Libby talked about the need to keep attendance robust and some ideas on how to do that, including featuring more information about the stock that would costar at the show.
“Impressive, and being a stock supplier, I’m all for that.” Mandy leaned closer to the resume she held in her hands. “I see you’re from Wyoming, as am I. Are you related to Sam Brennan of Brennan Motors?”
“I’m his daughter.”
Mandy sat back in her chair. “We buy all our pickups from your daddy. Nothing like that F-150. Your father has always given us a fair deal. He’s such a nice guy.”
“Thank you,” Libby said because she didn’t know what else to say, but she couldn’t deny the sense of pride that filled her.
A few more questions in a definitely friendlier tone, and the interview was over.
“You should be hearing from us shortly, Libby,” Mandy said as she ushered Libby down the hall toward the exit leading to the garage elevators. “Say hi to your daddy for me. He’ll know Prescott Rodeo. Fathers are precious commodities.” Her smile was wistful.
There were a bunch of things she’d like to ask Mandy, like how a young woman ended up running a rodeo stock company, but she held back her curiosity. If she got the job, there would be plenty of time to get to know Mandy Prescott better.
*
Chance drove the pickup down the winding mountain road. He and Lonnie had decided to meet Libby in Denver for dinner. It would be a last hurrah before he told her he was going back on the road the upcoming weekend.
Would she leave right away? Would she stay—forever? She said she loved him. She’d said that before. That he had money now and was living comfortably shouldn’t be the deciding factor if someone loved you, respected you, felt you were the one. No, he couldn’t trust her words. And he’d never say them back to her, no matter what he felt.
He was fine with being friends with benefits. This didn’t have to end. And there was no reason she had to move out because he was moving on. Might be nice to have someone to come home to, to have Libby to come home to, for those times he was between rodeos. She could look after his place, if she was of a mind, in exchange for room and board. No strings. No regrets. Yeah, it could work, considering most of the time he’d be on the road, away from her. No reasons it couldn’t.
“You tell Libby yet that you’re going back on the circuit?” Lonnie asked as he cycled through the channels on the satellite radio looking for a favorite country tune.
“That’s what tonight is for, sort of.”
Lonnie leaned back and tipped back his cowboy hat. “And I’m along to provide a buffer?”
“Sort of.”
“Great.”
“You owe me. You’re the one that gave her my address.”
“And what exactly do I owe you? You had a caring nurse to look after you—and she did such a good job, you’re back on a horse in a month. Not to mention, I haven’t seen you this relaxed and happy…well, ever.”
Chance shook his head. “Don’t go reading into it. We are strictly friends with benefits. There can never be anything more between us. Besides, she wants white picket fences. I don’t hold with fences.”
“Didn’t you tell me she gave up a fiancé who would have given her those white picket fences?”
“Just like she gave me up because she didn’t think I would give them to her.”
“Maybe she’s grown up since then. Maybe white picket fences no longer appeal.”
“And maybe some people don’t change.”
“Like you, you mean? Stubborn old mule.”
“Like me.”
Chapter 17
The dinner had been scrumptious, and being escorted by two handsome cowboys, decked out in dress duds and cowboy hats, had been fun, but all night she’d felt she was losing Chance. He’d be hitting the trail and she’d be heading back home, waiting to see if she had gotten the Denver job, their time together over and their relationship little better than that of friends.
She loved him. Loved him from his stubborn head to his aching heart to his injured foot. And no matter how much she tried to be there for him, tried to show him she had changed, grown up, wasn’t the scared little girl she’d been at eighteen, he couldn’t see it, wouldn’t believe it, didn’t want to know it.
As Chance slipped behind the wheel of her car and Lonnie closed the door to the pickup he’d be driving back, Libby was determined to lobby for more time, time to see if his feelings for her would deepen, time to see if he could truly forgive her, time to see if he could trust her again.
“How was the practice at Forrester’s?”
He smiled. “Good. Foot was throbbing, but I didn’t feel a thing on the ride. Only after.” He nodded. “But that’s always the way. Must be the adrenaline or something.”