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Emma carried the title of Lady of Carrington Ranch and she took her duties seriously. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and tried to make every guest feel as if they were family. It’s why so many people came back year after year. I think at times Emma missed her job as a metallurgist but watching her smile and easily converse with the guests as if she saw them every day made it seem as if she was born for this life and job. I knew as soon as their eye center opened next week that she would bring that same warmth and feeling. There was no doubt it would be successful. Both she and Sawyer knew how to treat people right.
I thought I did, but goodness was I wrong. I breathed out, trying to put it out of my mind if only for a few minutes. I plugged my phone into the speaker and pulled up my playlist for the night. In the background, I could hear people filing in. One voice was unmistakable.
“SH-EL-BY!”
I turned to find Bobby Jay heading my way looking ridiculous in a T-shirt he’d ripped the sleeves off that announced to the world that he was too sexy for his shirt. If that wasn’t enough, he wore a thick cotton headband pushing his dark hair up, making him look crazed.
“What are you doing here?”
He looked around at all the women and then back at me. “Girl, what do you think I’m doing here?”
“I hope you aren’t trying to pick up women.”
He pulled me in for a bear hug. “Honey, I can’t help if the women just flock to me.”
I laughed against him. Once upon a time that might have been true.
“Look at you, laughing at me and here I came to see you.”
His thoughtful tone caught me off guard. I leaned away from him.
He tapped my nose. “I’ve been meaning to see how you’re doing but getting a new office up and running is time consuming. After a month, I think we are almost there.”
I stepped farther away from him. “How long have y’all been in town?”
A mischievous grin erupted on his five o’clock shadowed face. “Girl, we’ve been going back and forth for the last few months. You don’t think you can just up and move a company and open a new office?”
“Well, no . . . I just . . .”
“Yeah, Shelby, we’ve been around for a while.”
“So why stay here now?”
He let out a heavy breath and scrubbed his hand over his face. “I think Ryder was holding out some hope . . . until . . .”
“He found out how awful I was?” Tears popped up in my eyes.
He pulled me to him. “Don’t cry, girl.”
I pushed away from him. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I have a class to teach.”
He looked me over in my sports bra and tight leggings. “You are most certainly fine. Too skinny for my taste.” He gave me a wink. “But there’s not a man around who wouldn’t be attracted to you.”
“I can think of one.”
“That’s where you are wrong, Shelby. Why do you think he’s so angry?”
“Because he hates me.”
He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I think he’d like to. It would be easier on him. Don’t worry about him right now.” He gave me a little push. “I came here to sweat, girl.”
“Uh-huh. I think you came to see some women sweat.”
He wagged his brows. “What kind of man do you think I am?” His laugh filled the large space. “Come find me afterward.”
I waved him away. The crazy man. He found a spot right in the middle surrounded by a few younger women who giggled at him. He ate it right up and charmed them with his Southern accent.
Marlowe and Macey hustled in with the crowd. Macey gave me a wave and a smile, but Marlowe avoided any eye contact. She had been since Sunday. I had a sinking feeling why. Today she only worked a half day. I overheard her tell Macey that she was heading up to Edenvale to meet someone for lunch. A certain ex’s company just happened to be in Edenvale. I rubbed my stomach and took deep breaths to stave off how nauseous that made me feel.
Meanwhile, Bobby Jay was hollering, “It’s the M&M twins! You girls come on over here and show me how it’s done.”
Marlowe rolled her eyes while Macey smiled on their walk over to him.
It was time to get things started. I turned on the wireless mic I had attached to myself. “Welcome ladies and gentleman.” I flashed Bobby Jay a grin. “I hope y’all are ready to have some fun dancing while we burn some calories.”
“Yeah, girl!” Bobby Jay yelled, making everyone laugh except Marlowe, who raised her brow at him. I wanted to shake her and tell her she would be so lucky to have a man like Bobby Jay, but I had a feeling she was getting the best man I knew.
