Page 96 of Square Deal

“Damn, dude,” I said, looking around.

From what I remembered during the negotiations, the restaurant and lodge were attached. There was a small space for spa treatments and hotel-style rooms for guests.

The pool was outside the lodge. Even though it was December, there were guests swimming laps and enjoying the hot tub. A signsat off to the side, directing guests to the cabins hidden down a winding path.

The family that ran the place offered horseback riding lessons and trail rides. There were activities for kids, should the grown-ups be foolish enough to bring their crotch goblins on vacation with them.

A strawberry blonde pigtailed mini-human in a tiny pair of cowboy boots ran up to the truck, waving her hands. Luca slowed to a stop and rolled down the window.

“Mr. Luca!” she squealed. “Miss Maddie taught me how’ta temperature chocolate! We made truffles!” The evidence was still smeared on her cheeks.

He grinned from ear to ear and craned his head out the window. “You mean she taught you totemperchocolate?”

The girl nodded profusely. “Yeah, that. It wassofun! And her friend got here a little while ago.” Her high-pitched voice turned to a stage whisper. “She’sreallypretty but kinda scary, and I don’t think anyone told her you don’t wear high heels on a ranch. But it’s okay. I think my mama lent her a pair of boots, so now we match!” She let out a blustering breath when she finished her monologue and kicked her foot up to show off her boots. Before Luca could get a word in edgewise, she spotted me. “Hi! I’m Charlotte, but ev’rybody calls me Charlie! What’s your name?”

Luca stifled a laugh and said, “This is my friend, Isaac. He’s here for the grand opening tonight.”

Charlie waved her chocolatey hands and grinned. “Hi, Mr. Isaac! Enjoy your stay at the Griffith Brothers Cattle Ranch!” She had a slight lisp from missing two of her teeth, and it was more amusing than I wanted to admit.

Luca waved her off and rolled the window up as we rumbled down the driveway. I craned my head around and watched the little girl scamper off. “Is she the welcoming committee?”

He laughed and slowed as the truck dipped into a pothole. “Hermom used to be a big shot journalist. Mom and daughter like to compete for who can talk the most.”

“Who’s her mom?”

“You remember Rebecca Davis? She was a war correspondent in Afghanistan right after September 11.”

“No shit,” I said as I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “That’s her kid?”

Growing up in New York, everyone knew who Rebecca Davis was. Before we got our news twenty-four hours a day on social media, we all tuned in to the broadcast every night.

Luca nodded. “Yeah. Her last name’s Griffith now. The guy she married was in the Army while she was embedded overseas. They met in Afghanistan.” He cracked a smile. “You should hear the stories they tell. Crazy shit happened over there. Becks’ll talk your ear off. Griff, not so much.”

“This is you,” he said, pulling up to a tall cabin. He cut the truck off and pointed to another cabin separated by some well-placed landscaping. “Mad and I are over there.”

Two more cabins sat on the other side of Luca’s.Not bad.

I looked around. The appeal was obvious. Wide-open spaces, friendly people, and—what the hell was that?

“Go away, Mickey,” Luca said as he hauled my suitcase out of the bed of the truck and slammed the tailgate.

I pointed to the beast with javelins poking out of its skull. “It has a name?”

Luca looked at me like I was the crazy one. “Of course, he has a name. It’s Mickey. Short for McConaughey. Mickey belongs to Chris Griffith’s daughter, Gracie. He’s her pet.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.Hard.“I’m sorry, a girl named Gracie has a pet mammoth named after Matthew McConaughey?”

He shrugged. “Longhorn cow—well, bull.”

Yep. No question in my mind. That thing was all male.“Dude,” I said, clapping my hand on his shoulder. “You need to get back toManhattan. Go to a club. Drink some cocktails. See some beautiful women.”

He lifted his hand and flashed his wedding band. “There’s more to life than chasing tail, Lawson.”

“I don’t chase it. They come running.”Lie.Hannah was a damn score, and she took a hell of a lot of work.

23

HANNAH JANE

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