Page 56 of Taming the Billionaire Cowboy
There’s a knock on the open door, and Dave stands there with a grin. “Ready for that drink?”
“Absolutely. Lead the way.”
I grab my suit jacket and follow him out the door, passing Marie on the way. She gives me a quick look over, and I can tell what she’s going to say before she even opens her mouth.
“Don’t worry.” I stop at her desk, where she’s packing up to leave for the day. “I’m doing good.”
Her shoulders drop with relief. “That’s nice to hear.” She glances at Dave. “Please just… don’t overwork yourself now that you’re back.”
“I’m not staying long.” I shake my head, all too aware of the promise I made to Carly, Bradley, and myself.
“O’Malley’s?” Dave asks, referring to the pub across the street that became a regular haunt years ago.
The city thrums with life, heat curling up from the sidewalk and wrapping around us even though it’s dark out. Inside the typically crowded pub, we find an empty booth at the back. Dave orders for both of us — two bottles of our dishonorably favorite cheap beer.
My phone dings — a text from Carly.Sorry I missed your call. Bradley spilled paint in the kitchen.
Yikes, I text back.I’m sorry. Is this a bad time to tell you my deal went through?
Congratulations!Her text reads, a slew of celebratory emojis popping up beneath the words.You earned it. Don’t celebrate too hard without me.
“Who are you texting?” Dave asks with a knowing smile. “A girl?”
“My girlfriend,” I announce, then quickly find a picture.
It’s one of her on the ranch, with the sun setting behind her and the wind tugging at her hair. I took it on a day we were wrangling cattle. She looked like a goddess in that golden sunset light, laughing as she tried to keep a stubborn calf in line. It remains one of my favorite images of her.
“Wow,” Dave says, eyebrows shooting up toward his hairline. “She’s gorgeous.”
“And brilliant,” I can’t help but add, pride coating my voice. “She’s the ranch manager.”
Dave raises his beer bottle. “To the girlfriend… who you didn’t waste any time finding.”
I chuckle. “Nope. I guess not.”
I glance at her last text again, my heart feeling lighter. “She says not to celebrate too hard,” I tell Dave.
He chuckles, raising his beer in toast. “To not celebrating too hard. Although…”
I pause, the bottle halfway to my lips. “Uh-oh. What does that mean?”
“I don’t want you to work yourself too much, but there’s another deal in the works. You remember that land outside of New Orleans?”
“The one by the bayou?” I ask, my brow furrowing.
“Yeah, that one,” he replies, taking a long gulp of his beer. “Guess who just got back in contact?”
“No.” I shake my head incredulously, setting my bottle down on the table with a clink. “They seemed like they’d never sell.”
“Well, maybe they’ve changed their minds. We’re not sure yet, but it’s worth checking out.”
I lean back against the leather seat, considering this new information. That land would be another huge acquisition, one worth millions, and potentially billions once developed. But it would also mean diving back into business full-time, before I’m ready to leave the ranch, Carly and Bradley, even for a short while. And that’s not an easy choice.
“Oliver Greer.” Dave’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts, his gaze intensifying. “Are you considering passing up on this?”
“No,” I say quickly - maybe a bit too quick.
My heart hammers in my chest at the idea of working like I used to, being away from Carly and Bradley for days or even weeks. But another part of me — the part that built my company from the ground up — is thrilled at the prospect of getting that land.
