“I don’t know. If Drew had filmed it, maybe. This was something she did though. He’s a rancher. I’m surprised he even knows how to work his phone.”
“What about Brice? He uses his.”
“I taught him how to, honey. It was a pain in the ass to get a booty call, and him ignore it because he didn’t figure out how to answer.”
Raven chuckled, imagining Brice pressing the screen of his phone rather than swiping it.
“My mom adores him. She thinks he’s good for me.”
“I’ve seen a difference in you. It’s only been a handful of days, but you’re smiling, and you’re enjoying life.”
Raven agreed. “I do feel happier. I never thought I’d feel this happy, but he does something to me.”
“It’s his dick. They always make us feel that.”
“We haven’t actually gone the whole way,” Raven said, her cheeks heating as she did.
“Seriously? You haven’t taken him to bed?”
“Yes, we’ve gone to bed, but we’re taking our time. I’m not ready to just jump—”
“You have got to marry this guy.”
“What?”
“Drew is a hard ass. I’ve heard so much shit about him. You either put out, or get out. He’s not interested in romance. Drew is totally into you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He wants you, Raven. With the way he is, I imagine he’s partly in love with you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Seven years he’s waited. Brice told me that he said that to him.”
“We’re not school kids anymore.”
“I know. So you should marry him.”
“Excuse me, are you going to gossip about something that would never happen, or are you going to serve your customers? Respectable customers,” Francine said. The friend with her, Betsy, laughed.
Rolling her eyes, Raven went to serve them, but Francine shook her head. “No, I’m not getting served by some whore. I’d rather be served by Cathy.”
“Oh, hell no. You did not just insult my girl here,” Cathy said, stepping up to the counter.
“It’s okay, Cathy.”
“It’s not okay. I don’t accept that. Especially when a skank thinks she can talk to someone like that.”
“I’m the married one.”
“The married one who had her ankles around her own neck so that Drew could plow your skanky hole. Not happening. You got what you wanted, and now that he’s taken, you think you’re going to pull that shit in my bakery. Get your ass out.”
“Don’t lose business because of me.”
“This is not because of you. These ladies are just pissed off that Drew took himself off the market, and told every guy within hearing distance to stay away from you. You belong to him, and that’s what is really pissing them off. Tough! Get out!”
Raven moved to the back of the bakery, and finished preparing the ranchers’ food. The Monday rush was gawking at the spectacle, and she didn’t want to be a reason for them to point fingers. She’d never liked attention, and right now, she was getting more than she ever wanted.
Cathy tried to console her, but there was no point. Nothing could be changed. She wasn’t going to walk away from Drew. Her mother had warned her about what could happen while Drew and her father had been talking. Her mother’s advice had been to keep her head up, and not allow anyone to try to make her feel small.
She didn’t feel small, just exposed.