Page 91 of Holding The Reins

“Yeah, she seemed great,” I say trying to focus on the family discussion of bringing Ivy Spencer on staff.

“She sure is pretty,” CeCe adds.

“That’s something I worry about. Haden, Brent, and Dusty were at the barn when I took her through, and every single one them behaved like a perfect gentleman around her,” Wade says, mentioning a few of the caretaker cowboys.

“So?” CeCe says, confused.

“So… none of them are gentlemen,” Wade deadpans. “A pretty new face is exactly the kind of distraction we don’t need around here.”

CeCe giggles.

“It would have to be on a trial basis,” Wade continues. “Her resume is real good but I’m still not convinced she’s got what it takes. She’s got all sorts of ideas on how to change things ‘round here, but I firmly told her we do things a certain way and that way ain’t for changing.”

“Oh hell, baby, have some faith. I, for one, liked her straight away,” Jo says, refreshing the sandwiches on the table.

“You like everyone,” Wade bites out.

“That’s not true. Depending on the day, she doesn’t like you.” Cole chuckles.

“Hmmph,” Wade grunts.

“Well, she stayed long enough to interview after your grumpy ass greeted her, so I’d say she’s a winner.” CeCe grins and I can’t help but grin back because she’s so fucking cute. How does no one else realize how fucking cute she is?

“Okay, then it’s settled. She’ll start in late September and stay on until March with a preemptive thirty-day trial. Mama, you can draw up and ready the contract,” Wade orders as he takes a big sip of his steaming mug of coffee.

“There’s the sergeant we know and love,” CeCe giggles.

“He just don’t like change,” Jo fires. “A little change might just be exactly what we need around here. No thirty-day trial, she’ll do just fine and the contract is for the full year.”

Even Wade doesn’t argue with Jo, he just sets his jaw and nods.

“To the new hire and hopefully another derby run.” Cole raises his mug of coffee. We follow suit.

“We should celebrate tonight, is she still in town? At the Motorside?” Jo asks, and Wade pulls his hat off and rubs his forehead

“Jesus, Ma. Can’t we be professional for once?”

“Oh hell, let’s show her a good time, Ashby style,” Jo says, winking.

I grin at CeCe across the table.

This should be interesting.

I’ve been waiting for my chance all night and haven’t found my window yet. After coming to the bar early and helping Asher ready everything for ladies’ night, I waited in mental anguish over how much I was missing CeCe after just four hours until she entered at seven thirty with her entourage of Not Angels: Mama Jo, Sandra, and the newly hired Ivy Spencer.

An hour of drinking, gabbing and dancing ensued before the impossible happens. Fucking Cole and Wade saunter into the bar. I wouldn’t be more surprised if I woke up tomorrow naked at the top of Sugarland Mountain. These boys never come out to the bar. They’re both casual, complete with cowboy hats and grimaces that tell the world they should be living in the wild west. They join the ladies at their giant corner booth. I tap Asher on the shoulder to tell him I’m taking a few minutes and I head over, sliding in with the fam.

“Well, well, well, has hell frozen over? The Ashby boys are out? At a bar?” I hear Ginger say to them as I approach.

Cole bites immediately. “Some of us left high school thirteen years ago and some of us didn’t,” he retorts as I chuckle.

I stare at CeCe across the table. Flush in her cheeks from one or two sangrias, wearing that black, structured sundress from earlier, a high ponytail, big hoop earrings and plump cherry red fucking lips.

“You’re just jealous we don’t invite you out with us.” Ginger grins at Cole as he scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“What are you boys doing here anyway?” Olivia asks.

“Making sure you girls don’t corrupt our newest employee,” Wade bites out, staring straight at Ivy who is fitting right in with the girls in a sundress of her own, wild black hair and red cowboy boots.

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