He smirked down at her. “You want to design the tattoo, as well?”
Butterflies stirred in her belly. She needed to go back to being irritable. Charm could easily backfire on her, but it did give her the segue she needed. “I’ve never designed a tattoo before, but I’m working on a design logo for the ranch. Want to see?”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Even more than I want a tattoo on my head.”
“That much, huh?” She turned away to keep him from becoming aware of her delight at his response. And to lead him around the center of the T-shaped desk.
“I can hardly contain myself.” He followed. “Are you going to keep the horseshoe your dad used?”
“No.” She rolled the leather chair out, took a seat, and clicked the mouse. “Horseshoes are used a lot. Plus, this place is going to be more of a retreat center and camp for kids. So I want a logo that has something to do with kids. And with God’s love for them.”
She clicked to minimize the screen with her website design and opened the file for her logo. The outline of a star with the silhouette of a horse inside had taken her days to produce. But she was proud of it. Maybe more than consultation, she wanted validation. She wanted a top ad executive to tell her she was on the right track. She looked expectantly over her shoulder.
Josh rested his square jaw on his fist as he studied her image. His eyes didn’t sparkle the way she’d hoped they would. They squinted instead. “Star Horse Ranch?”
“No, Bright Star Ranch. Like the star the three wise men followed to find baby Jesus.”
He nodded. “I like the name. It’s memorable, and it conveys your purpose.”
She slumped. “You don’t like the logo?” But simply because he didn’t like it, that didn’t mean other people wouldn’t. She didn’t have to change it. She didn’t want to change it. With the building expansion and the sleigh rides she’d already booked, she didn’t have the time to spend another week perfecting something that was good enough.
Josh clicked his tongue. “It’s not that I don’t like it. It’s that it doesn’t fit the name. You need something simple and bright, while this is . . .”
“Dark.”
“Yeah. And kind of . . .”
“Busy.”
Was it better that she said it instead of him? Because that meant she was admitting she saw the problem as well. She should have argued, sent him away, and done her own thing. He didn’t even work for an advertising agency anymore. What did he know?
He nodded to her seat. “May I?”
What could it hurt? She spun in the chair and stood so he could take her place.
He deleted the horse. He clicked on the icon to draw. “The best designs and ideas are the ones that are so perfect, whenever somebody sees them, they think, ‘I should have been able to come up with that.’ You don’t want complicated. You want catchy. Memorable.”
Okay, he made sense. She’d have to take his advice and run with it. Because he had to leave soon, and he couldn’t possibly whip something together before—
“There. What do you think?”
Paisley blinked. It was so perfect she should have been able to come up with it.
“If I had more time I could play with the font, but this is a good place to start.”
He was a genius. She wasn’t going to mess with font. He’d nailed it. If she had the same kind of budget Computex had, she’d so hire him.
He grinned up at her. “I’m going to tell myself you’re speechless.” He twisted back to the computer, and his tone turned wry. “That’s what I’ve been telling myself about everybody who doesn’t want to talk to me right now. Less crushing to my ego.”
“No, I really am . . . I’m . . .” She waved her arms around, looking for the right word, even though he couldn’t see her from his position. “I’m speechless.”
He clicked on the mouse to reopen her website design program. “Your logo should go right here.” He added the design in. “Though I can give you feedback on your website, too, if you want.”
She’d be stupid not to take it. But . . . She glanced at her watch.
It was after six already. If Josh didn’t get going, he wouldn’t make it to Sun Valley before midnight, and she couldn’t let him pull another all-nighter.
She dropped her wrist and grimaced.
Josh’s eyes flashed green in the dim light. He’d caught her checking the time. “What else are you going to do to promote the place?”
She hadn’t thought that far ahead. The logo had been her first step. “Business cards. Flyers.” What else was there? “Newspaper ad?”
Josh waited. Did he think she could afford more than that?
She twisted her lips to one side as she thought. “Ice skating?”
