Page 75 of Hard to Love
“Why would she think she could compete with a craft that defies explanation?”
Even though Greer’s sheer belief about prophecy boots was slowly chipping into Alex’s skepticism, people needed to understand what she was doing out at Wild Card was just as magical. “Because maybe she gets what the rest of us don’t understand, that there’s a little magic, possibly a hell of a lot of impact, in simply making things happen. Have you ever considered that PBC might’ve tanked somewhere along the way if it weren’t for Greer being the smart businessperson she is?”
Cal rubbed his chin. “Dad was incredible with a piece of leather. With ledgers, not so great. Greer just stepped in and took care of it.”
“She loves art but can’t accept her real gift isn’t creating it—although she’s plenty talented at that too. But where she shines is organizing and motivating others. You should see some of the talent she’s attracted out there at thecompetition. Every day, these people are producing better and better work. And a lot of it has to do with the way Greer walks around encouraging them, helping them make a plan, giving feedback on designs. Hell, sometimes she goes so far as to bring them food and make them eat.”
“I’m not surprised. And you don’t have to defend my sister to me. I just want her to be happy.”
“Then maybe you should encourage her to really build Wild Card and continue to oversee it, not get it up and running and then let some office jockey take over. It’s her baby. She deserves to raise it. And it deserves her care and love.”
With that, Alex pushed back his chair, saluted Cal with his empty cup, and threaded through the crowd to find the woman who had no idea just how fucking amazing she was.
Chapter Twenty-One
Before he could find Greer, Alex was waylaid by Raylene. She reached out and snagged him as though her hand were one of those vaudeville shepherd hooks. “Alex, were your ears burning?”
He rubbed his ear, and Raylene’s hearty laugh rang out. “Burning good or burning bad?” he asked.
“Do you think I would tell you if it was bad?” She pulled him into a circle with a handful of other people. “Dennie Crowe, Laurellen Smitherman, and Paula Svorchek, this is Alex Villanueva. Delaney says he does the most amazing leather tooling and design work you ever did see. And—” she drew the word out to four syllables, “—he’s a frontrunner in Greer Maddox’s art competition.”
“The entrants haven’t even submitted their final piece yet, and then—” Alex started.
One of the ladies moved closer, looked from side to side and lowered her voice. “Honey, let me give you a little advice, okay?”
Alex shut up and simply nodded.
“You could be that guy who painted the Sistine Chapel, but since you’re not from around these parts, you need to get out and glad-hand people. They support people they know and like—doesn’t matter if they’re judging 4-H projects, voting for a new mayor, or choosing which pieceof art they like best.” She looked him over, spending a little extra time on his ears and freshly shaved head. “Now don’t get me wrong, you’re a…what do they call it, Raylene?”
“I think the word you’re looking for ishottie,” Raylene supplied.
“Yes, sir. You’re a hottie all right. And that might work with the female half of the population. But let’s be honest, honey, to the male persuasion, you look like more of a threat than ten miles of ungraded gravel road in a snowstorm.”
“Look, I appreciate the advice, but I’m not—”
“Tell us about Greer,” Raylene cut in.
Swear to God, he couldn’t get a complete sentence wedged between these women. “You’ve known her for a lot longer than I have.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.” She slapped him on the arm. “You’re sweet on each other.”
Sweetwasn’t exactly how he’d describe most of their relationship. The sex was downright dirty, and the after-sex had been entirely too intimate and soul-baring to be considered sweet. “My…relationship…with Greer isn’t up for discussion.”
The ladies smiled and nodded. One of them said, “I bet your pair of prophecy boots will be comin’ any day now. She’ll make a beautiful bride. Got that sort of wild-child look about her. I can see her barefoot with wildflowers and all that.”
His stomach went on lockdown. Holy Jesus. Hadn’t they heard what he just said?
“Hey.” Greer appeared at his side and threaded her fingers with his. Nothing had ever felt so damn right in his life, and pictures of cowboy boots matching Greer’s flashed in front of Alex’s eyes. This town was slowly brainwashinghim. “Where’d you disappear to? One second you were behind me and the next, you were gone.”
What exactly he’d done to win back her favor, he wasn’t sure. But he also wasn’t ready to give it up. In such a short time, she’d become the best thing in his life. “Oh, you know, just socializing like you told me to.”
Her eyebrows disappeared beneath her mass of wild hair. “You did something you were told to do? I should call the newspaper. That’ll make front-page news.”
“Greer,” the wedding-planning woman said. “What does Cal think of bringing Alex into the family?”
Now her brows scrunched together. “We haven’t made the final decision about the new tooler for PBC.”
“No, honey,” the woman said, “I mean what does he think of our Alex here as brother-in-law material? When do you think Delaney will be giving him a pair of prophecy boots?”
