Dad was always looking for a way to make more money. I swear, since Mom died, it was his main, driving force. And how convenient was it for him to have a daughter who could work his latest business venture? Yeah, a part of me was honored that he believed in me, even if it might be for selfish reasons, but running an entire event venue? I’d just gotten my BA in Event Management. I’d only just gotten a job with an venue in Beverly Hills, I couldn’t imagine being in charge of an entire event ranch. Not to mention, I couldn’t just drop everything in California and move here on a whim. I mean, I could, technically, but Californiawas home. It was where Mom was buried. The thought of leaving felt like carving out a chunk of my soul.
Tears burned in my eyes. From anger, or frustration, or confusion, I didn’t really know at this point. It didn’t matter in the end, either. I scooted my chair away from the table and met my dad’s stare.
The hopeful smile on his face faded at the emotion he found lurking on mine. “Queenie?”
“I…I need a minute,” I managed to choke out. It was the only thing I could say that wasn’t filled with expletives and made me sound like I was being selfish.
Without giving them time to respond, I walked out of the room. To where, it didn’t matter. I ignored his shouted protest as I stormed out the front doors and off the porch, down the main gravel road leading toward the stables and the rest of the property. Now that the sun had dipped on the horizon, it was almost nice out. The humidity seemed to have lessened a bit, a light breeze picking up and blowing my long hair in the wind. It didn’t stick to me like it had earlier, so that was a plus.
I didn’t try to fight the tears that fell. I’d always been a crier. Something Dad hated, and Mom encouraged. She’d always been going on about being in touch with your emotions, feeling the feelings—all of them. Good and bad. Highs and lows. I wondered what she would think of all of this. Would she be on my dad’s side or mine? She’d always been so good at making us both feel validated. What I wouldn’t give to know her thoughts right now.
Movement caught my eye, and I looked up to find a dark-clothed figure making their way out of the ranch hand barn with a dog at their side. Even though I’d only met him today, I recognized the hat, the broad, muscular build, the shoulder-length hair. And while I was a crying, blubbering mess, I found myself calling his name.
He froze mid-stride, before turning my way slowly. I crossed the thirty or so yards between us, stopping a few feet away from him. “Hey,” I said softly. “It’s—”
“Quinn,” he replied. “I’m blind not an idiot.”
A laugh worked its way out of my mouth at the bluntness in his words.
“Sorry,” he said, the lines of his face softening. “I didn’t mean for that to come off so dick-ish.”
“No worries…” I glanced down at the dog beside him, immediately recognizing it from earlier. “Is this your dog?”
“No.”
I frowned. “Oh…sorry, I—”
“I’m just jokin’,” he replied, holding a hand out at his side. The reddish brown dog leaned into his touch. “This is Rusty.”
“Is he, like, your seeing eye dog?” Was that insensitive to ask?
Hux nodded, one of his shoulders lifting into a casual shrug. “Yes and no. He ain’t registered or anythin’ like that, but he’s a good companion, and he helps me get around.”
I smiled. “He’s gorgeous. What kind of dog is he?”
“A Kelpie.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“They aren’t too common. They’re a workin’ breed. Mostly herd and work cattle.”
I liked to think of myself as a dog person, but I hadn't had a pet since I was a teenager and our old family Golden died. She’d been Mom’s and after both of them passed, Dad and I just couldn’t get another.
“That’s cool. What were you doing just now?” I asked.
He was so attractive it was almost painful to look at him. I know it was probably indecent of me, but I liked being able to take him in without the weight of his stare. I could take my time examining his features without seeming like a creeper. Though, that definitely made me sound creeper-ish.
“Checkin’ on the horses one last time for the evenin’. I thought you had dinner with your pare–your dad and Georgette?”
I appreciated the correction. Georgette wasn’t and never would be my parent.
I rolled my eyes and blew out a breath. “I got upset and left.”
“Why?” His brow furrowed as he turned to face me more fully. His sunglasses stare wasn’t directly on me, but aimed in my general direction.
“I had no idea that my dad bought this place with the intent on running it as a destination ranch.” I launched into the details of it all; all the while Hux listened silently. “I don’t know if I’m being dramatic and a bit selfish, but I’m angry that he did this all without even talking to me about it first. And, well, I’m scared. This is…it’s a lot more than I expected to take on so early in my career.”
Hux lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. If it’s too much, it’s too much. You don’t gotta please him.”
