They do this girly kiss thing on both cheeks, and I watch in amusement.
Carina and I have been going strong for a month now and in that time April and her have grown close. I wouldn’t call them best friends, but they’re partners in crime. Funny, considering their work hours didn’t allow them to interact that much.
Things are different now.
Since Jenkins and April are family, we hang out together quite a lot. They were over at Carina’s place three weeks ago for dinner. Last Friday, I invited them over to christen my farmhouse.
Tonight, we’re hanging out at their place.
“Hey, April,” I say.
She rushes over to give me a hug before stepping away and returning her attention to my girl. “My God, I love this dress onyou, Carina. And the jewelry… you have to tell me where you bought your necklace.”
“I got it from the most adorable little shop in Dallas,” Carina says. “We must go one day.”
“You’re on.” April’s eyes sweep the length of my girl’s body. “Love, love, love how the beads pick up on the color of the intricate detail on the lower part of your dress.”
Carina is wearing a turquoise bead necklace with a silver cross dangling from a leather string. It complements her pretty black off the shoulder western-style dress to a T.
“Someone said I couldn’t leave the store without it,” Carina says. “This tall guy over here spoiled me rotten when we were in Dallas two weeks ago.”
I wink at her.
April’s eyes drop to my girl’s feet. “And let’s talk about those killer boots.”
“I know, right?” Carina says, extending a leg out.
“I see you got the expensive ones?”
“Someone said I shouldn’t compromise,” Carina says.
I chuckle.
It took longer than I’d like, because I was pulling a lot of extra shifts at the ranch when three guys become first time fathers in the same week—their babies all came earlier than expected.
Still, I held my promise to my girl. We drove out to Dallas a couple weeks ago so I could make her a bona fide small-town girl.
I bought Carina three pairs of Justin boots—one pair of dressy turquoise leather ones that are distressed for a weathered effect. A casual two-toned pair for every day, and the polished all black ones she’s wearing now.
“Nice.” April nods, visibly impressed.
Carina blushes, as her gaze slides to meet mine. “I love all my gifts.”
“Glad you do.” I nod.
“It’s good to be you, Carina,” April says. “I need to find me a Rhett.”
I shake a finger at her. “Not ‘til you’re thirty, remember?”
“Carina isn’t even twenty-five, and she has you,” April says.
“Squirt, you’re not even twenty yet. There’s plenty of time.”
April shakes her head with an eye roll.
Carina laughs.
“Whatever y’all are cooking sure smells good,” I say, taking in the tangy smell permeating my nostrils.
