The Rancher's Second Chance by Victoria James

Author:Victoria James [James, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Melanie stared at the numbers on her spreadsheet, wishing somehow that numbers did lie. This was the year her business needed to make a big jump in profit. Year five was supposed to be an important year for a small business. If she didn’t have the business loans and student debt, she’d be turning a healthy profit. Realistically, it would take her at least two more years of serious scrimping and saving.

She leaned back in her chair, twirling her pen between her fingers. She could cut the part-time help, put in more hours herself. She leaned forward and adjusted her numbers again to see how much of a difference that would make. Not bad. Really what she needed was a partner. Someone who’d be willing to work for crappy pay with the promise that one day the business would be profitable. Not profitable—very successful. She needed to keep focused on that. Despite the lack of cash flow, her business was on its way to being a huge success.

She needed her sister. Meredith was the one with the head for numbers. Melanie had always been the more artistic, creative type. Together they would have been able to make this something huge. She glanced at the display on her phone again. She hadn’t heard back from Meredith. On her way to work she kept looking for any sign of her or their father, but so far nothing.

Her other problem, of course, was the handsome cowboy and his surprising connection to her father. What were the odds that Cole’s deal was with her father? Everything about him was perfect. And she was running away from it, because of her father. I’ll wait for you. Those words and his face had played in her dreams the entire night.

She looked up startled as the chime to her store rang.

The sound of feminine voices and laughter wafted through the quiet store, and Melanie remembered who it was. How could she have forgotten her meeting with her friends, Piper and Kira? Piper owned Silver Bells and Cockle Shells and Kira owned All Fired Up, a pottery studio, both in downtown Passion Creek. The three had first met for business, but friendships formed and they now got together whenever they could. Melanie was glad for the distraction.

“Hey, girls,” she said, rising to walk over to them. She forced an extra-chipper smile on her face, knowing how astute these two were at reading her expressions.

Once they were all settled in chairs, coffees in hand, she looked at the favors they’d brought for Cori’s wedding. Melanie inhaled sharply at the stunning silvered tea-light holders Piper had created. “These are so perfect. Just perfect. They’ll all go on the altar, between the silver buckets of roses and then at the reception.”

Piper leaned forward in her chair. “I’m thrilled you love them. Not that I’m complaining about the business, but kind of curious they’d want seashells for a winter wedding, isn’t it?”

“The groom proposed on the beach in the Caribbean, so it’s a sentimental addition to the decor,” she said with a smile.

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