McKenna gave her best casual shrug. “Lottie asked me to take photos. Georgie threatened Nate bodily harm if he didn’t attend. Guess it only makes sense that we’d drive together.”
“We meant as a date,” said Bracelets, sliding the mozzarella basket away from McKenna. “We promised Nate’s mom we’d find him a date for the dance.”
“Sounds like your problem, not mine,” McKenna said, sliding the basket back toward her with a sassy little tilt of her head.
“Oh, I like her,” said Vegas with an approving smile.
“Alicia’s going to love her,” Glasses said with a nod.
“We are definitely getting some grandbabies out of these two,” said Bracelets as she lifted her arms and started waving. “Hey, Nate! We’ve got your girl over here.”
McKenna swiveled in her seat. Sure enough, there stood Nate, leaning against the bar talking to Derrick. “Okay. Let’s calm down. Nobody said I was his girl,” McKenna whisper-shouted, flapping her hands to shush three women who clearly didn’t know the concept of shush. Last thing she wanted to do was put Nate on the spot.
“This cutie doesn’t have a date for the dance tomorrow,” said Vegas, cupping a hand around her mouth. “Isn’t that a shame?”
“It’s not a shame,” McKenna said to the ladies. “It’s not a shame,” she said to Nate when he started walking toward her. “It’s not a shame,” she said to the guy who’d just come out of the bathroom. “Hey, should I go check on Evie? Feels like she’s been in that bathroom forever.”
“We’re telling your mother that you’re taking McKenna to the dance tomorrow whether you want to or not,” said Glasses when Nate made it over to their table.
McKenna opened her mouth, ready to tell the three Southern belles they would do no such thing, when a warm palm slid beneath her hair around the back of her neck. She looked up to find Nate peering down at her, his gaze as tender as the caress of his thumb behind her ear.
“I want to,” he said. “If that’s okay with you.”
His fingers continued kneading her neck. McKenna nodded because if she opened her mouth she might start to purr.
And for the first time all night, the three ladies across from her had nothing to say. Probably because their three giant grins said it all.
Hey Girly! Just checking in. My friend’s sister says she’s starting to receive a lot of applications, but she’s still interested in checking out your portfolio before she makes any decisions.
McKenna winced at the text message from Briella. She’d stepped outside to snap a few pictures with the Polaroid camera to make sure it was still working before tonight’s dance.
Resting the camera on top of the fence post next to the goat pen, McKenna ignored the humidity making her T-shirt stick to her back and forced herself to respond.
Thanks for the heads-up!The black goat with the white patch around his eye poked his head through the fence. McKenna knelt to scratch behind his ears a few seconds before another message pinged back.
So are you still planning to apply? Not trying to pressure you, but I get the impression this window of opportunity will be closing soon.
She straightened from the goat.I know. And yes, still planning to apply.
Okay. Glad to hear it! Let me know if you need anything. Praying for you! You’ve worked so hard for so many years. You deserve an opportunity like this.
McKenna stared at the message, sweat trickling down her back. She’d worked hard, that part was true. But she didn’t know about the wholedeserveaspect. It’s not like there was anything special about her.
“If anything, I’m probably less qualified than most other candidates,” she said to the goat who was devouring a patch of weeds next to one of the fence posts. “This is the part where you say,No, no, McKenna, you’re a talented and amazing photographer. She’d be lucky to have you.”
The goat lifted his head and a clump of green fell from his mouth.
“I’ll take that as a sign of agreement. Thank you.”
One of the brown goats bleated and wandered her way. “What’s that? You think I’m being disloyal to Mr. Sullivan?”
The goat bleated again.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong. In fact, you make a good point. I do owe him for giving me a job and teaching me everything I know about photography when I had nowhere else to turn. And yes, of course I realize that I wouldn’t be a candidate for this job at all if it hadn’t been for everything he’s taught me. But that doesn’t mean I need to stay at his studio forever, does it? Couldn’t I at least move on once he gets comfortable working with Kristi?”
The goats both peered back at her with all sorts of earthy filth hanging out of their mouths. “Are you even supposed to be eating that?”
“There you are,” Nate’s voice called out from behind her. “Better get dressed, little lady. Word on the street is you’ve got yourself the hottest date in all of Bugle tonight.”
