“Sure is,” Hazel said. “Levi Chapman’s an inventor.”
“Seems like a strange place for a billionaire to settle. I mean, it’s pretty small.”
“He’s a hometown boy. Speaking of hometown boys, how is Chase taking being sidelined?” Hazel asked Ella.
“Damaris would know that better than I would.”
“Yes, but Damaris isn’t sitting here.”
She shrugged in acknowledgment. “He seems okay. He’s been helping with the management. I think he’s been in charge of most of it since he got injured.”
“So you’re working a lot with Chase?”
“Yes. And Marshall and Damaris.” But with Chase the majority of the time, she had to admit.
“I had a crush on him when I first moved to town,” Hazel said. “But we never went out. And then I got involved with someone who put me off men completely for a while.”
“I know that feeling,” Ella said. “My ex is a bareback rider. Although he didn’t really put me off men, just rodeo cowboys.”
“Aha,” Hazel said. “So I guess that means you and Chase won’t hook up.”
Except that they already had. She hoped her poker face was credible. “I work for him. For his family. Workplace romance is a mistake. Been there and done that.” Even though that hadn’t been the real problem with Phil and her.
“What about you, Rosario?” Hazel asked. “Have you ever had a man who put you off the whole species for a while?”
“Hasn’t everyone?”
They all laughed. “Good point,” said Ella.
“What did you think about girls’ night out?” Chantel asked her on the way home.
“I enjoyed it.” Turning to Damaris she said, “Thanks for taking me.”
“Anytime. Marshall knows he’s on call Thursday nights. I take Fridays, not that Marshall ever does much. You get Saturday nights, unless we arrange something. All it means is we need to be available if something happens and whoever is on gets to do the last walk-through. Don’t hesitate to ask if you want to switch nights.”
“Doesn’t Marshall date?” She couldn’t imagine why not. He was a good-looking guy, even if he didn’t flip her switches like Chase did.
“Oh, sure. But not a lot and there’s no special woman. I worry about him sometimes.”
“Why?”
“I think he needs to have more fun. He’s way too serious sometimes.”
“Do you worry about Chase too?” she couldn’t help asking.
Damaris laughed. So did Chantel. “No. Not in that way, anyway. Chase knows how to have a good time.”
He did indeed.
“Speaking of dates, can I give a friend of mine your number?”
There was absolutely no reason she shouldn’t let Damaris set her up. “Who is he?”
“Nate Kershaw. He’s a pilot at the Devil’s Rock Airport.”
“All right. What’s he like?”
“Hot,” Chantel said.
