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“Jolie said the Danes have eight, maybe nine Belgians they don’t use for showing anymore and they’d probably be willing to sell for a good price, especially just before winter.”
I remember when I first thought of this idea. Finding the horse sled was like playing Santa, and even after nearly four years of ranch work, I have yet to be around the mighty seventeen hand draft horses much. It excites me, but I think (hope) it makes good business sense, too. A lot of ranches are pretty empty in the winter, and that’s a mistake. There are plenty of people who would pay for a snowy winter escape, especially when the main draw is sleigh rides behind giant horses.
It’s a fantasy. It’s something I would have loved to do as a child. But I also ran the numbers, and if we get started ASAP, we could pay off the investment in the horses and sleighs this season. Maybe even in a few weeks if we can get the social media exposure. Savannah at the hotel would help. My sister, too. She loves this sort of thing. He hasn’t jumped in with a no, and now I’m positively glowing with the idea.
“Maybe we could even get a Santa or have a winter ball…”
Dash’s nostrils flare in thought. He chews his lip, and it’s the most I’ve ever seen his face move, so he must be thinking hard. I hope that means there’s a yes somewhere inside there, even if it’s fighting with a no.
I lay my hand on his arm and find the nerve to look him straight in the eye. “Honestly, sleigh rides will sell. And nobody around here is doing them.”
He darts his eyes to my hand, uncrosses his arms, forcing my hold to drop. He clears his throat and shifts on his feet, almost as if uncomfortable. Shit. Maybe I shouldn’t have touched him. I got too comfortable. I’m always too friendly. If he went around doing that to female employees, they’d probably call him out for it. I have to remember, I’m a boss now. I can’t read his expression, but it’s different from the ones I’ve seen before.
I hope I haven’t fucked this up.
He tips his chin up. “The Belgians will live out?”
Wait? Did he actually read my proposal? Or is he merely suggesting that because it makes the most sense?
“Uh, yeah, that’s the idea. We’ll have some shelters built. We want them to be hardy and have nice thick coats anyway.”
He turns to leave but puts a finger in the air. “Line it up.”
He walks away, leaving me alone, wishing I had someone to hug and high five. I’m giddy. It’s my first business project ever in my life. Pride fills me, and I swear I could just float away on this feeling. I squeeze my fists tightly and wiggle my body around, jumping and doing some sort of victory dance.
Then, my cell beeps.
Jolie
HEY, HEARD FROM COLT OUR BEASTLY BRO GAVE YOU THE JOB YESTERDAY! WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY? WE NEED TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT! INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO SLY’S!
I love this woman. Jolie Hunter is the kick-ass, take-no-prisoners hype girl, with a tiny side of crazy that every woman needs. We met in the line at the local coffee shop when we were both fresh in town, her back from living away, me totally new. We were both ordering with different baristas at the same time, asking for the last piece of carrot cake. When we realized, we gazed at each other, and instead of tossing a coin for it, decided to share. We’ve been friends ever since.
Me
SOUNDS AMAZING! I DIDN’T SAY BECAUSE HE WASN’T EXACTLY CLEAR ABOUT THE “OFFER.”
Jolie
YOU MEAN YOU DON’T SPEAK CAVEMAN? WELL LET ME TRANSLATE—YOU’RE IN! SCRATCH INVITING EVERYONE. JUST BRING GEORGIE. I’LL SEE IF I CAN WRANGLE A FEW MORE. CELEBRATE WITH FRIENDS WHO WON’T TELL YOUR BOSS YOU NEEDED YOUR HAIR HELD BACK. LOL.
Me
HAHA. GOOD POINT. CONSIDER IT DONE. I CAN BE THERE AT SEVEN.
Jolie
I’LL HAVE A ROUND AND A TOAST WAITING.
Jolie and I exchange a few more texts. I tell her about the sleigh and ask her for the Danes’ number to arrange it. She sends me a thousand different celebration emojis, and finally, I shove my phone back in my pocket.
Moments ago, I was super aware that I didn’t have anyone to hug, and yet again, Jolie crawls out of the woodwork to tell me I’m not alone. But a faint urge to invite Dash along, too, whispers inside me, despite Jolie suggesting it be friends only. He told me we aren’t friends. And she probably knows he doesn’t like going out. I do, too. The one night I was at Sly’s with Dash, months ago, he brought Colt along to entertain on his behalf and didn’t seem like he enjoyed being out one bit.
Still, the reason I’m celebrating is because of him. He hasn’t done this out of the kindness of his heart, but me having this job, being a boss myself, advancing in a career that feels someis down to him giving me a shot. I earned it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to thank him with a toast of my own.
ChapterFour
DASH
