Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Unfortunately, I won’t be.” He sighs heavily.
“Should I come out to the ranch instead and help? I don’t mind at all.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Enjoy the yard. I have a lot of help out there. Brady and Rem are even coming by for a couple of hours this afternoon.”
My eyes widen at that news. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“Wow. Well, that’s good.”
“I’d better go.” He kisses me once more and then heads for the door, slapping his ball cap onto his head. “Have a good day, baby girl.”
“You, too.”
“Oh, trust me, the whole town has heard what happened at BVCC this morning,” Erin says with a grin as we help Summer put flower arrangements on the tables at Snow Ghost, our favorite pub up at the ski hill, where we like to host our monthly luncheons.
The Iconic Women’s Collective is a passion project, a club, for lack of a better word, that my sisters-in-law and I founded a couple of years ago. All five of us are businesswomen, and we wanted to find a way to support other women in business. To be hype girls for each other, network, and share tips and tricks for success.
Because at the end of the day, there’s room for all of us to kick major ass.
Except for those three home-wreckers in my coffee shop this morning, that is.
“No one should talk about someone’s husband that way,” I insist and prop my hands on my hips as Summer and Polly share a grin. “You guys wouldn’t like it if you overheard some broad saying that she’d like to eat your husband for dinner.”
That makes Abbi scowl. “No. No, I wouldn’t like that.”
“See? Anyway, maybe they’ll have better manners when they’re out in public and save that kind of talk for private girls’ nights, like a lady should.”
Erin snorts at that. “Summer, these peonies are so gorgeous.”
“I know. Feel free to take some after the meeting.” Summer owns Paula’s Poseys, the flower shop in town, and always brings fresh bouquets for the tables. “Erin, tell us about our guest speaker today. You said her name’s Cora?”
“Cora’s awesome,” Erin replies. “I don’t know her that well. Her family knows my family somehow, and she’s from New Orleans. She was born into a killer tycoon-type family. She’ll tell you all about it today, I’m sure. I happened to see her when Rem and I snuck away to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and asked her to come speak to us.”
“I have a question,” I say, waving my hand. “Is there literally anyone in the world who’s famous and important that your family doesn’t know?”
Erin taps her chin, narrows her eyes, and then grins. “No.”
“Hey, that’s good for us,” Abbi reminds me. “We get to have some amazing guest speakers at our meetings as a result.”
“True that,” Polly agrees, as people start to arrive for the meeting.
I always love seeing everyone. We have photographers and real estate agents. Attorneys and doctors, nurses, and a dog trainer.
It’s such a diverse, amazing group of people that I’m always surprised by the turnout, even though I shouldn’t be.
“There you are!”
I turn and grin as Charlie strides over to me, holding a glass of Coke.
“Hey!” She hugs me, and it doesn’t even make me feel weird. “How’s it going?”
“We’re moving into wedding season, which means that it’s fabulous and I’m busy, but I also never have time to catch my breath.” Charlie shrugs a shoulder. “But it’s all good, and I have zero complaints. But here’s the real question. How are you?”
“I don’t think we have time to go into that.” I can’t help but laugh. “But at the heart of it all, I’m also doing well.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, who’s talking to us today?”
I notice a redhead with a face of freckles and shrewd green eyes walk into the room, and I’m pretty sure that’s our guest speaker.
“She’s a kickass woman from New Orleans. That’s really all I know, so I’m excited to hear what she has to say.”
“Me, too.” Charlie pats my shoulder. “I’ll go find a seat. I’ll talk to you later.”
I nod and watch her go and then join my friends as Erin greets Cora.
“It’s so good to see you again,” Erin says with a smile.
“You, too. Holy shit, this town is gorgeous.” I love her accent. It reminds me of warm, humid nights in the Bayou, and I’ve never even been to the Bayou. “I’ll have to bring my cousins up here sometime.”
“Oh, you absolutely should,” Erin says with a nod. “That would be so fun.”
We’re all introduced to Cora, who seems incredibly friendly, and I can see in those green eyes a woman of high intelligence. I’m excited for her to speak.
Once everyone is seated with their lunch, Erin goes to the front of the room to introduce her friend, and we all take our seats. The five of us try to spread out through the room so we can also network and chat with the ladies.