Josh’s eyes bulged, but he blinked the expression away. “Very creative.”
“I thought so.”
Josh spun his chair all the way around to face her. “I’ve got a lot more ideas, Paisley. And I’ve got nothing else to do.”
She stepped back. What was he suggesting?
“I know you were planning to hire a ranch hand, but I think you need a marketer even more. I’m the best, and I’ll work for free. All you have to do is feed me, and let me stay in the bunk house.”
Him? He wanted her to hire him?
They’d worked together before, and she’d been crushed when he’d left. But she was older now. And this could be the difference between her dream taking off and her dream never leaving the ground.
Warning sirens sounded their alarm in her head, in her heart. She blocked them out. Because this wasn’t about her. It was about the lives she wanted to touch. About the change she wanted to make in the world.
She’d be stupid to look this Christmas gift horse in the mouth. Wasn’t she thinking only moments ago that she’d hire him if she had the funds? Well, now she had the funds. “You’re hired.”
Chapter Four
“You’re really going to leave me alone with the coffee shop owners?”
Paisley tried not to laugh at Josh’s grimace as she turned Big Red into the Town Center parking lot where Gallatin River Gallery would be displaying locals’ artwork in a Christmas Bazaar extravaganza. “What’s wrong with Dot and Annabel?” she asked. “They like you better than anyone else in town.”
Josh looked her direction, chin lowered, eyebrows raised in challenge. “You’re the only other person in town who knows me.”
“Yeah? Well then, this is a chance for you to meet more people.” He wouldn’t acknowledge her backhanded compliment. Every time she put Josh down, he’d try harder to charm her. It was actually kind of fun. “Rich people spend lots of money on art. They should be your kind of people.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t be complaining, except I thought you’d want to keep me away from your conniving friends and their matchmaking ways.”
Paisley’s knuckles cramped around the steering wheel. Why did he have to bring up the idea of matchmaking at all? She’d been doing so well pretending she didn’t feel anything toward him. She’d keep pretending. “They’re harmless, really.”
Except for when Dot acted like she’d slipped on the ice to get the doctor over to the coffee shop to meet her niece. Now John and Whitney were planning a summer wedding. And then there was the time Annabel said she’d meet the children’s church director at Riverhouse Grill to discuss curriculum, but what she’d really wanted to do was introduce the woman to their waiter. Seth and Marissa were expecting their baby any day.
Josh tilted his head. “There are a lot of words I’d use for Dot and Annabel, but harmless isn’t one of them.”
Paisley scrunched up her nose as she pulled up to the entrance. “You may be right. Keep an eye open for mistletoe, and if all else fails, ask Dot to design you a tattoo.”
Josh reached for the door handle but tilted his head toward her. “Because having ink permanently embedded into my skin is better than kissing you?”
“Yes.” Well, no, but it woul
d be safer. Not that she was going to go into details. “Now get out. I’ll join you after I meet with the loan officer at the bank.”
“Got it.” Josh opened the door, letting in a burst of frigid air. “I’d wish you luck, but I’m probably the one who’s going to need it.”
She waved him away, but couldn’t keep from smiling. Maybe Dot and Annabel would set him up with someone else, and she wouldn’t have to worry so much. Though he was hardly in a place for starting a new relationship. Unfortunately, she knew what that felt like.
At least she was in a good place now. She was a ranch owner. With big plans for the future.
Paisley took her foot off the brake to roll through the shopping center designed to look rustic with exposed wooden beams and stonework. White twinkle lights and a huge Christmas tree had also been added since Thanksgiving the week before.
She pulled up at the curb in front of the building with a flat, square façade similar to one from the Wild West. Shifting into park, she hoped she’d made it between parking lot lines since it was hard to tell with the layer of fresh snow. Heather, the teller, already knew her, but she wanted to make a good first impression on Mr. Allen Marshall.
She pulled off her boots to change into black heels that would dress up her jeans and sweater, then she double checked her folder with all the financial records for the ranch and her own taxes from the year before.
