“She’s resigned from coaching the high school girls' basketball team and took a job up in Boise, or something like that, but it doesn’t start until the end of August. Tessa convinced my dad to hire her to take pictures for the ranch and to help update the website,” Logan said.
“Pictures?” I asked, thoroughly confused how my old friend went from leading her team to winning state championships in basketball to photography in Boise.
“She’s been a photographer in town for the past few years.” Cade was giving me a bemused expression that I instantly hated. “Aren’t you two good friends?”
“Guess not,” I said lightly.
“Aren’t you all related?” Briggs asked Logan.
“Shelby is Tessa’s cousin,” Logan said. “She grew up here. Then she went and played basketball for U of M,” He leaned over and ruffled Brigg’s hair. “She’s gotta be taller than you, though, little guy.”
According to the basketball roster on the University of Montana’s website, years ago, when she was their starting point guard, she was 5’10.” Though, there wasn’t a chance this side of the Snake River that she was a millimeter over 5’8”. Briggs was probably 5’9” on a good day.
“When does she start working?” I found myself asking.
Logan shrugged. “I think she’s moving here on Friday.”
“Wait. She’s living here?” I knew I would regret asking all of these questions, but I was so blindsided by the information. It was actually work for me to keep my excitement in check at the news. But with Briggs excited for another reason, I decided to reel myself in.
Logan motioned toward the small, empty cabin next to mine. “Next door. Just for the summer. Tessa told her she could come stay in one of the small cabins.”
“So how was your date with her?” Cade asked Briggs.
“I liked her,” Briggs said. “She was definitely nervous, but we’re going out again tomorrow night.”
“Maybe you should check with Evans first,” Cade said, giving a sly nod toward me. “They were good friends growing up.”
My eyes flicked up from my cards when the men at the table all turned to watch me.
“Friends orsomething, right?” Logan added, keeping his voice innocent but with a calculating feel about his words thathad my guard completely up. His face shouldn’t be that smug after losing the last pot, but there it was. I needed to shut this down.
“Yeah. We used to braid each other’s hair and have pillow fights. Now that I think about it, she probably would be your type, Briggs.”
I grinned and dodged as Briggs threw another punch my way. I made sure to look both Logan and Cade in the eye. “We were good friends. She was always like a sister to me.”
“Huh.” Logan took a sip of his Pepsi. “I used to say the same thing about Tessa.” His eyes shifted to mine. “To you, in fact.”
I froze as dread filled my gut.
Alright. I admit. I should have seen this coming—maybe not with Shelby, but the setups, yes. But I didn’t. I’d lost my edge.
Logan and Cade exchanged brief knowing glances, sending my annoyance factor through the roof. But I checked my cards and took a drink, forcing my body and face to ooze boredom.
When my old boss, Layne Marten, called me a month ago, offering me this job, I couldn’t get out of the city fast enough. Miranda had left us high and dry, emptying our bank accounts on her way out the door. The past year, I’d been scrambling, trying to fill all the holes she’d left in our life and coming up short every time.
The second I heard Layne’s voice on the phone, I knew I would do whatever it was he asked. To my astonishment, he offered me a job. More than a job. He gave me a way to come home and be close to my mom again, and for that, I’d always be grateful. The fact that it turned out to be the perfect job as a foreman on a dude ranch was a bonus. I’d get to spend my days doing all the outdoor things I loved, be around horses again, and Sophie would know her grandma. It was perfect.
But I was just now realizing that being back home would mean getting set up by misguided friends. I’d already dealt withthat in Washington. By this point, I was willing Sophie to wake up the ranch with one of her bad dreams, but for the first time in months, the monitor sat in disappointing silence.
“Should we make a bet that you won’t fall in love this summer?” came Logan’s question.
But I was ready for it now.
A smile came unbidden across my lips. Even now, five years later, the bet I offered between Logan and Tessa had been one of the finer moments of my life.
“That just feels like sloppy seconds on your end.”
Logan laughed. “I’m good with that.”
