Page 2 of Backup Cowboy
“I get it now.”
Nash leans back in his seat, his hands clasped behind his head. “I don’t follow.”
“Why you wanted to host the country music festival here. It is a gorgeous area, and your friend Vanessa’s knowledge about how to run a festival has proven valuable to the process.”
It’s true. Vanessa’s expertise in running the Cobalt County Antiques Fair is what allowed this process to run much more smoothly than I anticipated. It brings over 100,000 visitors to the area in a short amount of time, and the townspeople havefigured out how to host the visitors, feed them, and keep the area beautiful.
A look of pure satisfaction crosses Nash’s features. “This town isn’t starting to speak to you now, is it, Alex?”
I tuck a long lock of hair behind my ear. “As a matter of fact, it is. You called it.”
Cage steeples his hands, elbows on the conference table. “I’m very much looking forward to seeing your wife and meeting Vanessa and her husband.”
On behalf of the label, we are taking Nash’s friends to dinner to thank them for all their hard work in partnering with us to put this festival together. You can tell they are proud of their community and want this festival to be a success not only for Nash, but for everyone that lives here.
Cage looks at me. “Who’s going to be your date for the evening, Alexandra?”
My stomach tightens at the inevitable question. “Davis Wilson. He should be here right around five.” Davis is an old friend who attends functions with me sometimes.
Nash’s voice is a low drawl. “Cage, you know that Alexandra is enough of a force without a date.”
Although he’s trying to have my back, it rubs me the wrong way for some reason. I know that I’m a force—it goes without saying. I just don’t like that his tone makes me seem closed-off. Doesn’t matter that it’s true.
“That she is.” Cage closes his laptop and stands, looking at me. “I look forward to seeing you both at dinner.”
Nash fiddles with something on the desk. “Davis Wilson, huh? Isn’t he kind of ordinary?”
“Davis Wilson is a perfectly nice man.”
“When a woman says a man is ‘perfectly nice,’ that is code for boring.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I don’t want to date Davis, so boring is okay. I’m not looking to do that anymore.”
Nash gives me a contemplative look, but I ignore him. He spent a lot of years avoiding serious relationships, just like me.
We turn our attention to our next steps at Echo Ridge. We need to check the set up for the artist area. There will be up to twenty travel buses on location at any one time, so I want to see for myself that the area is set up for that. This is the best location to house artists because ranch security is tight here, and the artists can have privacy.
My cell buzzes, and when I look at the screen, my body freezes. This can’t be happening.
“What’s wrong, Alex?” I try to cover up my frustration, but it’s too late. Nash isn’t buying that there’s nothing wrong.
“Davis Wilson broke his big toe while jogging this morning. The doctor ordered him to stay off it forty-eight hours, so he can’t fly in this weekend.”
I can hear my boss now. Appearances matter, Alex. That’s what Cage told me when I was promoted to VP. Having a plus-one makes us relatable and more personable.
I blink several times, texting Davis that I hope he heals quickly. After several more apology texts from him, I place my phone screen-down and close my eyes, my forehead resting on my steepled hands.
“Can’t let you show up solo and give Cage a heart attack.” He picks up his phone and sends a text.
“It’s fine, Nash.” It’s not fine. I have no idea where I’m going to get a date at the last minute.
Right as I begin typing a text to my assistant, Nash announces, “Done,” with a wry grin.
“What does that mean?”
“You have a Nash-approved date to dinner this evening.”
Too bad it’s not the sexy cowboy from earlier. That would make my night a lot more interesting.