Grandpa had slowly been selling off the horses until the ranch was a lot smaller than it used to be when she was younger, but she still had all she needed for pony parties and sleigh rides. Plus, it gave her extra space she could rent out for others to board their horses.
Please, Lord, let your will be done. She’d put her confidence in Him and walk into the bank with a poise she didn’t feel—especially when snow melted against her skin and dripped into her shoes. She even swayed a little as she pulled the front door open, but maybe no one noticed.
“Paisley,” Heather greeted. “You’re going to get frostbite. Aren’t your toes freezing?”
So much for dressing up. Though honestly, Heather’s dark eyeliner was as out of place in the mountain town as Paisley’s heels. “A little bit.”
“Oh, you’re here to apply for a loan, aren’t you?”
Paisley wobbled her way across the lobby to lean against the slick, marble counter and take the pressure off her feet. “Yes. I have an appointment.”
“I was afraid of that.” Heather tapped a pen against her lips. “Allen is out sick today. Pneumonia. I’m really hoping I don’t get it, because I’m supposed to have a cookie exchange tomorrow afternoon. Wanna come?”
Paisley dropped her head toward the counter. If the loan officer had pneumonia, what did that mean for her timeline of getting approved?
“I’m sorry.” Heather’s hand rubbed the sleeve of her sweater. “I forgot. You have diabetes and can’t have cookies, huh? How insensitive of me.”
Paisley’s head snapped up. She studied the girl in confusion. How did Heather know about her diabetes? Paisley didn’t like to talk about it. Preferred to inject her insulin in private. “Where did you hear that?”
“Dot and Annabel. They are coming to my cookie exchange, and Annabel mentioned she’d been trying to make more sugar free items for people like you.”
People like her. Paisley knew Annabel meant well, but that didn’t make being categorized by a disease feel any better. She wouldn’t respond to the label. “Thanks for the invite, but I have a party at the ranch tomorrow. Pastor Taylor’s daughter is turning four, so I’m hosting her Frozen party.”
“Frozen? Like the Disney movie?”
“Yep.” Paisley had been thrilled to find out the film featured the same kind of Fjord horses Grandpa shipped over from Norway. Adding the package option to her birthday party selection had brought in quite a bit of business.
Heather burst into a song from the musical.
Paisley might as well “let it go.” She’d leave her application for Mr. Marshall to consider when he returned to work, and she’d head over to the art gallery to stop Dot and Annabel from revealing any more private information about her. Especially to Josh.
Josh crossed his arms and pretended to study the sketch of mountains under the track lighting at the art gallery as he waited for Paisley’s return. Dot’s art wasn’t bad, but he was still having trouble focusing on it after the information she’d shared. “So, Paisley was engaged before she moved here? What happened?”
Dot leaned forward, between him and the framed piece. Apparently gossip took precedence over her exhibit. “Nobody knows . . .” she whispered dramatically.
Annabel stood on his other side, wringing her hands. “It’s not our business, Dot. I’m sure Paisley realized he wasn’t the man for her, and that’s that.”
Josh shifted his jaw side to side. Was the new ranch owner mourning a broken heart? Was that why she’d been so cranky with him? Could she simply be angry at men?
Who was the guy? Maybe Josh knew him. “Was her fiancé from Sun Valley?” he asked.
“Yes.” Dot nodded, her grey spikes threatening to poke him. “Yessiree.”
“What was his name?” If Dot didn’t know, maybe his brother Sam would.
“I think it was . . . Chris.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Annabel countered.
“Oh, that’s right. Henry.”
“How do you go from Chris to Henry?”
Dot threw her arms wide. “I’m pretty sure it’s one of those.”
Annabel pushed Dot aside. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about, Joshua. Now come look at my picture of a horse. I was thinking about giving it to Paisley for Christmas.”
Annabel led the way to another display wall. Her horse looked like something out of a Disney cartoon.
