Forever Santa (16 page)

BOOK: Forever Santa

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“How are all the wedding plans going?” Tess asked.

“Okay. We had another fitting for the bridesmaid’s dresses last night. Mom came with me and she got all excited about the dresses Emily designed.”

“You’d better watch out,” Sarah said. “She’ll start asking you when you’re getting married.”

“She’s given up on me. This is the ninth time I’ve been someone else’s bridesmaid. I could start my own store selling the dresses.”

“We should do something about it.” Tess leaned her chin on her hands.

“Unless you plan on finding husbands for us there’s not a lot you can do,” Sally said. “It’s depressing how many people think you should be married by the time you hit thirty.”

Tess sat back in her seat. “I’ll think about it and get back to you.”

“Don’t go looking for a husband for me,” Sarah said. “One low-life fiancé was enough to last a lifetime.”

“You’re lucky you got that far,” Tess said. “None of the guys I’ve dated have got an ounce of commitment in their bodies. I’m so over the whole dating thing that it’s not even funny anymore.”

“Here’s to happy singleness.” Sarah smiled at her friends. Tess still had a faraway look in her blue eyes. She was a thinker and a dreamer, everything she needed to be to run a successful café. And then there was Sally. Sarah had met her the first week she’d arrived in Bozeman. Sally that had introduced her to her Alex and convinced him that he needed someone to look after his ranch hands.

Sarah owed both of her friends more than they’d ever know. She’d arrived in Bozeman with a few dollars in her pocket and no idea of what she was going to do. And then she’d met Sally and everything had fallen into place. She had somewhere to call home, good friends that made her smile. Everything that had disappeared from her life before she’d left Portland.

“Have you told Sally about the job on the Triple L?” Tess asked.

Sarah shook her head. “Not yet. Do you know anything about it?”

Sally frowned. “What job?”

“On the front window,” Sarah said. “Someone’s advertising for a cook and housekeeper for a couple of weeks.”

“Jordan McKenzie needs help,” Tess said to Sally. “He’s got some new guests arriving tomorrow and no one to cook their meals.”

“Where’s Adele?” Sally asked.

“She went to visit her sister and needs to stay for another couple of weeks.”

“Jordan must be in a panic,” Sally said. “He’s been working hard to get his business up and running. Are you sure you’ll be able to do the meals for both ranches, Sarah?”

“It depends on how many people he’s expecting. If it’s only a few I should be fine.”

“Five,” Tess said. “It’s a family group.”

Sally frowned. “Why do you want to take on more work? You’re busy on Alex’s ranch.”

“The extra money would be a bonus and I’d get to see how another ranch operates.” Sarah hadn’t told Tess and Sally about the last twelve months, the utter desperation she’d felt when her fiancé and business partner had left on their honeymoon without her. Or about the computer program he’d taken with him. He’d created a new life in the Bahamas complete with a new girlfriend, car, and haircut.

She should have known something fishy was up when he’d walked into their apartment with a new hair style.

Sally took a sip of her coffee. “If you ever need another pair of hands to help, just give me a call.”

“Thanks. So what’s Jordan like?”

Tess smiled. “He’s a nice guy with the sweetest tooth in Bozeman.”

“Think single, sexy, and funny,” Sally added. “If you get the job you’ll enjoy working with him. Just watch your heart.”

“I don’t need to worry about that,” Sarah sighed. “It’s my bank account that needs filling up, not my love life.”

“You’re made for each other.” Tess smiled. “Give him a call and see what happens.”