“This is Tilly, Cynthia, and Esther,” Roberta said, introducing the Lusty Ladies.
“Here, kiddo, you’ll need this for the topics we’re covering tonight. Don’t worry, Cynthia will catch you up on everything,” Tilly said, handing Laura a big glass of wine and pointing to the book.
“It really is so nice to meet you,” Laura started, because she couldn’t stay. Not here, not with these women who were looking at her like they’d just found a stray kitten. “I really do have a ton to get done and figure out—”
“Oh, honey, you want to get ahead around here, we’re your best bet. Now sit your cute behind down and get comfy,” Roberta said, gently shoving on Laura’s shoulder so she plopped in her seat. Her wine swished, and Roberta took a seat next to her.
Laura blew out a breath. She’d have to thank her father later for this setup. Not only was he avoiding her, but he’d sicced his lady friend on her to be . . . friends?
Laura didn’t even know how to start to handle this.
“You know, Travis McCreedy is starting up a ranch,” Tilly said, tapping her copy of Cowboy Kink. “He’s the hero in this book. He has problems, too. Kind of like your flower shop. Only he needs cows and there’s a land dispute.”
“Of course, that’s when Georgia comes in and helps him out . . .” Cynthia said with a giggle.
“Yeah, helps him out of his belt buckle. That barn scene with those two going at it in the hay was hot!” Tilly cut back in.
Oh God, this was happening. Laura sat there and just chugged down her wine while her father’s girlfriend and her friends chatted about a book and sex in a barn. She’d need a few more glasses to calm the chaos rising in her stomach.
She needed support and flowers, and what she’d gotten was zero answers, an avoidant father, and sex talk she was trying to stay away from, because sex or talk of any kind only made her think of Jake.
“You know, Travis will get that big deal he needs. Just like you, Laura,” Roberta said.
“Pardon?” Laura asked. Was she really comparing a dirty-book cowboy to her situation?
But Roberta simply nodded. “You starting the flower shop. You need a big deal to land some profit and get that sexy foreman off your tail, right?”
“Ah, yeah,” Laura replied. Roberta seemed to be more in the loop than she’d realized.
“Well, there you are, just like Travis.” She tapped the book. “You just need to find your big break. Like a large land development project looking for plants and flowers for a local subdivision . . . for example.”
Laura’s eyes shot up. She’d gone to school with Cal and was pretty sure he was smart back then, but heading up a major building project like this, the guy was clearly doing well for himself. But was Roberta really giving her a hint as to what to go for?
“Cal is looking for a supplier and landscape designer?” Laura asked.
Roberta smiled. “That’s the word on the street. He mentioned wanting someone savvy in marketing, too.”
Laura looked around. Maybe these Lusty Ladies weren’t so bad after all. And she could use some insider info—not to mention friends.
“That would be a great opportunity,” Laura admitted. Then she scoffed and took an angry sip of her wine. “But I can’t even get funding from the business to fulfill a small flower order, much less the money to set up a mock proposal for a big deal like Cal’s subdivision.”
Roberta frowned. “Just go to the bank and take out some money. What’s hard about that?”
“I can’t. It’s all under Baughman Home Goods.”
“Right, which your name is on.”
Laura choked on her sip of wine. “What’s that?”
Roberta just smiled again. “Your dad has your name and Jake’s on there, of course. It’s always been on all the accounts, honey. And the insurance. He knew you’d come back one day.”
Laura wanted to hug Roberta. Her father might be avoiding her, but his lady friend appeared to be happy to help. And this new information turned everything around for Laura, the shop, and the future.
“You know what,” Laura said, finishing her wine, “I’m going to need some Chex Mix and someone to catch me up on this barn scene.”
She settled into her chair and the women hooted.
It appeared that Laura was the newest member of the Lusty Ladies, and the first order of business was to exercise exactly what that title meant.