Page 14 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

Numbers were good. Unemotional. They did what they were told, every single time.

Not like humans.

* * *

Walter Sullivan folded his hands on his desk and looked at her with hawklike eyes. “You’re hired.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and you won’t regret it.”

“Tate, can we partition off another area of this room?”

Cadence’s gaze bounced over to the unlit corner, which was apparently Graham’s space, though he was out at the moment. She’d work in the same office as him and the other top brass? Although, she could see there weren’t many other options in the lodge’s wings.

Tate tapped his jaw as he slowly took in the room. “I think so. I’ll message Heather to see what she can figure out.”

“I’ll be out a lot with the photography stuff, right? And to most events so I can post them on social media? I might not even need an office. I can probably work from staff housing, if the internet is decent there.”

Walter eliminated her comments with one sweep of his hand. “You need an office.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Staff quarters are nearly filled up.” Tate studied his screen. “I think I’ll have to put you with Paisley Teele. She’s in a two-bedroom. She’s nice — she works in activities programming. I wish I could offer you your own place, but it’s not the reality right now.”

Cadence bit her lip. “I appreciate whatever you can do.” It was even true, but honestly? Graham’s half-duplex had two bedrooms, and the whole thing was tiny.She’d be sharing that square footage with a stranger… and she’d just promised to stay for at least ten weeks, through the busy summer season.

“The staff-housing units are small.” Tate winced. “I know it.”

Didn’t he have an expansive penthouse in Chicago? Paul had mocked it to her once. Why had she stuck with that poser as long as she had? Agreed to marry him? Man, she’d had a close call, and the repercussions of the breakup were far from over. The wedding was to have been tomorrow, and Mom was still calling every couple of hours with yet another panic attack as she begged Cadence to catch the next flight home.

Cadence felt bad. She did. The salary she’d be making here at Sweet River Ranch wasn’t going to make a dent in her debt to her parents anytime soon, but she’d chip away at it. Thankfully, the Bradleys had handled some of the expenses, like the reception at their country club. Paul could deal with the fall-out from that end of things.

Maybe she could find some freelance work as well. A ranch resort couldn’t possibly fill her time like a busy life in the city had. Being single again would give her more free time than she’d had while planning a wedding. Although Mom had done most of that.

Tate’s fingers still danced over his keyboard. “I’m adding you to the staff meals roster for the dining room. In fact, lunch is ready shortly. I’d take you over and introduce you to Nadine, but I’m headed for the airport as soon as I wrap this up.”

“Graham said he’d meet me when I’m done here.”

The guy smirked. “Sure. Graham can show you around. Get him to introduce you to Paisley.” Tate gestured to the door as he rose. “After you, Cadence. And welcome to the motley crew at Sweet River.”

“Thank you.” She pulled the door open to find Graham lounging against the wall, poking at something on his phone.

He looked up. Grinned. Slid his phone into his pocket. “How did it go?” Then his gaze seemed to catch on his cousin behind her.

If Tate hadn’t been there watching, Cadence might have thrown her arms around Graham and thanked him profusely for everything he’d done for her. Simply a gesture of gratitude, of course, but Tate might slant it wrong. He’d seemed mildly amused throughout the entire interview.

“You’re looking at Sweet River’s newest hire.”

“Congratulations.” Graham looked past her to Tate. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. She’ll be a good fit.”

The lunch bell chimed, and Graham angled his head toward the common area. “Let me introduce you around the dining room.”

Much as Cadence tried to ignore Tate following them, she could feel his presence until he veered toward the main lodge doors. Whew. She leaned closer to Graham. “I’m supposed to meet Paisley.” Was that even a real name? “I hear I’ll be rooming with her.”

Graham frowned. “I didn’t think we were to the doubling-up stage.”

Maybe not for the Sullivan grandsons, but Cadence wasn’t on the same level at Sweet River. She hadn’t been in Chicago, either.

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