“They did have a great time together.”

“I guess we’ll ask them.”

“So you’re free?”

“I’m free next weekend.”

“Then we’ll plan it and see what happens.”

She gave him a smile, one filled with promise. “I guess we’ll see what happens.”

He stripped out of his clothes and turned on the shower, then turned back to face her. “Oh, and Harmony?”

“Yes?”

“I can get you alone on the ranch, away from your brother. So we’ll have some time together next weekend.”

She moved up to him and brushed her lips across his. “I’m counting on it.”

Twenty-Six

Harmony had been working nonstop all week. She always loved being busy. Busy was great for business. But she hadn’t had a break all week.

She’d picked up two new clients, so she’d had consults with both of them. One wanted a complete main floor redesign. The other was doing a top to bottom renovation with a redesign. Both were going to be large projects, which would be awesome.

She’d been by Barrett’s house and the renovation was coming along nicely. Jeff and his team were right on track, as she knew they’d be. She’d also met with Barrett to go over more choices in furniture and other design items. Not fun for him, but the renovation was moving along and she needed to start making purchases for his new house, since he wanted everything new in there.

Tonight, though, she was meeting Alyssa for early drinks before dinner at Mama’s house. They needed to catch up and she wanted some alone time with her best friend.

She hightailed it over to the bar, happy to see Alyssa’s car was already in the parking lot. Alyssa was always either early or right on time, one of the things she loved about her. She found her at a booth in the back.

Tossing her purse next to her, she took a seat.

“Girl, you look wiped,” Alyssa said. “And I already ordered sangrias for us.”

“That sounds incredibly good.”

“I thought you might like one.”

The waitress showed up and placed the pitcher and glasses in front of them, then poured.

“Any appetizers?” the waitress asked.

“No, I think this will do for now,” Alyssa said. “Unless you want something, Harm?”

Harmony shook her head. “I’m good. Thanks.”

“I feel like it’s been ages since we last talked,” Alyssa said. “What’s been going on?”

“I’m sorry. That’s my fault. Between work and . . . other things, I’ve just been buried.”

“I’m glad work’s busy for you.”

“It is. Two new clients this week alone.”

“That’s fantastic.”

“Thanks. And they’re big clients, too, but I’m going to have to schedule those out, or maybe think about either hiring an assistant or promoting Rosalie beyond her current duties as an in-house assistant, because it’s getting to the point where I don’t think I can handle everything myself.”

Alyssa took a sip of her drink. “Is Rosalie ready for that?”

Harmony nodded. “She has the design skills, and she handles more than just office responsibilities. I just need to look at finances to see if I can afford to hire extra help to replace Rosalie in the office.”

“These are good problems, honey,” Alyssa said. “But growth is nothing if not painful. I know all about that. It hurt me financially at the start to add the manicure and pedicure staff to the hair salon, but they’ve brought in additional business, so in the end I’m making more money.”

“I know. But you know me. I’m a bit of a control freak, so there’s also that part of me that doesn’t want to let go.”

Alyssa smiled. “Yes, I do know that about you. But you can’t grow if you don’t let go, you know?”

“Yes. I already have a note in my book to have a sit-down with Rosalie tomorrow and talk to her about increasing her responsibilities.”

“She’ll go crazy. I know she will.”

Harmony grinned. “I know she will, too. She’s wanted to have her own clients since I hired her right out of design school.”

“Okay, so that’s the work part,” Alyssa said. “Now tell me all about this ‘other.’ ”

She hadn’t had a spare minute to talk to Alyssa about Barrett. Last weekend she’d texted her about being out of town on business. In other words, she’d lied, but everything going on with Barrett had happened so fast she hadn’t had time to talk to her about it. And she really wanted to do it in person.

“So you know last weekend I said I was out of town on business?”

Alyssa stirred the fruit in her glass. “Yes.”

“I wasn’t out of town on business.”

Alyssa looked up from her glass. “Okay. And what were you doing?”

“I was in San Francisco. With Barrett Cassidy.”

The shock and surprise were evident on her best friend’s face. “Get the hell out. You were not.”

“I was.”

“You’re seeing Barrett?”

“I am.”

“Damn, girl. Since when?”

“Since . . . very recently. It’s all new and we’re not sure where it’s going, but so far, it’s going good.”

“Harmony. You’ve been hot for him since college.”