His eyes come to mine and he grins.
“Nope, but it sure is a bonus.”
I take another bite, and as the buttery crust melts in my mouth, I have to admit he’s not wrong.
The soft glow of my phone screen lights up my desk as I glance at the time—11:58 a.m.
Right on cue, my stomach growls. Reminding me that I’ve only had half of a muffin and two cups of coffee today.
“Okay, okay,” I mutter under my breath. “Lunch it is.”
I close my laptop and grab my purse. I glance down at my desk calendar. It looks like someone attacked it with a red marker. I’ve been slammed all week. Meeting after meeting. Zoom call after Zoom call.
But for now, I need food.
I stand and stretch my arms over my head until my back pops, then grab my phone and step into the hallway.
The Belicourt is humming with midday activity. Staff members move with determination.
I walk through the door at the end of the corridor and head across the lobby toward the elevator, already imagining a burger and maybe one of those enormous chocolate chip cookies from the grill upstairs.
I’m halfway there when someone calls my name.
“Miss Storm.”
I stop and turn.
Porter’s father—Barron Garrison—approaches from the direction of the grand staircase.
He looks exactly the way he did when I met him on Tuesday.
Perfectly put together.
Crisp navy suit, silver hair neatly combed back, the steady, confident stride of a man who’s spent his entire life walking into rooms and taking command.
Is that the same suit? Or does he have multiples of the same one?
“Mr. Garrison,” I say politely.
He smiles warmly. “I was heading down to your office to see you.”
“You were?”
He nods. “Yes. Is this a bad time?”
“No,” I say with a small laugh. “I’m just on my way to lunch.”
“Perfect timing, then,” he says. “I’ll only keep you a second.”
He slips his hands casually into his pockets.
“Porter mentioned something interesting to me at dinner last night.”
“Oh?”
“He told me it’s your family that’s partnering with Bryce Raintree.”
My shoulders relax. “Yes, sir. Wildhaven Storm and Bryce are partners in the Raintree-Storm Rodeo Academy.”
