“Do you have enough of those lights to drape them around the base, too? I think it’d look much better to have the whole thing look like it was floating. Lighting it there,” she gestured with a wave of her hand, “would be breathtaking in the dark.”
The cowboy nodded curtly. “I’m certain we have enough. And if not, I’ll call Bo. He can get some more sent over from town.”
She smiled. “That would be wonderful.”
There were lights strung up overhead, lanterns that would glow and add the right kind of ambiance to the whole event. She’d seen the guest list. There were people from several of the larger companies that were based in Billings but also in California and New York. She didn’t know how they’d managed to get such a broad guest list, but she wasn’t going to complain.
Those people had deep pockets. They had the entitlement to go with it, and she’d always wondered if the entitlement came before or after they came into money.
It was one of the biggest reasons she steered clear of anyone who had enough money to buy a car or a house with cash. Something told her that money would be the driving force that would change who she was, and she didn’t want the temptation of it at all.
She moved around the setup, crossing off items and scribbling notes. They still needed to set up the catering tent nearby. They’d already covered their bases when it came to restrooms and hand washing.
Jane felt a presence behind her before he spoke. The sound of his warm, gruff voice sent shivers rocketing down her spine.
“It looks great.”
She didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge him with more than a nod as she kept her eyes trained on the clipboard. Her body had betrayed her one too many times. Noah was off limits as far as she was concerned, though for what reason, she had none.
He was Mack’s younger brother.
But that shouldn’t bother her. She’d never been romantically involved with Mack.
Maybe it was the age difference. She’d always imagined marrying someone who was older than she was.
But with Noah standing a good four inches taller than she was, Jane couldn’t help but feel like that was a terrible excuse.
Noah came to stand beside her, his arm brushing against hers in the most delicious way. “You did a good job. I hope your bosses recognize your skillset.”
She scoffed and shot him an unimpressed look. “I hardly did anything. I’m an underling.”
He lifted a brow then gestured to the clipboard. “You look pretty official to me.”
Jane shrugged.
Noah made a show of looking closer at her notes. “I don’t think an underling would go above and beyond like that. You’re finding holes in this whole thing.”
She moved the clipboard beneath her arm and turned to face him. “Did you need anything?” It was difficult to accept praise from anyone—especially someone like Noah for some reason. She’d have to investigate those reasons another time.
He shook his head, that infuriating smirk crossing his face as he watched her. The way his eyes drilled into her did strange things to her that she wasn’t ready to study too closely. So she shifted the focus from her to something else—anythingelse.
With a wave of her hand, she let out a sigh. “This place does all the work. I mean, look at it. How can you live on a property like this and wish for anything. I would have loved to grow up here. It’s simple and elegant and beautiful in a way that you can’t get anywhere else.” She glanced at him, noting he was staring again. Dang it. She cleared her throat. “It just makes me think about how people live when the most important thing in their life isn’t money. They don’t have to worry about the next paycheck or where food is going to come from—because they can grow it themselves.”
At her frown, he startled and turned his focus to their surroundings. “You know, it’s not as simple as you might believe.”
“Oh? Are you talking about getting up in the morning and milking the cows? Or about weeding the crops and growing food you put on the table.”
That adorable grin tugged at his lips. “In part.”
“Then what else are you referring to?”
He faced her again, studying her with an intensity that forced her to fight a shiver. “You realize that my family—my extended family—they’re one of the wealthiest families in this town.”
She hated the way she balked at him, her mouth falling open and her eyes widening. Jane wasn’t dumb. To own property was a privilege that the wealthy had the opportunity for—one most had to shed blood, sweat, and tears for. And the more she thought about it, the hotter her face became.
Of course they’d have a lot of money. Even so, they’d probably have to worry about making ends meet because it wasn’t just about putting food on the table. It was feeding the animals and the crops.
She’d been so naïve to let herself believe for even one second that the people here weren’t ruled by finances, too.
