Page 14 of One Heated Summer

They both declined and neither attempted to sit. I took the opportunity to admire how they were dressed.

Mia, elegant and poised, wore a stylish skirt and blouse, perfect for a day of leisure. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled. Beside her, Emma, equally graceful and dressed similarly, exuded her usual sense of calm and joy. Her blonde hair was neatly tied back, and she carried a small, chic purse.

The two ladies were natural beauties and didn’t look anywhere near old enough to have teenage children. Mia and Cash were parents to Violet 14 and Jack 13 while Emma and Penn’s girls were Ava 16 and Luna 13. The three girls were at Austin Girl’s Grammar School and Jack was in the boy’s only equivalent.

“Elijah told Cash that you were feeling down in the dumps about the damage done by the dust storm…” Mia began.

“So, we’ve come to spirit you away for the day. How does a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure sound before lunch at Raffellos?” Emma continued.

I laughed. “Where the hell do you think we’ll find any of that around here? Grantin’s not exactly a bustling Metropolis.”

“Lannigan,” Mia said with confidence.

Lannigan was our nearest ‘big smoke’ with all the conveniences and infrastructure of a modern day city. “That’s…”

“Forty miles away,” Emma finished. “Less than an hour in the ‘brute’ and we’ll be back in time for dinner.”

The ‘brute’ was Emma’s pickup that I swear was older than Methuselah and Betsy had been in pristine condition in comparison. How it continued to run was one of life’s mysteries.

“We’re taking you to Crystal Beauty…”

Another knock at the door interrupted what Mia was saying.

“I’ll answer it,” Emma said, hurrying to the door on the other side of the foyer where we stood.

I frowned, wondering why she seemed eager to find out who was calling. When the door was opened, one of Jensen’s ranch hands was pulled into Emma’s arms for a hug.

“So pleased you could make it, Virginia,” Emma gushed before pulling the red-headed beauty, also dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse, inside.

Mia hugged the girl before Virginia stepped forward and hugged me. When I’d first met Virginia I’d found it hard to believe she wasn’t a model walking the catwalks of the world. She was tall, slender, with piercing green eyes and skin the color of milk. Sitting a horse, chasing cattle or fixing fences was where she insisted she was at her happiest despite her parents wanting her to work in their construction business…at a desk, on a computer. She’d shuddered when telling me that information. On first meeting, the eighteen year old had informed me that her dream was to one day own her own ranch. Jensen had confided she was every bit as good, if not better, than any of his men.

“The boss said it would do us all good to have a day together being pampered and who was I to say no?” Virginia advised.

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness but Elijah only gave me the morning off,” I informed.

“Cash said he’d let Elijah know you were having the day off for a much needed break. He said you’ve worked hard for the last few weeks and while they’ve had time off, you haven’t,” Emma argued.

I looked at the ladies, all had hopeful expressions on their faces.

“Who am I to argue. Give me a few minutes to dress. Help yourself to coffee, there’s a fresh pot in the kitchen.”

Mia threw an arm over my shoulder. “Unlike you, we have blood in our veins, not coffee that needs to be replenished. We’ll survive waiting for you.”

She turned me toward the stairs and I jogged up to my bedroom. Ten minutes later I was downstairs, dressed in a flowing skirt and ribbed top.

Outside, we piled into the brute, Emma started the motor, and after bouncing us along my dusty driveway, she turned onto the highway leading to Lannigan.

Our drive to the spa was filled with music, laughter, stories of mishaps throughout the years, and valuable advice for adjusting to ranch life. Oh, and there was a great deal of talk about ‘that bitch’, Clara and how she’d treated Jensen like something you’d throw in the trash. I felt a connection forming between us, one that would lead to a deep friendship if given time. The longer I spent in Grantin…on my ranch…the more I came to realize I was never going to leave.

We were greeted with soothing scents and a serene atmosphere when we stepped into the sanctuary of the spa. Ronaldo, the owner, welcomed us warmly, and introduced us to the rest of the staff— Alexia, who’d be looking after Mia, Verlyn for Emma, Calvin, a sexy 20 something had Virginia’s eyes widening when he was appointed to her, and Rosy was to care for me. I couldn’tbelieve so much beauty and sexiness was gathered in one place. I felt like a thorn amongst so many roses.

“I have reserved the spa and its facilities for your privacy this morning,” Ronaldo informed. “You will have our undivided attention.”

“Thank you so much, darling,” Emma reached up on tiptoe and placed a kiss to the man’s cheek. They obviously were familiar with each other. I hoped there was nothing going on between the beautiful pair.

While I was mulling over that thought, a door off to one side opened and a drop-dead gorgeous man appeared. He had a grin on his face, and eyes on Ronaldo as he approached. Ronaldo wrapped an arm around him, kissed his cheek, and introduced him as his husband and partner in the spa—Francois.

See, stop thinking everyone’s a cheat just because of douchebag Finn.

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