Page 29 of The Bad Boy Prince in Love

“Do you want me to become a waitress for the rest of my life?”Terry went on.“Is that what you’re trying to accomplish?”

“Why would you be a waitress?”Hallie said, genuinely perplexed.

“I didn’t go to college like you.I don’t know how to do any other jobs.Without the ranch, I don’t have any way to make a living, you know that.”

Hallie had never looked at it that way.She always thought Terry had a cushy life because she was their parents’ favorite.

“Well, I’m sure you and Bill could figure something out.”

“Don’t even talk to me about Bill.My marriage is falling apart.I don’t know if we’ll even be together by next month!”

Could this be some sort of ploy to win her sympathy?But Terry did seem genuinely upset.

“Oh, I didn’t know,” Hallie said, feeling a strange rush of sympathy for a sister who had been the bane of her existence, “Look, don’t worry about it.I’m probably going to end up going to Austin anyway.”

“You would need to apply for a job to do that,” Terry said, regaining some of her sass.

“What makes you think I haven’t applied?”Hallie asked, feeling a sudden hollow pit open up in her stomach.She wondered how Terry could possibly know.

“I know you.You’ve always been a loser.You talk a great game about going to the big city, but at the end of the day, you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared!”Hallie objected.

Dammit, was Terry right about her?She had been kind of hesitant to leave her old, familiar life behind.Part of it was because she really loved the ranch, but maybe she was also feeling overwhelmed by the tough working world of the city.

Every time she wanted to apply for a job, it seemed like she didn’t have the right qualifications, and she ended up postponing it.

“You didn’t have to call me a loser,” Hallie added.“Anyway, even if somehow I end up in charge of the ranch, it’s not like I’m going to kick you out.You’ll always have some work and a place to stay.”

“Thanks a lot!”Terry spat out.“Like I need my kid sister’s pity.”

“What the hell do you want then?”Hallie shouted, but it was no use because Terry had already stormed away.

Hallie had no idea her sister felt so threatened.Maybe this was a good thing.If Terry was getting nervous, maybe it was a sign their parents really were starting to treat Hallie like a grownup.

Left alone among a sea of people, Hallie tried to gather her thoughts.She wondered what to do about Luke.She knew she couldn’t constantly dance with him just to keep him from chasing other women.

The only other option was to watch him like a hawk, at least while the dance was going on.

But he was not close by, and it was hard to locate him among hundreds of people.Hallie climbed a couple of steps up to the DJ’s platform to get a look at the barn from above and just managed to get a glimpse of Luke heading out the door.

This was just like him to leave in the middle of the party.He better not be planning another trip to the mini golf range.