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She looks like someone I would pursue relentlessly, if we were in Los Angeles.
I turn off the truck and jump out, trying to keep my cool and not act like a fool. “Simone?”
She holds out a perfectly-manicured hand and shakes mine gently. “Indeed. And you’re Hawk, I presume?”
“I am. Let’s get your luggage,” I say as I look around her to the luxury sedan, which never had any hope of making it down the pothole-filled gravel drive.
Simone lifts her sunglasses off, and her thickly-lined brown eyes stare at me pitifully as she blinks slowly, her huge lashes hitting her cheeks. “Do you mind grabbing it for me? It’s quite heavy and I’ve had such a long trip.”
I have to force a smile, reminding myself that this is what LA women are like, and that she’s a reporter here to write a story about the ranch. I don’t want to give her something negative to say right out of the gate… literally.
“Happy to. Get comfortable in the truck and I’ll be right there.”
She starts hobbling over to the truck in her heels, then turns around and calls to me, “And can you put the luggage in the truck? It’s quite expensive. I don’t want it to get dinged up in the back.”
My forced smile gets even wider, as I walk backwards toward the car. “Of course, Simone. Whatever you need.”
When I get to the sedan, the driver gets out to open the trunk, and his face is a blank mask of rage. When we are safely hidden behind the back of the car, the guy, who is probably even younger than me, mumbles, “she didn’t say a word about coming out here. I was booked to take her to a hotel in Helena. I had to cancel the rest of the day because of this. I’m not trying to guilt you or anything, but I just feel like you should be warned. That woman is… a pill.”
He reaches into the trunk and pulls out a blanket, then sets it down on the ground, before he unloads her bags. I chuckle.
“What are you doing, man?”
He swears under his breath. “She demanded it. She said her luggage is worth more than my family.”
My jaw drops. “Wow.”
“This is what? A horse ranch?”
I look back at the truck. “Yes?”
He bursts out laughing. “Good luck with that, dude.” I don’t like the insinuation, or the tone in his voice, but I have a feeling he’s giving me the only warning he can while still keeping his job. I sigh and pull my wallet out of my back pocket, then take the last of my cash and give it to him. It’s two hundred bucks and probably not enough to cover all of his lost business, but it’s all I have. He shakes my hand and nods gratefully.
“Thanks, man. Let me help you with these bags.”
We pick up the, apparently, priceless luggage and carry it over to the truck. As we load it into the back seat, Simone yells, “Careful, boys!” The driver swears again then turns on his heel and leaves. As he gets in the car, I am pretty sure I see him shoot an obscene gesture in Simone’s direction.
Hell on wheels, what am I in for, I think as I start the truck back up. I glance at Simone out of the corner of my eye, and try to remember that I have to be nice.
“So, Simone, how was your flight?”
She sighs and waves her hand. “Oh, as good as could be expected when you’re traveling to a fly-over state. The food in business class was abysmal, but I assumed we’d just be eating when I arrived anyway.”
I furrow my brow and try to keep my eyes on the road. A fly-over state, huh? “Well, things are a little chaotic, seeing as today is the first real day of construction, but I’m sure my mom can whip something up for you. We usually have lunch and dinner, but I don’t think anyone is around today to really…”
“Oh, goodness. Well, if I don’t eat something, my blood sugar will drop drastically and I’ll have an episode.”
My forced smile returns as we pull up to the ranch house. “Like I said, I’m sure we can figure something out.” I turn the truck off and jump out, then start to get Simone’s bags, before I realize she’s not making a move to get out. It takes me a second, and then it hits me. She won’t get out until I open the door for her.
“Son of a…” I take a deep breath and circle around to her door, then open it. She gives me a giant smile as she steps gingerly down on to her spiked heels. I shut the door behind her just as Parrish comes out of the house, with Gracie on her hip. Parrish walks down the steps, her long braid tangled up in Gracie’s chubby hand.
“This must be Simone? Good gravy, we need to get you some sensible shoes. First time you step on to the grass, you’re going to take a header straight into horse shit.”
I burst out laughing, but Simone doesn’t look amused. “Well. I have my workout trainers. I suppose I could put them on? I assume you’re Parrish. And who is this adorable little angel?”
Gracie grins and reaches out for Simone, who takes two very large steps backwards. “Oh, goodness, no. No, no. She’s precious but this is a two-thousand dollar coat.”
Parrish raises her eyebrow and pulls Gracie closer. “Uh-huh. I take it you’ve never been to a ranch before?”
