“It’s okay. I know you’ve been busy. And yes, I never saw Kelto again,” I sigh. “But I had Viola and Jane around most days helping when they could.”
“They’re good friends. Being on your own at a time like that wouldn’t have been easy.”
“I could never feel alone when I have you in my life.” I can’t help but smile. “And thanks again for the ticket, you know I’ll pay you back.”
Bailey waves her hand across the space between us. “You don’t have to keep thanking me. And I told you it was a gift for you and Mindy. A few weeks here will feel like a year,” she assures me. “Unless…”
We share a glance, and I can’t help but laugh under my breath. “Unless?”
“The Lawless Farm job offer. You said Isabelle called you, right?”
“Yes, she wants me to come in on Monday to look around and have an informal chat.”
Bailey bangs her palms on the steering with obvious excitement. “That’s so cool! You’ll love Izzy, the whole familyactually, oh, except Zane, but don’t worry about him. His bark is worse than his bite.”
I glance at her and don’t miss the frown that’s suddenly appeared on her face.
“Zane? Funny you didn’t mention him earlier, or his apparent grumpiness.” Of course, I know who she means. It’s not like I didn’t take notice of the family photo on their website. Who could forget that large, hulking man with a beard and piercing eyes? He looks like a grizzly bear. I may or may not have had visions of him without his shirt on chopping wood, but it isn’t my fault TikTok put that idea in my head. I blame the algorithm.
Even from the photo, you can tell a lot; he’s huge, standing taller than the rest of his family, and I don’t know but there’s something about a mountain man in flannel. I wonder if he wears chaps? Good lord. I can’t be crushing on mycould-beboss.
Isabelle did tell me I’d be working mainly with her brother.
“Yeah, about that,” she sighs.
“Hmm. It sounds like there’s something you don’t want to tell me.”
“Zane is Izzy’s brother. He kinda runs the farm side of things.”
“I kinda figured that part out when Isabelle explained the family dynamics.”
“He’s not all bad,” she concedes. “Just gruff.”
“Uh, huh, what else aren’t you telling me?” I press.
“Nothing.” She sounds way too innocent.
“Nothing?”
“If I tell you, you’ll get mad and say I lured you here on false pretenses.”
I gape at her. “Oh, no, Bailey, what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything!” she maintains. “He’s just a bit of a pill, but don’t take it to heart, he’s like that with everyone.”
“Oh, great, that makes me feel so much better!” I shake my head.
“He means well and all, and he has a lot of good traits — a hard worker, devoted to the family?—”
“Uh, huh, he’s a pill, I got it.”
She waves a hand. “You’ll be fine, you’re a New Yorker. Think of Zane as a big grizzly bear. He just needs a little taming.”
“That isn’t really helping, grizzly bears aren’t exactly friendly, nor can they be tamed.”
“See, you’re getting it already. Zane’s just a grump, not mean spirited or anything. In fact, you’ll probably barely see him, he’s always outside, wrestling with giant logs.”
My brows scrunch together. “Funny how you never mentioned any of this before I agreed to come.”
