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“The craftsmanship of this house is…stunning!” Lanny said. “The hardwood floors, the wainscoting. Oh my gosh, the moldings throughout.”
“Yes,” my grandmother said as she looked around. “Irwin’s grandmother wanted the best.”
“Where’s Granddad?” I asked.
Grams turned back to me and smiled. “He’s at the ranch, helping your daddy with some things there.”
I nodded as I tried to ignore the sudden weight on my chest at the mention of my father. He’d most likely greet me the same way Bristol had. Minus the punch. I hoped.
“Upstairs has five bedrooms, which includes the master.”
Lanny faced Grams. “I’m so sorry we just showed up. My husband will be joining me soon, and I was wondering, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, if I might be able to stay here a couple of nights. Just until he gets here. He’s driving down.”
“He’s bringing Zeus with him,” I stated.
Grams gave us a wide smile. “Darling, you stay as long as you want!”
“Thank you, but I booked a little place in Fredericksburg for the rest of the trip.” She peeked over at me and then leaned into Grams. “A little break away from the boss will do me good.”
With a wink, Grams replied, “Especially with the mood he seems to be in.”
“I’m not in any mood,” I insisted. “The bastard had it coming. Plus, he broke the law. He wasn’t supposed to set foot on your property.”
That had my grandmother looking at me with a confused expression.
“I’ll explain it all later, Grams.”
She frowned. “Did that little punk hit you back? Your nose is swollen! How in the world did I not see that first thing?”
Lanny’s face broke out into a wide smile. “Oh, no. That’s from Bristol,” she said before I could respond.
My grandmother looked between us, really confused now. “Bristol?”
“Yep,” Lanny said. “We…er…ran into her on the main street. I wanted to get out and walk around to see the town. Needless to say, she wasn’t very happy to see the superstar here. Punched him right in the nose after he walked up and said, ‘Hey, Bri.’”
My grandmother sighed and shook her head at me.
Yep. All women learned from the same book.
Lanny laughed and added, “He almost fell back onto his rear.”
I narrowed my eyes at my assistant. “If I didn’t know any better, Lanny, I’d think you enjoyed seeing me get hit.”
She feigned surprise. “Me? Heavens no. I was horrified. Lord knows you didn’t deserve it.”
“I see why you keep her around, Anson,” Grams said as she walked Lanny out onto the wraparound porch out back.
I shot Lanny a dirty look when she glanced back at me over her shoulder.
“Do you? Because I’m beginning to have my doubts,” I said.
Lanny shot her tongue out at me, and I laughed.
“Let’s have some tea on the back porch, and then I’ll show you to your room.” Grams looked at me. “Anson, will you be staying in the guest house?”
“If that’s okay, Grams?”
She smiled softly. “He’s going to want to see you, and you can’t hide from him forever.”
Lanny looked between us, confused. “Who? Who are you hiding from?”
My hand went to the back of my neck to rub out the instant ache that had formed. “My father.”
“Oh, I see,” Lanny said as she took a seat in one of the cushioned chairs.
“You two sit, I’ll go get the tea. I hope you like sweet tea, Lanny!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Lanny called out after Grams.
When the door shut, Lanny faced me. “So how are you going to fix this thing with Bristol?”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head as I stared at her. “What?”
“Bristol? How are you going to fix it?”
“Fix it?”
She sighed. “Lord, why are men so dense?”
I felt my brows pull in hard. “Excuse me, I feel the time is right, once again, to remind you that you do still work for me, Lanny.”
“Then I request the next month off with no pay.”
“Um, why?”
“So I can speak freely to you. I think it’s something to do with being in Texas. I feel so…alive! I feel a kinship to these women. And Bristol. Oh, my dear sweet Bristol. Okay, not only was she beautiful…totally can’t believe you walked away from her…but she is feisty. I mean, she hit you, Anson!”
Lanny laughed. Hard.
I touched my nose softly and winced. “Yeah, I know, Lanny. And I’m not giving you the month off. I need you to be there if I need something.”
She frowned. “Like what?”
With a shrug, I replied, “I don’t know. Anything.”
Lanny tilted her head and looked at me. “Anson, you don’t have to pay me to be your friend. I’ve worked for you for five years, and I’d like to think I’m more than just your assistant.”
I gave her a warm smile. “Lanny, you have to know you mean more to me than that. You’re more than a friend. I think you’re the only woman who knows my every secret. That’s pretty damn dangerous…you definitely hold all the power in this friendship.”
