Page 66 of Country Charm

“Damn near tryin’ to be.” I shake my head and make my way toward the kitchen.

Harrison pitches me his idea, and it’s not half-bad. He wants to fix up the old bunkhouse and make it a nice spot for getaways. I don’t think many people will want to get away on a piece of farmland, but we’re not using the building for anything now.

His showing initiative in his own business venture is enough for me. I tell him to draw it all up and present the whole thing to me with financials. He tells me that off the get-go, I won’t have to deal with anything other than guests on my land. I don’t mind sharing a slice of my paradise with others as long as they respect it.

I can tell at the end of our conversation he wants to ask about Cassidy but thinks better of it. I appreciate him reading me well because after hearing his pitch I am done for the day.

Hell, I feel like I could be done for the week.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Cassidy

Mary’s bachelorette party and wedding plans are enough to keep me mostly occupied, but not completely. I have a few more things to get done before tomorrow, but all are achievable. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m stressed, but I would also take a spiked coffee with a little Baileys if someone offered.

I planned the bachelorette party, if that’s what we want to call it, but it’s more like a girls’ weekend. I booked a nice getaway apartment close to our favorite spa and within walking distance of a few bars, one of which we have tickets for a drag show. Nothing says girls’ weekend like a facial followed by some good music and drinks with our fellow queens.

Mary is blowing up my phone for repeated details—even though she has been CC’d in all the emails—from the place we’re staying down to each and every reservation. I know my lovely control freak likes to have her hand in everything. It gives her enough peace of mind to enjoy herself.

Georgie was much easier than this. We allflew to Nashville that weekend and played the whole thing by ear, per her request. It was a weekend for the books. It was a pain in my wallet, but the memories were worth it.

Lynn’s party was planned by her sister, and it was more about relaxing and getting pampered than anything else. No fake penises or anything crude. A little lingerie and sex talk, but not like Georgie’s. Mary’s will be a good middle of the road between the two.

Being at work, I should be more focused on work things, but I have most of that squared away. My tasks for all my current accounts are caught up. Unless something new comes up, I may even be ahead of the game.

I pull out the notepad that details everything regarding Mary’s weekend and look over the list for tomorrow one more time.

The only thing I have left is to stop by the store on the way home today for fresh fruit, snacks, and pastries to have at the rental in case we need something to munch on. Oh, and to get the wine, but I shouldn’t even need to write that down.

A ping comes from my computer, and I see I have a new email. I cross my fingers, hoping something didn’t change with either of my accounts and I won’t be swamped the rest of my day.

To my surprise, I find an email from Monica Lewis, my old work colleague whom I ran into the other day while out with Hunter.

Subject: Job Opportunity.

Curiosity gets the better of me and I open it. I sip my coffee as I read the job description and the note from Monica. “Seems like something you might be interested in.” She adds a typed wink at the end. Interested in, maybe. Thenoted salary at the end, more than maybe. I don’t consider myself money-hungry but this position packs quite the financial punch.

It’s not in this city, but one about forty-five minutes north of here, so a little farther from the girls than I would like. Maybe a little farther away from someone else, too.

The fact that he even crosses my mind when thinking about where I am working adds an uneasy feeling.

The position is as a team lead, so I wouldn’t be handling accounts on my own anymore. I like handling my own accounts, so I don’t know how I feel about that. The position is four days a week in the office instead of five, and I like the sound of that. It also offers a small amount of travel, which was something that recently crossed my mind. I continue to read on and like everything it has to offer. I worry my thumbnail between my teeth for a few minutes.

I was just mulling over my career, wasn’t I? I was struggling with the idea of being a possible floater. Is this the change of pace I need? Do I need to move to find a new daily pattern to find a spark? I do like my job. I do like my life. But do I love either?

Before I know it, I’m sprucing up my CV and sending in the application. There is no harm in applying, right?

After sending it in, I get back to my actual job and make sure everything is in order for me to sign out for the weekend so I can focus on my girls.

Me: Tell me something good.

Country Charm: Image attached.

I about fall out of my chair looking at a picture of a cluster of puppies.

Me: OMG!! Are you getting one?

Country Charm: No. They are just visiting the farm today with one of the hands, a few of the guys will be taking one home, but none are staying here. Which one do you like?

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