Page 87 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
He leaned forward to enjoy the view of her hips swaying the entire way down the hall.
Damn, he was a lucky bastard.
She showed up, fully dressed, right as Zach arrived.
The doorbell buzzed. Karen opened the door, her amusement clear. “What? Are you not feeling well?”
Zach paused on the welcome mat, carefully removing his boots. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”
She made her way back to the chair Finn had dragged to his side, settling next to him like a dream even as she teased his friend. “That’s the first time I’ve actually heard you use the doorbell. Oh, wait. You knocked once but opened the door and walked in before anybody answered.”
“You told me to make myself at home,” he reminded her. He spun the nearest chair around and sat on it backwards. He folded his arms along the top rail and tossed them a broad grin. “You two have fun at the wedding last night?”
“Shut up,” Finn rumbled softly. “What about you, twinkle toes? What time did you roll in last night?”
“And you better have treated Rose right,” Karen said, smiling with bared teeth. “Otherwise her girl posse will get you.”
Zach’s hands shot in the air. “I did my as-per-purchase duty and danced the girl’s night away. Then I took her home and dropped her off.” He leaned forward as if about to tell a terrible secret. “The instant I parked Delilah, Rose turned and said she’d had the best time, and I was a great dancer, and if I ever wanted to let her drive my car, she was fully on board.”
Finn offered Karen the head tilt. “Girl’s got good taste in cars.”
A deepha!burst from Zach. “Andthenshe said there was no need for me to get out of the car, because her sister was right there, and this wasn’t the kind of date that ended with a kiss.”
“Awwww. That’s sad,” Karen said.
Zach looked startled. “Youwantedme to kiss her?”
“Well, I can’t see you ever allowing her to drive Delilah, so she should’ve gotten some bonus out of the evening.” Karen wiggled away from Finn’s fingers. “Stop tickling. Just calling them as I see them.”
Considering how important Zach was in Finn’s life, it was good to see his people bonding.
Now for a test of how quick Zach was on his feet. Finn deliberately linked his fingers with Karen’s.
His friend’s gaze flickered down then back to Finn’s face. A slow smile curled Zach’s lips, but he didn’t say anything. Just waited.
“Been a few changes around here, but this one affects you,” Finn said. “Karen’s all in on the dude ranch. She’s sticking around permanently, which means adjusting plans for hiring once she figures out exactly which job she wants full time.”
His friend’s pleased grin said it all. He knew this announcement wasn’t just to do with Karen staying at the ranch but staying in Finn’s life.
Zach’s gaze shifted to hers, and he dipped his head. “Never been happier to hear any news in my life. Welcome aboard.”
Karen looked a little wild-eyed. “Thanks.” She glanced at Finn. “That wasn’t what I expected.”
“That’s just the start, because now we get to the meat and potatoes. Remember I told you about Bruce Travers?”
She nodded instantly, looking at them both. “Your mentor.”
Zach’s face brightened with understanding. “Is this about that thing we weren’t talking about?” he asked
A snort escaped. “I damn well hope so, because if it wasn’t, that was a dumbass thing to say.”
Karen’s fingers tightened in his. “Secrets?”
There were still a few to spill, and Finn was determined to get them out. “Remember that fancy-schmancy car that was here at the start of summer? The lawyer from Bruce’s estate gets in touch with us every now and then. He’s a good guy, Alan, but this time something in the will triggered, and it turns out we have a deadline to get Red Boot ranch up and running.”
Confusion was trickling in, but she still held his arm in a possessive grip. “I thought Bruce passed away a couple years ago. How can he do that?”
“Lawyers are brilliant at finding ways to make their billing charges last longer,” Zach drawled. “The whole deadline is not that huge a deal. Not if we keep things rolling.”
