She ignores me and crosses to my desk. “So, I was thinking all this grumpiness could be cured with a little bit of caffeine.” She sets the larger one on my desk. “I swear it’s the answer to everything.”
My reaction is barely an eye roll. It’s more of a subtle shift as if to ask if she’s done rambling.
When she offers me a wide smile, I take it as a yes and cross to my desk, handing her a note. “Kramer from Red Barn Supplies is expecting your call. Said he’d prefer to talk to the ‘lovely lady’ regarding next week’s deliveries and something about bulk pricing negotiations?” I perk a brow.
She pulls her lips from her straw with a moan. “Oh, I knew he’d come around. I noticed his past two deliveries were late and there was nothing in your contract about credits or guarantees. So I told him we’re getting rates from a few competitors who are known for timely deliveries and have been soliciting us for years.”
“What competitors?”
She glances up with a shrug. “Oh .?.?. I googled them on the spot; I think they were .?.?. Lone Star Supply and .?.?. Hideaway Springs.”
“Hideaway Springs isn’t a supplier. That’s a town about ten miles north.”
She winces. “Well, Kramer didn’t seem to notice. Anyway, I told him they promised on-time deliveries and bulk value rates. So he said to give him two days and he’d come back to me with a new proposal and an amended contract thatclearlycoversreliable deliveries.”
I cross my arms.
“And I did it all without raising my voice, cowboy,” she says softly.
“Fine, looks like you’ve got a handle on it. When you’re done, I left a few things for you on your desk.”
She frowns, dropping her gaze to her desk. “Timecards?”
I nod, picking up the iced coffee she brought me. “Said you can fix it, right?”
She frowns. “You pre-signed them.”
I blink, hoping it says it all. “That’s right. Soon as you’re done, just take them over to Ginger, and she’ll reissue the checks.”
A small smile plays on her lips, but she quickly replaces it with a curt nod. “I’ll get them over to her by the end of the day.”
I put my hat back on and turn toward the door.
“Wait,” she calls.
I turn back slowly, needing to get out of this room.
She holds my gaze for a beat. “I’m sorry about earlier. That was immature. I just really wanted to—”
“No need. I was being a jerk of a boss.” I lick my bottom lip irritably. “I apologize.”
She smiles. “Sure you don’t want to look them over when I’m done?”
Andspendmoretimeincloseproximitywithyou?
That wouldn’t be wise.
I grip the handle and pull the door open. “I trust you.”
The screen door creaks as I push through it to step into the ranch office. Ginger looks up over her red-framed glasses.
“What’s doin’, boss?”
I still don’t like Ginger calling me boss when she practically helped raise me on this ranch. But Dallas and I are done arguing with her. She claims it’s easier than our names. “The invoices Rose brought by yesterday have already been paid.”
“Terrific. Thanks, Ginger.”
She smiles sweetly. “It helps when I get them back quickly instead of having to send you daily reminders to go through ’em.”
