True-Blue Cowboy - Vicki Lewis Thompson Page 0,64
is offering. I simply don’t want it.” The tight band around her chest had gone from uncomfortable to painful.
He met her gaze in the mirror, his expression sober. “Then maybe I’m mistaken.”
“I’m sorry he’s hurting.” Between the lump in her throat and her shortness of breath, she could barely get the words out. She wiped her hands on a towel. “He’s a great guy.”
“He thinks the world of you, too.”
“He does? Even after—”
“That’s the way Nick is. Once you get the Nick stamp of approval, you’ll have it forever.”
She ducked her head and clutched the towel as tears pushed at the back of her eyes.
“I’ve upset you.” Jake’s kind voice threatened to open the floodgates. “But I—”
“Be right back. Something in my eye.” She dashed to the restroom and pressed the towel to her face. Bad idea. Gel residue. Something was in her eye for real, now.
Tossing the towel in the hamper, she turned on the faucet and splashed water in her eyes until the burning eased. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Someone rapped on the open door. “Eva?”
Josette. She grabbed a hand towel from the basket on the vanity and blotted her face before turning around. “Stupid move. Got styling gel in my eye.”
Clearly Josette wasn’t buying it. “Jake asked me to check on you. He looked worried. Took off his cape and got out of his chair. If I hadn’t come back here right away, I think he would have.”
“He’s just… Nick and I…” She dragged in a breath. “Nick and I ended the shortest affair in history last night.”
“Oh, dear.” Josette started forward.
Eva raised both hands to prevent the hug that was coming. “I’m hanging on by a thread.”
“Right.” She backed up. “I’ll reschedule your appointments, including Ellie Mae’s. She’ll be back in town eventually, and—”
“Please don’t reschedule anything. Working is a good distraction. Especially with someone like Ellie Mae.”
“Yeah, but are you up for the processing party? That’s going to be—”
“What processing party?”
“Oh, jeez. You weren’t contacted?”
“No.”
“Classic case of me assuming it was covered. Ed invited the Babes to party at the salon during Ellie Mae’s appointment. Henri’s my four o’clock, anyway, and the rest are all available. Ed’s having it catered by the Moose.”
“Do we have room?”
“Ed’s bringing folding tables and chairs to create a little café area outside. We’ll prop the door open. I said the party was fine with me, and since you hadn’t said no I thought it was fine with you, too. I’m so sorry. We can still cancel it.”
“But it is fine with me. I warned Ellie Mae it would be a couple hours for bleaching and at least another hour for the blue to process. That’s probably why they thought of it. It’s a great idea for filling the time.”
Josette looked uncertain. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. Sounds fun.”
“Then I’m nominating myself as your assistant stylist after I finish with Henri.”
She smiled. “We haven’t double-teamed a client in a long time. Remember when we used to do that because we had so few clients?”
“And now look at us.”
“We’re a hit.” She dropped the hand towel in the hamper and held out her arms. “I’ll take that hug, now.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Eating used to be so much fun. Not anymore. But Nick had forced himself to plow through the dinner he’d helped Garrett fix. Rafe could get away with picking at his food. Nick had a reputation to uphold.
Everyone on the ranch knew he’d crashed and burned because the word always got out on the Buckskin. He’d had enough expressions of sympathy and consoling pats on the shoulder to last a million years. If he stopped eating like a horse, he’d attract even more attention.
They’d nearly finished kitchen cleanup when Matt, Jake and CJ came through the front door, clearly on a mission. Could be anything, but it likely concerned his current troubles, or maybe Rafe’s, too, since they both had their asses in a sling.
Leo hung up the dishtowel he’d been using. “To what do we owe this honor?”
Matt thumbed back his hat. “Thought we could use a Brotherhood meeting. Haven’t had one in weeks.”
“I have to check my calendar.” Rafe put the butter in the fridge and exchanged a look with Nick. “I think I’m booked.”
Nick put the last plate in the dishwasher and loaded the soap dispenser. “Me, too.” He wanted a Brotherhood meeting like he wanted an itchy rash all over his body. “I’m pretty sure I’m unavailable.”
Matt walked to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. “Let me rephrase.