here. Wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it, Jenna. You know that.”
Jenna put her arm around April’s shoulders. “I do know that. I’m just glad you moved back from Willow County when you did.”
“Me, too.”
“Are things getting any easier?” Jenna asked. “Sold any big-ass mansions lately?”
“I wish. Actually, I’m waiting to hear back on a potential huge deal. If I land it, it would keep the agency afloat into next year.”
The waitress came by with another round of drinks. April wasn’t a big drinker, but number two looked good, so she grabbed it up and took a sip.
“I hope it works out for you.”
“I’m beginning to have my doubts,” she mumbled. “My buyer was supposed to get back to me last week. And I haven’t heard a word.”
“Why not call and give him a nudge?”
“You won’t believe who it is.”
Jenna Mae grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the crowd. “Tell me.” Jenna was on her third drink, which might just be her limit. She wobbled a little when she walked.
April spoke in Jenna’s ear. “It’s Risk Boone. If you can believe that.”
Jenna knew all about her high school crush and fantasy night with Risk, and so it wasn’t surprising that her mouth dropped open. “No.”
“Yes. He was at the office last week. It was...awkward.”
“I can imagine. Man, you crushed on him heavily in high school. You’ve always had a soft spot for that guy.”
“Not anymore. Not after...Houston.”
“Really? Because I didn’t want to say anything, but he’s sitting at the bar right now.”
April couldn’t believe it; now her mouth dropped open. And her heart sped up. She had her back to the bar, and she casually turned to look over her shoulder. Yep, there was Risk, sitting on a stool, flanked by two women, one on each side of him. They were leaning against the bar top, engaging him in conversation. Typical. Women swarmed around Risk like bees to honey. He’d been a big celebrity at one time. It was crazy to think she’d been one of his hangers-on a couple of years ago.
“Oh wow, I’ve never seen him in here before,” Jenna said.
“No, neither have I,” she muttered. “When we spoke, he made it seem like he hasn’t been in Boone Springs much lately.” And April wasn’t a regular customer at the Farmhouse. She’d been too busy to go out during the week, and there was a diner closer to her office that delivered.
April was about to look away, a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, only to discover that Risk didn’t seem to be listening to the women speaking in his ear. His eyes were on her through the reflection in the wide rectangular mirror behind the bar. She was caught in his gaze, her heart pumping hard. There was a moment of awareness, pure and instinctual, that sparked in her veins.
His lips twitched upward. Was he smiling at her?
Oh boy. She stared another half a second then grabbed Jenna’s arm. “Let’s get back to the table.”
A few minutes later, April polished off the rest of her drink as she chatted with her friends who were still seated and not cutting loose on the dance floor. Her head was a little fuzzy, she had a definite buzz going on, and the more she thought about Risk Boone not giving her the courtesy of a return call this week, the more it bugged her.
“I left him two voice mails about the lodge, and he never got back to me,” she told Clovie and Jenna. And now he was sitting at the bar smugly, watching her every move. How was she supposed to take that? “I’m gonna talk to him now, whether he likes it or not,” she said. As she began to rise, two hands came down on her shoulders, pushing her back down, Clovie from the right and Jenna from the left.
“Wait,” Clovie said. “I know that look in your eyes, April. You need to calm down. There’s still hope for the deal. You can simply, tactfully ask him what the delay is.”
“Clovie’s right,” Jenna said. “You’re a professional. Don’t blow it because you’re ticked off.”
April sighed and nodded, thinking it through. Risk was a rich, handsome hunk, but he’d also been a jerk to her. Still she couldn’t let her personal feelings about Risk deter her from her job. “Okay, you guys are right. I’ll do that.”
“And another thing you’re going to do is put this on.” Jenna slid a diamond cluster ring off her right hand. “From now on, you’re engaged.”
“I’m what?”
“You heard me, you’re engaged to be married. It’s just a form of insurance when dealing with Risk.”
“I can’t do that. That’s your grandmother’s ring.”
“It’s for a good cause. I know you’ll take care with it.”
“For heaven’s sake, Jenna. I can certainly speak with the man—”
“Whoops, looks like he’s heading this way.” Jenna pushed the ring onto April’s left ring finger. “Remember, you’re a professional. And you’re engaged,” she mouthed softly.
April’s head swam, and the next thing she knew, she was standing up facing Risk wearing a ring on her left hand and all the other girls had vanished onto the dance floor.
“Evenin’,” he said, the one word pronounced with enough charm to swallow her up. Suddenly, the ring on her finger didn’t seem too over-the-top. There was something about Risk that was too darn attractive. Wearing this ring just might be a blessing in disguise. “Do you have a minute to talk?” he asked.
“I, uh, sure. Here?”
Music blasted from the live band, the drummer’s rolling solo doing a number on her ears.
He shook his head. “It’s too loud in here. Take a walk with me outside?”
She needed to hear what he had to say, and actually having some privacy would be better to discuss business. “I, uh, sure.”
Risk led the way through the packed crowd and she followed behind him, bumping shoulders and ping-ponging through the patrons. A strong hand came out to take hers, and suddenly the bumping stopped, Risk forming a human barrier for her as he led her toward the door. As soon as she stepped foot outside, she shivered.
“Damn, it’s cold out here,” he said.
She couldn’t disagree. She’d left her coat inside the Farmhouse, and not even the dizzying buzz from her second margarita warded off the winter chill.
“Let’s go sit in my car—it’ll be a lot warmer for you.”
“Is it too cold to talk out here?” Her teeth clattered
