a New York business exec," Brian said.
Julian smiled. "They're just jealous."
Carrie looked at Chloe and could see that Julian's smile really didn't do a thing for her. She guessed she was just going to have to let her sister heal before she started playing matchmaker.
Chloe might not be interested in flirting, but she had caught the teasing bug the men seemed to have come in from the pastures with. "What could possibly be worse than a New York business exec?"
Julian shrugged. "I have no idea. As I said, they're just jealous. I started out as a trader for a Wall Street brokerage house, and then lit out on my own as a facilitator."
"That's one of those fancy words for 'venture capitalist,'" Chase said. Of course he'd exaggerated his Texas drawl.
Carrie shook her head. "Let's all get inside and out of this heat." Then she turned to her men. "Y'all be sure to wipe those cow paddies off your boots before you come inside now, ya hear?"
She snickered, because they both turned widened eyes down to their feet before seeming to get that she was referring to the BS they'd been serving up rather than any they might actually have stepped in.
"Beer all around?" Brian asked as soon as they shut the door behind them.
Everyone nodded except Julian. "Not for me," he said. "I hope you'll pardon my absence at dinner, tonight. I've been invited to some place called the New House." He looked at the Benedicts. "I'm to meet up with Peter, Jordan, and Tracy at their place and follow them over."
Chase clapped Julian on the back. "Ah, a Kendall family skewering...er, dinner. What a nice follow-up to our visit to The Dancing Pony a couple of weeks back."
Chloe's eyes went wide. "You went to The Dancing Pony? Over in Divine?"
Carrie wasn't the only one to understand the shock on her sister's face. Both of her men were aware that Divine also happened to be where Chloe lived at the moment, having moved to there from Dallas, with Beck. Chase said, "Yes, ma'am, we had occasion to visit the horse breeding operation at the Divine Creek Ranch. Then, later that night, we were treated to an evening out by our hosts, the Martinezes. Now, I don't want you worrying, none. Brian and I were perfect gentlemen, not even looking at any of the women in the place. Of course, Julian, here, had himself a couple of very interesting adventures."
Chase said that in such a way as to earn a punch from Julian.
Chloe's eyes widened. "You didn't get into a fight, did you?"
"No, ma'am." Julian had taken his hat off and ran a hand through his hair. "I just danced with one very pretty young lady, and then was surprised by the arrival of another pretty lady who's an acquaintance of mine."
"Yeah, after the first one was carried out of the bar by another man."
Carrie hadn't heard any of this at all. She looked at Julian, whom she'd come to like and respect and raised one eyebrow.
He shook his head, sighed, and sent Chase a look that promised retribution. "The first lady was already spoken for, but I didn't know that at the time. She'd decided to go to the Pony to kick-start her social life - I learned this later, you understand - after having had a disagreement with the man she really cares for. Apparently, not being the sort of lady who would normally try to pick up a man, she decided to have a few margaritas first."
Carrie opened her mouth wide, and then closed it again. Chloe said, "Oh, my. Sounds like a definite case of one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor!"
Julian nodded. "Yes, ma'am. But she behaved in a very ladylike fashion the entire time, right up to the point where she, um, swooned."
Brian shook his head. "And then we walk in with the Martinezes, who've arranged to surprise Julian, here, by having invited another woman to join us - this one a lady he already knew. Now, there were a few moments when no one seemed to know where the two of them had disappeared to..."
Carrie's lip twitched. "Another woman?"
"Yes, ma'am." Chase had a habit of thickening his Texas accent when he teased. "Miss Gwen seemed like a fine lady - not that I was paying much attention, mind you. I did nod politely to her when we were introduced. She's a real cowgirl, and the Martinez men said she has a real fine talent