Page 198 of Lavender Lake
I put the phone back to my ear. “Are they selling clothes or a way of life?”
“I know, right?” Salem asked.
“You look gorgeous, by the way.”
“Airbrushed,” she said.
“Huh, right. They airbrushed the hell out of you with pregnancy glow. Seriously, Salem.”
“Thanks, girl,” she said. “It was so fun and everyone is ecstatic with how the shoot turned out.”
My phone buzzed with another text from her.
“What was that text?” I asked.
“More photos. Not of Declan and Cas, but our two new ranch hands. The photographer got a little carried away and accidentally on purpose took a lot of photos of them. Look.”
I once again lowered my phone, clicked over to the messages, and blew up the photos. There were two men, shirtless by a fence, but the sun was directly behind them so I could only see the face of one of them clearly. He had a smile on his face and a dark mustache.
My eyes immediately went to the other man, the faceless man. His back was sculpted and ink splayed across the breadth of his broad shoulders.
“Poet?”
“Sorry, yeah, I’m here.”
“They’re nice to look at, aren’t they?” she asked knowingly.
“Very nice,” I agreed, wondering why my belly was warm and I suddenly felt like I had a fever. “Which one is the ex-con?”
“The one without the mustache.”
“I can’t believe Muddy was okay with an ex-con working the ranch.”
“You’d never know it by talking to Brooks. He’s quiet, keeps to himself, but is respectful. I’ve never seen him smile, though.”
“What was he in for?” I asked.
My phone chimed with my alarm.
“Crap, sorry, Salem, I gotta go,” I said. “My meeting is in five minutes and I’d like to hit the restroom real fast.”
“Call me after. I want to know how it went,” she said. “I worry about you.”
“That’s sweet, but you don’t have to,” I lied.
“Kind, gentle Poet, of course I worry about you because of that snake you work with. Okay, bye.”
I hung up with Salem, and then rose from my office chair. The bathroom was empty and I quickly did my business. As I washed my hands, I stared in the mirror and gave myself a pep talk.
Wyn had called earlier that morning to give me one of her cheerleader speeches, but it was more ofI’ll kick anyone’s ass who makes you cryspeech. Hadley was much calmer and listened when I talked. I needed my friends to have those protective attitudes. I hadn’t been born with one at all.
I was one step below people pleaser. I just let them walk all over me.
Bracing my shoulders, I pointed at my reflection. My new glasses gave me confidence and I was determined to hold my own in this meeting.
I walked back to my desk and saw my boss’s door cracked open. Frowning, I went over and knocked.
“Come in,” Candace called.
