Page 34 of White Collar Rancher

“No, and that was part of her problem with me.”

“Maybe that’s what she meant. Someone told her you wouldn’t hook her up. They can’t put a quarter in you and turn the knob like they can with him. What can you do?”

Exactly. The guy had been working here longer than her dad. He had power and connections and the rest of the staff knew it. So why couldn’t she escape the feeling that wasn’t what Anya had meant?

“Whatcha got plans for tonight?” Krista asked.

“Not much.” So much. Her parents were coming home tomorrow, so she was sleeping over at Justin’s tonight. She’d have the rest of the weekend to reconnect with Mom and Dad and hear about their trip.

She hadn’t seen Justin all week, and each night was more restless than the last. Her body wanted more of what he gave.

“I bet it’ll be quiet with your parents gone for another week,” Krista said as she organized her desk for the night. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving with them out of town?”

She frowned, the wet wipe hanging in her hand. “What do you mean?” Mom had told her not to worry about the airport pickup. Priya assumed that meant she’d call a cab.

“The surprise trip? The one I heard your mom’s been planning for months?”

Priya couldn’t bring herself to shake her head. How did Krista know more than she did?

Her humiliation was averted when Krista explained. “I guess she arranged for his schedule to be kept clear this week so she could surprise him with an extra week in Mexico, complete with deep-sea fishing.”

Right. Because her vegetarian father made an exception for fish he caught.

Krista sighed wistfully. “Those are the perks of being here for thirty years. They have a little pull. You didn’t know?”

She forced a smile. “I guess Mom thought I was five again and couldn’t keep a secret.”

“Isn’t that like parents? You have a med school degree and they still act like you don’t know how to tie your shoes.”

Priya somehow managed to laugh, but she was hurting inside. With the flurry before the trip, Mom had probably forgotten to mention the surprise.

She pulled out her phone and sent a message to Devya. Did you know that Mom is surprising Dad with an extra week in Mexico?

Who knew what time it was in Paris? Priya didn’t bother to check. Ordinarily she would’ve been considerate, but her blood pressure thrummed between her ears. If Devya knew, then… Well, that’d really suck.

She walked out with Krista and did all the perfunctory actions expected of her. The “have a good weekend” routine, complete with a smile and a wave. But when she got into her car, she slumped in her seat.

Her phone buzzed. It was Devya. Soooo exciting!

That wasn’t a clear answer, but it was clear enough. Devya called Mom all the time. She was the little princess. The one they worried about.

No, it was okay. It was fine to be the responsible kid. She hadn’t run to them crying on their shoulders when Emmett had dumped her. Her plans had been set and she’d followed through even though her heart had been breaking.

Being a free-spirited artist meant Devya was treated differently, and Priya accepted that. Was still trying to accept that.

Her phone rang. She fumbled with it but answered. “Dev? Is everything okay?”

Loud music almost drowned out her sister’s voice. “Of course, why wouldn’t it be?”

“Isn’t it the middle of the night there?” She winced as she said it. That was a ripe opening for her sister’s teasing.

Devya’s throaty laugh was so like her. “The night is just starting, Pri-Pri. I miss your face and thought I’d call before”—a knowing giggle—“the night gets away from me.”

Priya did a quick calculation. It was almost midnight in Paris. Oh, to be young and funded by doting parents and grandparents. “I didn’t know about Mom and Dad. I thought they were coming home tomorrow.”

“Old people can be spontaneous. In fact, you should try it sometime.”

Devya’s teasing got old. Priya could afford to party all night, too, if she hadn’t directed all her financial help into paying for school.

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