Page 124 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

Courtney got to me, wrapped her fingers around my elbow, and shook her head. “You know, Carlotta, for a few weeks, I thought you might be good for William.” She smiled at the man holding the camera, likely to make certain it was focused on her. “Then I caught you talking to some of your friends at the Nebula.”

Carlotta’s face paled. I was impressed I could tell under all of the makeup.

“You had your friends in that little room in the back—you know, the one you asked William to reserve for you, then said you weren’t feeling well and cancelled on him.” Courtney waved a hand. “I heard you telling them just how much you were going to get out of him when you got married. The trips you’d take your girlfriends on. The venues you’d reserve just for them. The things he’d buy you…”

I hadn’t heard any of this before, but considering the way Carlotta was waving for her cameraman to stop filming, it must be true.

Courtney gave Carlotta a wicked grin. “You see, he’s too nice to call you out, but I’m not.” She pointed over her shoulder where Patrick had her phone up, likely making a video. “He left you because he knew you only wanted him for his money.” My sister let go of me, walked over to Carlotta, and tapped her on the nose. “And now you’re going to leave him alone, or I’ll show everyone how you did your makeup like that before you left your penthouse.”

Carlotta blinked.

My sister turned her back on the woman and walked toward Patrick.

I didn’t want to walk away without saying something, so I said, “Goodbye, Carlotta.”

She burst into tears—likely fake ones—and I had to suppress a smile as I joined Patrick and Courtney.

“Did you get it?” Courtney asked.

“Every word.” Patrick grinned and handed her phone back.

“Good man.” Courtney patted him on the arm. “Thank you.”

I almost stopped in my tracks. Courtney didn’t thank anyone but me in that tone of voice. I tried to read Patrick’s expression, but he turned and headed back to the car.

Courtney came to me and said, “Have you invited Miss Texas to the garden party yet?”

I shook my head.

“Do it. I’d like to meet her.”

“I bet you would.”

Courtney laughed. “I just saved your butt from that shrew. You owe me.”

She had saved me. “Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.”

We reached the car, and Courtney waited for Patrick to open the door. “You call her. I’ll be in here. You have one minute before we need to go for the board meeting.”

I rolled my eyes but took out my phone. Brooke had shown me a small part of her world, and I’d struggled to fit in. How would she feel surrounded by the elite of New York?

Before I realized what I’d done, I’d hit the call button.

Brooke answered on the second ring. “Hey.” She sounded a little down.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Sure. What’s up?”

Courtney’s window went down a few inches, and she stuck three fingers out, indicating I had thirty seconds.

“I only have a moment, but I wanted to invite you to a garden party tomorrow night.”

“It’s May.” She sounded indignant.

I smiled. “There will be heaters.”

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