That gets the attention of everyone. Even the barbers stop trimming.
“Chicken shit?” Jad asks from his salon-style chair.
“Why?” Terry asks.
I take a sip of soda. “I was counting chickens with Quinn’s sister.”
“Tell me that isn’t a euphemism,” Max says, heading my way from the gym equipment. “Because if Quinn thinks you’re hooking-up with his sister?—”
“Nope. I was genuinely knees deep in hen shit.”
Then I leave them to banter behind my back because I need to shower, change into some spare clothes from my locker, and sign all the merchandise that’s been delivered here for that purpose.
Changed and merch signed – including ten life-size cardboard cutouts of me shirtless (weird) – I head to Colton’s penthouse apartment. Sas and I agreed to move our meeting there since I was coming into the city with Annie anyway and it means she and Colton can head out together as soon as we’re done going through my contract terms for the sponsor deal.
As soon as Colton opens the door to me, I can tell from the uncommon creases around his mouth that the guys have already filled him in on my hen plight.
I lift my shades into my hair and glare at him in greeting. Then I see Sas, sitting with documents and a laptop in front of her, on Colton’s – or their, these days – long dining table, the entire cityscape a backdrop to the open space. Naturally, she’s covering a smirk with her fingertips.
“That’s the last time I do you two a favor,” I gripe, heading inside.
I don’t wait to be invited because Sas is one of my best friends, an honorary sister, and as unlikely as it seemed this time last year, Colton is my guy now, too. I spend a lot of time here, especially when Sas is home in New York.
“You should be the one thanking me,” Colton says, puttering around his kitchen, giving Sas and me space to talk business.
“How’s that now?” I call back to him.
He plants his paws on the kitchen countertop. “If it wasn’t for me, Daddy would have brought out his shotgun instead of sending you to collect a few hen eggs. You stayed over and he wanted to send you a warning. But he knows the last guy who messed with my sister ended up in the ER having his jaw fixed. So, you’re welcome.”
“Quinn, I don’t know if I love all you ranchers or if I think y’all are fucking crazy.”
He’s guffawing as he leaves the room but I know it’s still about the chicken shit.
I also know he just gave me a reminder that his sister is completely out of bounds.
Which is nothing I don’t keep telling myself. Increasingly often.
“I’llsay thank you,” Sas tells me, smiling softly now. “We appreciate it. Colton’s working hard trying to make everything run as smooth as possible for Annie and the ranch but it’s rough in active season. He and I being long-distance half the time doesn’t help either.”
“I’ve got you, firecracker.” I hold out a fist, which she knocks with her own. “Truthfully, it’s no problem. Annie’s fun to be around. Nelson’s a little dude and Sonny…” I scoff but I’m smiling. “I respect him. They’ve been through a lot and I’m happy to help.”
She nods. “You’re good people, Pace.”
“God loves a trier.”
“Are you taking Annie home later or is she getting a cab?”
“I’ll take her. Make sure she gets back to Nelson. Plus, I’m recording the pod late tonight because Jones has something on first.”
“So long as you’re looking after yourself. How are you feeling being back at it?”
“Like there aren’t enough bath salts and physical therapists in the world to deal with my joints. But there are injections.”
She rolls her eyes, then pulls a lucrative sponsorship contract between us on the table.
15
ANNIE – LATE SEPTEMBER
