AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He likes you, Quinn,” Savannah said. “That’s why he pulled away.”
“That makes no sense. Surely if he liked me, he’d have kissed me back?”
“Brody’s a good guy. He wouldn’t take advantage when you were drunk. Trust me, he likes you.” She sounded so sure. It was easy to believe what she was saying was true, or maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part.
“I guess we’ll have to see how tonight’s date goes. Would you both help me choose something to wear when we get back to the ranch?” I looked hopefully between Savannah and Libby.
“Whoa!” Savannah cried. “He’s asked you out on a date?” I laughed and nodded. “Where is he taking you?”
“I have no idea. Somewhere in Marble Falls, I guess.”
“Right, come on.” She got up to standing and put her hands on her hips.
“Where are we going?” Libby asked, looking at me and shrugging her shoulders.
“To the salon. Quinn’s getting the works: hair, nails, the whole shebang. Maybe even a wax.” She wriggled her eyebrows at me and I shook my head.
“I’m not getting a wax!” As I got up she took my hand, pulling me along behind her. Tugging gently on her arm, I made her stop. “Savannah, I can’t get my hair and nails done, it’s going to cost a fortune. All of this,” I waved my arm around at the beautiful spa, “it’s all too much.” I looked to Libby for moral support and she smiled sympathetically at me.
“Why don’t we do Quinn’s hair and makeup for her when we get back to the ranch? We can all just have the treatments we’re booked in for and save Brody’s bank balance,” Libby suggested. I smiled gratefully at her, breathing a sigh of relief. There was no way I wanted to have hundreds of dollars’ worth of pampering done and take advantage of Brody’s generosity.
“Yeah, we could do that, I guess. It sounds like fun.”
Mouthing a “thank you” to Lib, I attempted to change the subject and get the conversation off of me and Brody. “So, how long have you and Josh been together, Savannah?” I asked, as we sat back down around the pool.
“Just over six months.” Her face lit up when I mentioned Josh. Glancing down at her swollen stomach, I tried to make the math work, but the figures didn’t add up.
“I can see you’re trying to work out how I’m almost nine months pregnant, but have only been with Josh six months,” she said with a smile.
“I’m sorry. It’s none of my business…” I trailed off and felt my cheeks flush.
“No, it’s fine. It’s a long story, but the baby isn’t Josh’s. I’d been in love with him for years, but he pushed me away, telling me he saw me as his friend’s sister and nothing more.”
“That must have been heartbreaking.”
“It was. I got reckless and had a one-night stand.” She rubbed her rounded stomach. “When my dad found out, he lost it, we didn’t speak for weeks. Josh was there for me. It turns out there was a reason he’d been pushing me away. We worked through it and we’ve been together ever since.” She paused and smiled. “I’ve never been happier, and I can’t wait for this little one to make an appearance.”
“I’m so glad it all worked out for you. Anyone who sees you two can see how happy you are.”
We spent the next hour chatting. Libby told me how she’d come to the ranch after her best friend died and my heart broke for her. I knew the pain of losing someone you loved, feeling like you were the only person hurting. Her relationship with Mason seemed solid, and I was happy she had found her happy-ever-after with him.
The rest of the day was spent being massaged and pampered. As the day went on, I became increasingly nervous about my date with Brody. Was it a real date or a pity date? I had no idea, though I hoped for the former. I played the conversation with Savannah over and over in my head as I lay on the massage table while hot stones were laid the length of my spine. Could she be right, and Brody really did like me? I wished my memory of last night was clearer and I could remember what had happened after I’d kissed him. I guess I’d have to wait and see how the date went.
Brody
After the girls set off for the spa, I left Mason and Josh on the ranch while I ran in to Marble Falls in the truck. Quinn didn’t have a phone, and I didn’t want her working on the ranch without one. Most of the time she would be working alone, and she needed to be able to contact someone in an emergency. I hadn’t known Quinn for long, but I knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t just accept a phone from me. I’d have to tell her some shit about it being ranch policy that all members of staff carried a phone. She’d no doubt see right through my bullshit, but I didn’t care.
Finding Mason and Josh in the old barn with the horses when I got back, I was met with twenty questions.
“So, you like Quinn then?” Josh asked, straight to the point. Eyeing him I held his gaze.
“Yeah, I like her,” I replied cautiously, waiting for him to say I told you so.
“The spa day. That was a nice touch. It’ll definitely earn you brownie points with all the girls,” Mason said, laughing.
“I’m not looking for brownie points.”
“Maybe not from Sav and Lib,” Josh teased. “This girl has you tied up in knots. I’ve never seen you do anything like this for anyone else.”
