Page 68 of Forever Enough
He let out a laugh. “Yeah, his agent. Among other things.”
“Duke, I think you’re crossing a line you aren’t meant to cross,” Lou warned.
Looking up, he wore a smile that made my skin crawl, and the anxiety from earlier came rushing back.
“What do you mean, ‘among other things’?”
Lou stood. “He doesn’t mean anything, now you go and enjoy your time off, sweetheart.”
When I glanced back at Duke, he winked, and I felt myself recoil slightly.
All but pushing me out of her office, Lou wrapped her arm in mine, and we walked through the greenhouse in silence. Once I got to the door, I pulled my hat and gloves out of my coat pocket.
“Lou, what did Duke mean?”
She sighed. “Nothing. Since those two boys were teenagers, they’ve been competing with one another. I knew Duke had a liking toward you, and that he wasn’t going to handle the news of you dating Bradly well. He’s just being a little ass. Ignore him.”
I tried to let her words reassure me, but something was off. I knew that already, simply by the way Bradly was acting once he’d learned Crystal was at the house.
“Go and enjoy yourself. Will you be seeing Bradly again today?”
Slipping my gloves on, I smiled. “He’s coming over for dinner. I don’t know what to make, though. I already made my famous spaghetti.”
“Do you have some veggies?”
I nodded. “I picked some this morning that were ready.”
“Minestrone soup.”
Grinning, I hugged Lou. “That’s a great idea.”
She laughed and gave me a quick squeeze. “Enjoy your evening, sweetheart.”
Feeling myself blush, I replied, “I will. Thanks, Lou.”
Once outside, I glanced up and noticed a few snowflakes falling. I closed my eyes and smiled. Moving to Montana had been the best decision I’d ever made and today only proved that once again.
My cell rang with my sister’s ringtone, and I quickly put it on speakerphone.
“Hey, how are you?” I asked, as I turned back to the veggies I was cutting up.
“I’m great. I wanted to let you know that Doug and I are due to fly in on the thirtieth.”
I let out a small scream of excitement. “Oh, Em! I can’t wait to see you, and I can’t wait for you to see Montana. It’s a winter wonderland right now.”
She laughed. “Well, if I have to go from one cold spot to another, at least the scenery will be prettier.”
“That’s true!”
“Did I interrupt anything?”
“Not at all. I was cutting up veggies for a minestrone soup I’m making for dinner.”
“Oh,” Emily said in a teasing tone. “Is the cowboy coming over for dinner again?”
“He is. We spent this afternoon together, and it was…”
I let my words dangle in the air. How did I explain today, exactly?