Page 83 of Revelry
“I guess if you don’tlikehelping out charities that raise money for disadvantaged children at Christmas then fine but—”
“I’ll do it.” The words shot from me before I could stop them. All because I wanted to see Gertrude’s face.
And the kids, of course. I wanted to help the kids…
“You will?” Daisy gasped.
I pointed a finger at her. “But you tell no one.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “I’ll need to tell the guys. They’ll come by your place later to get the last item for their costumes.”
“Excuse me?”
“Chaps.” She grinned wide. “Those sweet, sweet leather chaps you insist on wearing. I’ve seen you in a few of them. How many pairs have you got?”
“Five, but Daisy—”
“Perfect!” she clapped her hands. “You’ll see Max, Jack and Leo later then.”
“Daisy,” I warned. “I don’t like people in my space.” Clicking my fingers three times trying to calm my rising anxiety over the thought of the guys coming around.
“Then you’d better hand them over quickly so they leave. Also, rehearsals will take place in Jack’s cabin.”
“Rehearsals?” I gulped.
“Yeah, for the dance. Max will sing and you other boys can stand and look pretty. Pretty and muscley. Don’t forget the body oil.” She slapped her hands to her thighs before standing.
“Body oil? Daisy wait, maybe I was too quick—”
“Nuh uh! You said you’d do it. No takebacks,” she whined, but there was fire in her eyes.
For charity, gah.
“Fine. Remember, you don’t tell anyone except the guys and make them swear not to tell or I won’t do it,” I said.
“That’s fair, I mean, you’re keeping my secret, right?” She arched a brow, referring to when I saw her in the French maid’s outfit at Raleigh’s Spa Ranch.
“Exactly,” I nodded.
“Then you got yourself a done deal, cowboy!”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a cowboy.”
“Then you’d better get practicing for Cowboylesque.” She winked and then with a finger-wave, she was gone.
I sank back in my chair, wondering what the hell I’d signed myself up for, and then Gertrude’s face popped into my mind again. I smiled, imagining her wide eyes, round lips open in surprise when she saw me. Saw I was doing something reckless and fun. Well, reckless by my standards anyway. I was going to appear shirtless in public. That was well out of my comfort zone.
“My therapist would be so proud that I’m pushing myself,” I muttered, sighing and turning to my computer to Google Cowboylesque. I was halfway through a video when Harriet came in.
“Uh, Dr. Wilder?”
I quickly closed the window, cheeks heating. “Yah? I mean, yes?”
“The Farbers are here with their Chihuahua,” she said, her eyes darting from the computer to me and back again.
“Great,” I said, getting to my feet and coming out to see them.
“Are yousureyou’re okay?” Harriet whispered when I walked past her.
