Page 50 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

“I am. And nervous. What if nobody arrives tomorrow night?”

“Don’t be silly, of course there will be people. I’ll be there and you’ve brought your whole new extended family with you. What about the new publicist? Surely, she spread the news?”

“That’s another long story. Barry fired her and hired an outside event-planning business to do the launch. He only told me about it yesterday.”

“Oh, no!”

“Barry assured me everything would be fine, but I don’t even want to phone them to check.”

“Why don’t I do that and check that everything is fine?”

“Really?”

“Of course. That’s the kind of thing that makes me excited.”

“Thanks, Abs, I’ll be so grateful. If you ever get tired of decluttering other people’s messes, you should think about starting your own event-planning business. You’re the Yoda of organizing and would be so good at it. I’m sending you the number of the event-planning company.”

They spoke for another few minutes before June ended the call.

Deep in thought, Abby drove back to her apartment. She loved what she was doing but maybe she could also venture into event planning. Maybe focus on smaller events first and see whether she might like doing it full time? At least it would be something else to do besides missing Carson.

As she parked and got out of her car, the parking garage tilted for a moment. Grabbing on to her car, she inhaled deeply a few times. The appointments she had tomorrow only started late morning, so hopefully she could sleep a little bit later than normal. Maybe if she tried to eat something, she’d feel better.

Taking the elevator up to her apartment, she saw her reflection in the mirror. Oh, my goodness, she seriously looked like death warmed up. She’d have to use much more makeup than usual tonight if she didn’t want to worry June.

As she opened her door, her phone pinged. June had sent the number of the event-planning company. Inside, she kicked off her shoes and quickly made a list of questions she wanted to ask about June’s launch.

When she put the phone down an hour later, she sighed in relief. She’d been sent from pillar to post before she’d found the person working with June’s launch. If it had been her company she would have someone who would be readily available to answer all questions regarding an upcoming event.

Her brain went into planning mode. She’d keep her existing clients while she slowly started with smaller functions like birthday parties. It was even something she’d be able to do from Marietta.

Jumping up, she headed to her room. She kept thinking of Marietta and the cowboy who seemed to now have a permanent place in her mind.

If she was going to be in time for June’s dinner tonight, she’d had to take a quick shower. She didn’t have time to dream.

*

Carson saw the email from the gallery owner while he was still out on his horse. Noah was very happy with the portraits of George and also the one with Abby and George. They were going to be included in the exhibition. She had her back to the camera, so he technically didn’t have to ask her permission.

Pleased with himself, his first reaction was to race home and tell Abby. Sighing he rubbed his chest where a dull ache had settled over the past few days. She wasn’t there and she wasn’t coming back any time soon, remember?

Sighing, he headed home. The house was strangely empty without her even though every neat closet and cabinet constantly reminded him of her.

When he finally arrived home, he found George where the puppy had been for the past two weeks—on Abby’s pillow. Even though the sheets had been changed, her scent still lingered in the room.

Whimpering when he saw Carson, George turned on his back, waiting for cuddles.

Carson obeyed the unspoken request and sat down next to George on the bed. “You still miss her? I do, too, buddy, I do too.”

Rubbing his face, he sighed. It had been nearly three weeks since he’d met Abby in the bar, two weeks since she’d left and he still missed her with every fiber of his being. A month ago, he hadn’t even known there was someone in this world like her. Someone who would somehow get him, who would be able to make him ache for her touch at the oddest hours during a day.

Maybe if he went into town, had a meal at Grey’s Saloon or a drink somewhere, he might meet another woman who made him feel like he did when he was with Abby.

As if George could read his mind, he sat up and barked.

Carson got up. “I know, but it’s not going to work. She’s in the city, I’m here. We have such different lives. I don’t even know whether she’d be happy living on a ranch.”

June’s words suddenly ran through his mind. “Ask her about her dream house.”