Page 85 of Love At Close Range

Mona laughed while Taryn continued making her case like she was serious. I let her talk because I knew what both of them were really saying. They didn’t want me making the decision based on fear of losing them.

“We just want you happy, Ree,” Mona said after Taryn finally stopped. “That’s all. You’ve been through enough, and if being with Lennox is what you want… you deserve to be happy.”

“I am happy,” I answered honestly.

“Then stop looking for some shit that ain’t there, Ree,” Taryn said.

A knock sounded at my door before I could answer. Tasha stood there with a folder in her hand, so I told the girls I had to go and ended the call. Tasha came in and sat across from me while we went over a few accounts. None of it took long because she had already handled most of the details before bringing them to me. I signed the last page and handed the folder back before looking at her.

“Tasha, would you want to run this location?” I blurted.

“Run it?” She quizzed.

“Yeah… run it. You’d have the authority to handle things without checking with me every time,” I explained.

“Are you going somewhere?” She asked as she eyed me.

“Maybe.” I folded my hands on the desk. “I’m thinking about moving back to Cannon Hills.”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Lennox asked me and Rhyse to move in with him. I haven’t made a final decision, but if I do, I’m keeping this location… it’s the foundation. I’ll still be involved, and I may eventually expand into Cannon Hills, but I need somebody here I trust,” I told her.

Tasha looked down at the folder in her lap before meeting my eyes again. “And you want me to do it?” He asked again.

“Yes.” I nodded.

Her eyes immediately filled, and she laughed softly while trying to blink it away. “Okay. I wasn’t expecting that.” She simpered.

“You already do more than you probably realize. You know the clients, you know the crews, and you know how I want things handled. I wouldn’t leave this location with anybody I didn’t trust,” I spoke sincerely.

“I’d be honored.” She wiped her eyes. “I’d be happy to do it,” she finally agreed. I smiled, but seeing her emotional had me fighting my own. “You deserve to enjoy your family too,” she continued. “You built this company so it could grow. You shouldn’t have to be in this office every day for it to happen.”

I got up and walked around the desk, and Tasha stood before I reached her. We hugged, and for a second, I just held on.

“Thank you,” I said when we pulled apart.

“For what?” She asked.

“For being somebody I can trust with this,” I stated.

“Always.” She smiled.

I left work not long after that to pick up Rhyse from camp. He got in the car talking about his day, bouncing between a game they played, something one of his friends did, and what they had planned for the last week of camp. I listened until he finally slowed down enough for me to get a word in.

“You know summer is almost over,” I mentioned once he finished telling me about his day.

“I know.” He sighed and looked out the window. “It went too fast.”

“It did, and school will be starting before you know it.” I waited a second before asking, “How would you feel about going to school in Cannon Hills?”

“In Cannon Hills?” He repeated.

“Yeah… I’m thinking about moving back there,” I stated.

His eyes widened when it clicked. “With Dad?” He asked.

“Yeah… with your dad,” I confirmed his excitement.