Thank God Allison lives in New York and she’s used to a fast-paced life. Riley is talking so fast and downloading so much information in one shot it’s overwhelming even to me.
“Oh. Did Jake tell you about the men?”
“Men?”
“You don’t know yet?” Riley lifts her right eyebrow so suggestively Allison blushes.
“Well, if you’re talking about the workers…”
“Honey, they’re not mere workers. They’re all young, drop-dead-gorgeous cowboys. My brother and Hunter employ twelve strapping hunks who come to the ranch each day at six-thirty to start their day. On hot days, by the time lunch is over, it’s a girl’s wet dream come true.” I can’t believe she said that. “When the sun is beating hard, the guys shamelessly strip out of their shirts and it’s like walking through the gates of heaven.” My sister delivers the news while fanning herself and Hunter and I roll our eyes at each other.
“I see.” Allison looks slightly freaked out and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Trust me, honey. The eye candy is pretty tempting… but I can’t touch. I already have too much on my plate to deal with a man, but if you’re single, please help yourself.”
“She is.”
Hunter chimes in on the conversation and I look at him, shaking my head.
“You are? Girl, I might have to live vicariously through you because God knows Cynthia was so strait-laced.” My sister winks at Allison and the poor girl turns bright red again.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Allison responds nervously.
“Enough about buff, handsome and semi-naked men. I should let you know that since my cooking was taking over my small kitchen, Jake built me a luxurious studio inside one of the barns, fully equipped with lighting tracks, ceiling microphones and all the outlets I need for my video segments.”
“I know. You mentioned it in one of your past blog posts.”
“Right. Look at you. You’ve done your homework.”
“It wasn’t much work since I’ve been following your blog forever.”
“Good girl. I knew there was a reason why I liked you so much. Anyways, back to the studio. There’s an area I use as my office and there’s a desk calling your name. It’s a dream space and I can’t wait to share it with you tomorrow.”
“I’m so looking forward to all of this.”
“Not nearly as much as I am, honey. I so need your talent. I’m useless with a camera—digital or video.” My sister’s rollicking laugh fills the room and Hunter and I look at each other. My best friend hasn’t been able to wipe that silly grin off his face since he met Allison.
“Okay, you boys need to leave us alone now. It’s high time for me to get to know my new assistant better. Don’t forget, dinner is in a couple of hours right after I get the kids settled and leave them with Isadora.”
“All right then. We’ll all meet back right here for dinner,” I say, grabbing my cowboy hat where I left it several hours ago. “Allison, we’ll catch you later.”
“Absolutely. I’ll see you soon and thank you for everything, Jake.”
“Nonsense. The pleasure was all mine.”
She has no idea how much I enjoyed getting to know her.
CHAPTER FIVE
HUNTER
Jake and I walk in silence to the office we built a few miles away from the main house. Although neither of us says a word, I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking because I’ve known him forever.
We’ve been best buddies since I sat next to him in the cafeteria on my first day at his high school when we were both teenagers. I’m originally from Arizona, but when my parents got divorced, my dad moved with his new wife to LA. When I turned sixteen I became so rebellious my mother couldn’t handle me. After I tried her patience one too many times, she sent me to live with my father and my stepmother. Since I’m an only child, Jake is the closest I’ll ever have to a brother and we’ve been inseparable since we first met.
Luckily the walk from Jake’s home to the office is short. If it were longer, I don’t think I could’ve contained myself. When we enter the spacious area where we usually start and end each day, Jake closes the door behind him and leans against it. Without turning around to look at him, I speak.
“Why don’t I make some coffee?”
“Yeah. Why don’t you?”
I focus on preparing coffee like a master barista to avoid the obvious—both Jake and I are taken aback by Allison’s beauty and charm. When I return to the main room, my buddy has his feet on the desk and he’s leaning back in his chair with his cowboy hat over his face.