“Whatever. I’m in charge.”
“Great,” Taryn said. “So you’re sure to crash or burst into flames. Sam, please make sure our key-man insurance policy is paid up.”
Jack gave her a lazy smile. “You’d miss me, darlin’.”
“That I would and then I’d move on with my life.” She turned back to Sam. “About the party,” she said again. “Where are we?”
“In the planning stages.”
She waited but Sam didn’t say any more. “It’s just over three months away. You have to get going.”
“I am.”
This wasn’t like Sam, she thought. Normally he was on top of things. “Do you have any details? You know we have to make sure our clients have a good time, right? And they’re bringing their families, which ups the pressure. You three are the ones who wanted to move here in the first place. You’re the ones who insisted on this party. Don’t come to me a week before and say there’s a problem, because I’m not going to fix this.”
“There she goes,” Kenny said conversationally. “Sam, you’ve riled Taryn, and no good comes of that. Back where I come from—”
Taryn slapped both hands on the conference table. “Do not tell me some good-ol’-boy farm story, Kenneth Anderson Scott. You may want the world to think you’re just some down-home guy from Iowa, but I know better.”
Kenny glanced at his watch. “Look at the time. Larissa should be ready for me now.”
He nearly ran from the room. Jack watched him go.
“That wasn’t nice, Taryn. You know Kenny hates it when you use his whole name. It reminds him of being yelled at by his mom.”
“Yes, and that’s why I do it.” She returned her attention to Sam. “About the party.”
“It’s handled,” he told her.
Exactly what she wanted to hear. So why didn’t she believe him? “You’re sure.”
“Very.”
She nodded and Sam ducked out of the room. Jack stayed in his seat.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked.
“No.”
“You’re a little crabby.”
She pressed her lips together. “It’s not like you guys make it easy.”
He stood and circled around the table until he was next to her. Then he pulled her close and hugged her. She relaxed in his familiar embrace. His large hands rested on her back and she breathed in the scent of him.
When they’d first met, Jack was the star quarterback of the L.A. Stallions and she was the newly hired PR assistant. She’d never expected their night together to lead to anything more. But one night had turned into two, then a week.
When everything fell apart, they’d stayed friends. She loved Kenny and Sam, but Jack was the one who knew her best. A point he proved when he said, “Still not sure you’re going to like it here?”
“It’s different. People are nice.”
“Damn them.”
She smiled into his shoulder, then stepped back. “I’m not like you.”
“That’s true.” His dark eyes crinkled with amusement. “You’d look funny with my penis.”
“I’d have it removed.”
He winced. “Don’t even joke about that.” He kissed her forehead. “We’re going to be here awhile, Taryn. Relax. Make nice with the ladies in town. Go to lunch and give them a chance to prove they mean what they say.”
“They really want me to have a nice day?”
“They do. Let them get to know you while you get to know them. Make friends. It’s fun.”
“Maybe,” she grumbled.
“That’s my girl. Always willing to try new things.” He put his arm around her and led her from the room. “Come on. I’ll buy you some lunch. I’ll order the fries.”
Because if she didn’t order the food, the calories didn’t count, she thought, leaning into him. “You’re the best,” she told him.
“Yeah, I know. My greatness has always been a burden.”
CHAPTER THREE
“THIS CAME FOR YOU.”
Taryn glanced up as Larissa walked into her office. She was carrying what looked like a very exotic orchid. One that Taryn had never seen before.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured, reaching for the plant.
Larissa grinned. “There’s a card.”
Taryn touched the soft petals of the flower. The colors were unusual, she thought. Pink and a blue violet. “What does it say?”
“I haven’t read it.”
Taryn put the plant on her desk, then looked at her friend. “Of course you have.”
Larissa laughed. “There’s just a place and a time. It’s for tonight.”
She took the card and studied it. Sure enough, Condor Valley Winery, 7:00 p.m., was written in bold black pen.
An invitation or instructions, she thought, intrigued by the assumption. What if she couldn’t make it?
“Are you going?” Larissa asked.
“I don’t know.”
Larissa sat in the chair next to the desk. “You have to. You said he’s really sexy.”
“I don’t remember saying that.”
“Okay, you thought it. Same thing.” She put a small brochure on the desk. “There are instructions that go with your new plant. Apparently it’s very rare and delicate.”