Bennett fixes me with a look. “It’s not a farmhand they’re after.”
“I know,” I say. “She does all the administration and the finance. The business side of the farm. From what I can tell, her dad and brother do the horticulture side.”
“Right. So it’s more than an admin job. She runs the farm. And even if you could replace the job she does, maybe she’s their emotional support as well. And vice versa.”
Okay, so maybe it’s not as easy as we’ll just move to New York. But there’s a solution. There’s got to be. And it doesn’t involve me moving to Star Falls.
“Say you do convince her to move to New York,” Bennett says. “And dad and brother are happy. Are you going to marry her? How’s that going to go down with Joan?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t need to ask my mother’s permission about who I marry.” As I say the words, they come out hollow. Technically, I don’t need my mother’s permission. I don’t need anyone’s permission. But honestly, if I was to marry Iris, my mother would have something to say about it.
“She wouldn’t be happy,” I concede. “But that wouldn’t stop me from doing what I wanted.”
“It might make life very difficult for the both of you,” Bennett says.
“Difficult, but not impossible.” Honestly, she could make life close to impossible for Iris. As could New York society. People in my life aren’t warm, fuzzy folks. They’re hard and suspicious and the exact opposite of Iris. No one in my life would accept Iris.
My thoughts are interrupted as the door to Grizzly’s opens and in walks a girl I swear I’ve seen up at the Colorado Club, together with the only woman Iwantto see—Iris.
My heart pushes against my chest and my breath leaves my body.
She looks incredible. She’s wearing a white shirt and jeans. Her hair falls down her back. Without it pulled back from her face, she looks a little younger than she did in New York. More carefree. It suits her.
She’s smiling as she comes through the door, like the woman she’s with just told her a joke.
Leo mumbles under his breath. “I think this means we can all go back to New York City now.”
“I gotta go,” I say, and I’m out of my seat and across the room.
“Hi, Jack,” the woman who’s with Iris says. “I’m Stephanie.”
Iris must have filled Stephanie in, and they both must have been expecting to see me here. That’s a good sign, right?
My gaze flits between Iris and Stephanie. Iris doesn’t look surprised to see me and her smile only fades slightly.
“Hi, Jack,” Iris says.
“You can buy us a drink,” Stephanie says.
“Sure,” I say. “What can I get you both?”
The women exchange a look. “Tequila!” they both say in unison.
I order the tequila—the same bottle that Byron ordered.
Stephanie turns to me. “And now you have to introduce me to your friends, so I have something to do while you two catch up.”
Iris wrinkles her nose. “Tonight was meant to be about you and me catching up,” she says.
Stephanie puts her hand on Iris’s shoulder. “I know. And we can do that. But these opportunities don’t come along very often. The two of you should talk.” She swipes the tequila bottle and two shot glasses from the bar and heads over to Bennett, Worth, and Byron.
“She’s a woman who knows what she wants,” I say.
“She’s been like that since she was sixteen.”
“It’s impressive.” I’m also grateful that she’s left Iris and me alone.
“I told her I thought you’d be here. I filled in a few blanks for her.”