“That’s really cute,” he said. “Paisley will love it.”
Annabel beamed. “You think so?”
Dot huffed. “I told you the same thing, Annabel. Why don’t you listen to me?”
“Maybe I will when you get your facts right. You don’t even know the name of Paisley’s former fiancé.”
The chime over the door rang. Paisley stood inside it, a grim expression on her face. “His name is Nick. As in St. Nick who’s going to put you two ladies on the naughty list for spreading rumors.”
Josh covered his mouth to hide a smile. They’d been caught. And Paisley couldn’t have handled it better.
Annabel stepped in front of her drawing to shield Paisley’s future Christmas gift from sight.
“Now, Paisley.” Dot distracted her as if on cue. The shop owners made quite the team. “We weren’t spreading rumors. Rumors are untrue. You really were engaged to a fella from Sun Valley.”
Paisley lowered her chin to give the woman another chance to fess up. “And what did you say his name was?”
“Uh . . .” Dot froze for a moment then jerked her arms to point at the sketch she’d drawn. “Look what I made.”
Paisley shot Josh a warning look before following Dot to the frame on the wall. Her message came across loud and clear. He’d better keep his nose out of her affairs. But the funny thing was he hadn’t really cared much about her affairs until she sent him that look. Now he was curious as to what she had to hide.
He’d been completely open with her. He’d confessed the most embarrassing of situations. And honestly, how could her broken engagement be any worse than his?
Annabel patted his arm. “Paisley is a treasure. She’s just been through a lot.”
Nice of the older woman to defend her, but what had Paisley gone through? Her fiancé left. Her grandpa died. That would be overwhelming, but the timing worked out well. She’d gotten to make a fresh start in a new town.
Josh liked to believe God was good like that. Two wrongs didn’t make a right, but God could put them together in a way that brought redemption. Josh hoped it would be his turn for redemption soon.
He covered Annabel’s frail hand on his arm. “I’m glad she has you.�
� And hopefully she got her loan, too.
He walked Annabel across the room so they could join in the admiration of Dot’s mountains.
Dot sighed. “Thanks, guys. But the image was better in my imagination. I’m not sure I’m cut out for art after all. I guess I’ll stick to coffee for now.”
Josh smiled over the woman’s spiky hair at Paisley. She pressed her shiny lips together to hide her grin.
Dot looked from Josh to Paisley. “Oh, my. You look happy. You got your loan, didn’t you? Maybe I should come work for you after all.”
Paisley shook her head. But she didn’t seem too emotional about it. “The loan officer has pneumonia. I should hear back soon.”
That wasn’t necessarily bad news.
“Allen is sick? I should take him some soup.” Annabel nibbled a fingernail and stared off into space.
Well, it was bad news for Allen. But only a minor setback for Paisley.
Dot clapped. “I’m sure your loan will go through. Annabel and I got approved for our business loan. Hey, do you guys want to head back to The Coffee Cottage with us? I’m tired of this place. I think it’ll be busier tomorrow—on a Saturday.”
Paisley hugged the woman. “I’d love to, but there’s work to do on the ranch. Thanks for inviting us to your exhibit.”
Dot turned to hug Josh. Annabel followed. Then the two women stepped back and looped their arms around each other as if waiting for some form of entertainment.
Josh paused. He glanced at the doorway he was about to head toward with Paisley. There. Above the frame. A tiny green sprig of something held up by a slim red bow. Pretty sneaky.
Josh wouldn’t point it out. No need to create any more embarrassment. The older women meant well, but they didn’t know how vehemently Paisley would hate having Josh kiss her. She’d made that clear in the truck earlier.
Personally, Josh wouldn’t have minded a distraction from his blue Christmas. But as he hoped to keep working with her for a while until everything was fixed back home, he’d keep the spark of attraction to himself.
Finding Love In Big Sky, Montana (Resort to Love--Finding Love line Book 2) Page 4