Page 81 of Revelry
“You know Leo’s gotta get involved,” I joked.
“Of course. That man is just looking for an excuse to take his clothes off.” Maddy rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed deeper.
Daisy turned to me. “You think Tate would do it?”
“Yeah, he looks like he’s hiding a very nice rig under those shirts. And those leather chaps, woo!” Maddy fanned herself and a completely irrational flash of jealousy hit me.
But being around lots of people? Forced socializing, removing clothes and dancing? In an environment he couldn’t control? Didn’t sound like a plus for Tate. I stuck up for my man-uh-my friend.
“I don’t think it’s his thing.”
Daisy pouted. “Okay then, that’s fine though. It’s a lot to ask. I bet I can make Max do it too.”
“What about Duke Raleigh?” I asked. “He’s pretty hot. You know, in that snooty, know-it-all way.”
Daisy’s excited gleam waned a little. “I don’t think he’ll do anything to help outRamshackleRanch as he calls us.”
“Well, we don’t need him!” Kat said.
“I’ll ask around town and see if there’s anyone else. We only need another guy, maybe two. As long as they’re under eighty I don’t think the ladies will care. I’ll start working on the marketing, the socials and posters. Oh my God this is going to be amazing!” Daisy squealed before she ran off, dragging Maddy with her like two tornados.
“She’s so good at what she does. I just wish there were more opportunities in Reverence for her. I’m scared she’ll move away and leave us, and that’s awful to think,” Kat said, staring after them.
“You mean Daisy?” I asked, putting an arm around her waist.
“Yeah. She needs room to fly, but I don’t wanna lose any more family.”
“That’s understandable.”
She rested her head on top of mine which can’t have been comfortable for her given our height difference. “That means you too, Gertie. Now I’ve got you back, I don’t want you to leave so we need to figure out what we’re gonna do with you.”
I sighed. “We sure do.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tate
“Good morning, Harriet,” I announced as I entered the clinic.
Her gaze snapped away from her phone and she met my stare.
“Did you have a nice…” I floundered. “Evening?”
She chewed her gum once, my eyes flitting to it where it smacked in her mouth, fighting the compulsion to make her spit it out. But it didn’t irk me as much as normal.
“Hi Dr. Wilder! Uh, yah. Did…um, you?” she replied, eyeing me warily.
I tapped the counter. “Great. And yes, I did.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked, handing me a folder of paperwork to sign.
I looked around, thinking about it before answering, surprising myself with the answer.
“Yes. Yes, it is.”
I went into my office and tossed the portfolio on my desk, not bothering to tidy it when some of the papers slipped free from the folder. I paused a moment to acknowledge what a big deal it was that I didn’tneedto tidy the papers. I’d been working hard to nail the first rung of the ERP hierarchy, and I was proud of myself for my efforts. I’d noticed that recently I wasn’t as tightly wound or stressed, so when small things happened, they didn’t bother me as much as they used to.
As my computer warmed up, I started going through my schedule for the day, planning my journey out to the ranches this afternoon for follow-ups.
