“It was, but I’m doing much better, thanks to Elowyn and Bridget making sure Finn could take excellent care of me.” I gestured toward Maggie, who had lifted her head to assess the new arrival before deciding he was acceptable. “And Maggie’s been an excellent nurse.”
“She’s good at that. Has an instinct for when people need comfort,” he reached down to scratch behind her ears, earning a single lick against his wrist. “Are you planning to take some time off work while you’re here, or will you be trying to manage things remotely?”
“I’m learning to take time for myself, but I’ll still do some remote work. I’ve got a good team back in Salt Lake, but there are always things that need my direct attention.” I paused, considering how much to share. “…And I’m in the middle of reducing my ADHD medication, so maintaining some routine helps keep me functional.”
Nolan nodded with a knowing look in his eye. “That sounds challenging. I seem to recall Finn mentioning you were in the middle of finding a new way of doing things. Are you able tofind quiet space to work at the lodge, or would it help to have somewhere else to set up?”
“The lodge room works for long video calls and confidential stuff, but...” I trailed off, trying to decide how much more I wanted to tell him.
“But?” He prompted gently.
“Sometimes it helps me focus when I’m sharing space with another worker. My assistant back home is really good at that, but obviously she’s not here.”
“Ah,” Nolan’s expression brightened with understanding. “I’ve got an office in the main house with an extra desk that never gets used. Extra monitor, decent WiFi, coffee maker. You’re welcome to claim’em if it would help. I’m usually there working, so there’d be someone around if you need the company.”
“That’s incredibly generous,” my eyes clouded over at the unexpected offer. “I’d hate to be a bother.”
“No bother at all,” he smiled, standing and brushing dust off his jeans. “Think about it. No pressure, but the offer stands for as long as you’re here.”
“Thank you. I just might take you up on that.”
“Good. I’ll be around if you have any questions about the setup.” He paused, looking back toward the main house. “We might have a third most days. Penny usually shows up to color at some point. Six-year-olds don’t always worry about office boundaries.”
“Penny is…?”
“Oh!” Nolan’s cheeks brightened slightly. “Penny is Lou’s daughter. She usually comes to work with her mama during the summer.”
“Oh, I see,” I swallowed before fixing a smile on my face. “I’m sure it will be great. I’d love to meet her.”
“Excellent. Well, I’ll let you get back to your afternoon. Glad to hear you’re doing better.”
I watched him walk away. A secondary space with bodydoubling sounded superb. Getting to work around Nolan felt like an extra bonus.
Maggie shifted beside my chair, settling back into her relaxed position now that Nolan wasn’t scratching at her ears. The afternoon was warming up, and more guests were filtering through the area. Families heading back from trail rides, others setting out on whatever outdoor activities the ranch offered. I spotted two women walking from the restaurant toward the main house, right by where I’d set up my observational camp.
“...need to check the linens in the east suite before the Hartwell party arrives,” Elowyn was saying as they got closer. “And make sure the champagne service is set up properly for their anniversary—”
She spotted me mid-sentence and immediately changed direction, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Alex! I was hoping I’d run into you.”
“Thank you for the care package this morning,” I smiled. “It was exactly what I needed.”
“Oh, you’re so welcome. How are you feeling now?”
“Much better, thanks. The heating pad was a lifesaver,” I glanced at Lou, who was hanging back slightly with a polite expression.
“Lou, this is Alex,” Elowyn gestured her forward. “Alex, this is Lou Clay. She runs guest services and events here at the ranch.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you properly,” Lou stepped forward with a professional smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and a tone that remained carefully neutral. “I saw Finn this morning, but we didn’t get a chance to talk much.”
“You have the most incredible garden,” I smiled, eager to ease her tension. “I was looking at your Instagram earlier, and those dahlias are absolutely stunning.”
Lou’s expression shifted from polite to genuine surprise. “You looked me up?”
“Ashamed to admit it, but I was stalking you a little,” I lifted a shoulder, not ashamed in the least. “But then I got completelydistracted by your garden photos. Those varieties are incredible.”
“Thank you. The dahlias are my passion project.”
“They’re my favorite flower,” I confessed. “The geometry of the petals is mesmerizing, and the colors they come in. They’re like little architectural masterpieces.”
