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“Too many of the desserts are hot,” Kyle said.
“That’s Gina, not Ashley,” Sierra said.
“True.”
They continued to talk about the food, the people who worked in the kitchen, and more as they sauntered back to the lodge. Maddy’s forehead dripped with sweat by that time, and the air conditioning blasting from the employee entrance that led straight into the kitchen had never been so welcome.
The kitchen boiled and bubbled, and she put her head down and got through it as fast as possible. Men and women yelled, and a myriad of scents filled the air. Out in the main lodge, the noise level wasn’t much better, as dinner service had started. A long line of people separated into two lines to go down either side of the table, and Holly moved among them all, laughing and giggling, smiling, and talking with guests.
She removed pans that had been emptied and set them on another table in the back. If there was something in the warmer, she put it out. She did it all with her dark hair spilling over her shoulders, that perpetual smile on her face that didn’t feel fake at all, and three-inch heels on her feet. To complete the outfit, she wore a black pencil skirt that then showed the lower half of her shapely legs, and a bright orange blouse that screamed autumn.
While it was only June, her clothes seemed to fit so perfectly at the lodge. On this ranch.
Maddy wasn’t sure why she compared herself to Holly. Probably because they were the same age. Maddy had been teaching kindergarten for a decade, and it didn’t feel as glamorous as charming crowds of people night after night. Holly did it all effortlessly too, and Maddy usually felt one breath away from passing out—and that happened by lunchtime on a school day.
“There she is,” Holly said, and she reached out for Maddy. “This is the new art teacher we hired this year.” She tugged Maddy away from Kyle and right to her side. “She’s doing a kids class tomorrow and then a couples class on Wednesday. Will you be here that long?” Holly reached up and tucked her wavy hair, her dark eyes bright as she looked at the man in front of her.
Maddy noted that he wore jeans, a bright blue polo tucked into those, the cowboy boots and hat, and an enormous belt buckle. A rodeo king. Perfect.
“No, ma’am,” he drawled. “We’re pullin’ out on Tuesday morning for San Anotone.”
“Shame,” Holly said, and she sounded absolutely sincere. She stepped closer to the man and put her palm against his chest. “Y’all come back and stay with us next time you’re goin’ through the Hill Country, okay?”
He tipped his hat at her, not even bothering to look at Maddy at all. Not even a flick of his gaze. Nothing.
Holly towed her over to a couple with children and introduced her again. If Maddy had known she’d be dragged around the dining room tonight, she’d have eaten earlier. As it was, she caught sight of Kyle sitting with Todd, Jesse, and Blake. She made eyes at Holly, but Kyle simply laughed and shook his head.
By the time she got away from the woman, the buffet was nearly empty. She slouched into the chair beside Kyle and said, “You could’ve come to rescue me.”
Blake grinned at her and popped the last bite of his garlic bread into his mouth. “No one can detour Holly,” he said.
“She’s like a tropical storm,” Todd added.
“There was a tropical storm named after her one year, actually,” Kyle said.
“Did you know I’d have to go around and play politician tonight?”
“No idea,” Kyle said. “But I got you some food. Let me go grab it from the kitchen.”
Her stomach growled and then lurched as he left her there with three of his brothers. Blake and Gina had gotten married a few weeks ago. She was supposed to come, but her mother had just barely fallen, and she’d cancelled. Todd and Laura were engaged to be married in October. Jesse’s latest girlfriend had just moved to Austin to work at an up-and-coming restaurant there.
He definitely looked like Starla had just left that morning, and he kept his eyes down on his phone, not engaging with her at all. She didn’t blame him, and the awkwardness stretched into long strands.
“Did you get settled in okay?” Blake asked.
“Yes, sir,” she said.
“The cabin is all right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You don’t have to call him sir,” Todd said with a smile. “Oh, there’s Laura.” He lifted his hand in a wave, and she came toward him. She looked a little rough around the edges, and everyone had to get up and shift places to make room for her. She smelled like mud and manure when she sat down, leaving an open space between her and Maddy for Kyle, who still hadn’t returned.
“Hey.” Laura sighed and reached up to reset her ponytail. “That Pony Power is going to be the death of me.”
“Did he get up?” Todd asked.
Maddy had no idea what they were talking about, and she looked toward the kitchen door, almost desperate for Kyle to come through it. He didn’t.
