.”
I nodded and watched Josie crook her elbow and rest her head on her fist as she regarded me. “So…boss?”
God. “Yes?”
“So you have plans to be on the ranch?”
I did. “I dunno.”
She coughed. “Mr. Joss said—”
“Say Stef. I’m sure he told you to.”
“He did, but I wasn’t sure it was appropriate.”
“It is.”
“Okay, so Stef said you might be seeing Mac Gentry.”
I groaned, and the whole room, at once, in sync, caught their breath.
“We’re gonna see what’s what when he gets back from the drive,” I said diplomatically, not wanting to have my love life aired out for the room. Stef must have gotten back in touch with Rand at some point after he left me, and the news was shared with him, and then he in turn told Josie. I would have to remember to smack him the next time I saw him.
“Which should be tomorrow,” Josie announced. “Mr.—Stef said that Mr. Holloway would be home by then. Apparently they’re making real good time now that the guests are gone. Do you have any idea what that means?”
I suspected that Rand’s new pace had people throwing in the towel. Twelve hours in the saddle was not for the faint of heart—or more to the point, not for people who’d never done it before. A saddle was not a pillow, and sitting on something that hard all day and night took a toll on the whole body, not just the ass.
“I’ve seen Mac Gentry,” Josie said, sounding wistful. “And that is a handsome man.”
I squinted at her. “And where have you seen him?”
“Are you kidding?” Callie chimed in. “He’s at the Bronc all the time at night.”
“I’ve never seen him,” I told her.
Her smile lit her face. “Which is interesting because whenever I look at him—because ditto on what Josie said, that is a very fine-lookin’ man—”
“Could you just finish your—”
“Every time I looked at him, he was watching you.”
My stomach did a familiar roll over the idea of Mac’s eyes on me.
“So.” Josie was back to grilling me. “Tomorrow when you get discharged, are you going home with Mac Gentry?”
“’Cause you’ll already have a packed bag,” Callie told me. “I mean, first we had to wash all your clothes because, damn, boss—disgusting.”
“Which is what I said,” Josie commented with a shudder.
“You know what—” I began, glaring at her.
“But you’re all packed and ready to—”
“Thank you,” I said to Callie before turning to Josie.
“Oh, come on, I was kidding, but if you go and live with Mac, we figured out what to do about the house you’re renting.”
I wouldn’t have expected any less. My team were problem solvers.
“See, Kevin needs a new place to live.”
“It’s true,” he chimed in. “I do. My family’s grown out of our old place.”
“And Kevin’s brother needs a place to live that’s not in Kevin’s house because Marla said, ‘No way in hell is your good-for-nothing brother living with us.’”
“Marla did say that,” Kevin agreed, smiling like he always did when he mentioned his wife of ten years. “Though her wording was more colorful.”