As usual, Brinnie's outfit did not disappoint. She wore a loose orange blouse over a hot pink, knee-length skirt with sunflower-yellow leggings underneath. Her sandals matched her tights exactly and the orange headband holding back her choppy tresses seemed to come from the same material as her shirt.
"I see you cleaned up for tonight's event." Claire gave her a light hug, then stepped back and introduced Lucinda.
Brinnie clasped the hand Lucinda held out. "Hi, honey, welcome to Texas. You girls get everything done this week? Claire said you were coming to help get her situated."
"Yes, ma'am. She's almost completely unpacked. Just a few more odds and ends to do."
"That's good. And when do you leave to go back?"
"I fly out Sunday morning."
"Oh, wonderful. Three more days to get into mischief. Oh, speaking of trouble… Claire, I meant to tell you earlier, there's a new yoga studio near the meat market. We need to sign up." Brinnie looked at Lucinda. "We've been trying to get a yoga class going here at Crawford, but don't have enough commitments yet from the residents. When Claire mentioned finding a yoga place, I was excited to discover a fellow practitioner."
"Um, Brinnie, why is yoga trouble?" At Brinnie's blank look, Claire added, "You said 'speaking of trouble.'"
"Ha! Yes, well, I had to check it out before recommending it. And several delicious-looking men attended the class." Brinnie winked, and Lucinda burst out laughing.
"All right, grab a plate and get some food. We've got plenty." Brinnie fussed at an older gentleman near the end of the counter. "Now, Fred, get your fingers out of the meat. No one wants to eat something that's been picked over. Excuse me, ladies."
Claire watched Brinnie hustle off to corral the wayward Fred, then asked Lucinda. "Well?"
"Feisty."
"So, you start next week…"
Claire recognized the prompt for what it was and sighed. Her best friend had been helping her all week and not once had they spoken of why she was in a new city. They lay sprawled across her bed watching a favorite movie, their bellies full from dinner, and apparently Lucinda had decided now was the time.
"Yes."
"Nervous? Excited?"
"Both, I think. I'm definitely excited about the fresh start. No jerkwads trying to undermine me or ruin my reputation?—"
"Stephan Owens was a dick. And your boss was an idiot for listening to him."
Claire warmed at her friend's unyielding devotion. Lucinda had worked at the same company and watched that drama play out in real time. She'd helped Claire clear her name and bring Stephan's actions to light.
"Anyway," Claire waved the topic away, "I won't have that hanging over my head at Caprock. It will be a clean slate without negative vibes about me or my work. And it's a known environment. My dad has worked there forever in sales, so it's not as scary as going someplace completely new."
"Are you concerned about being accused of nepotism?"
Claire grinned and fake-punched her friend's arm. "It's like you know me so well."
Lucinda leaned over and bumped her shoulder. "Smart-ass."
"I am a little worried," she admitted, "but there's no overlap in his job and mine. He doesn't have any pull in that section of the company. And the timing was too good to pass up. I was desperate to leave NanoTechwise after what happened. And Caprock Enterprises has been good to my family. I mean, I grew up doing my homework in Dad's office after school and riding out to drill sites with him during the summer. I don't remember anyone ever complaining about them as an employer." She paused and took a breath. "I'm aware he's the reason my résumé made it to the IT director's desk here in Houston. And I don't want to get a job just because someone knows my dad, but…" Claire shrugged, happy to put those stressful days behind her. "It was a lifeline when I needed it."
Lucinda's arm wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her tight. Claire leaned into the hug before pulling away. Her friend was the sister she'd never had. Everything felt warmer and sunnier when Luce was around.
"Did I tell you the IT director is a woman? That's going to make an enormous difference. I'm less nervous about entering another testosterone-led industry when women hold top management positions." Claire gave a tight, wry smile. It was the same complaint they'd voiced for years about tech and it applied just as easily to oilfield services.
"That's awesome. At least someone will believe you when you tell them you're being harassed at work."
Claire frowned. "Um, I'm assuming that will never happen again, thank you very much. Nope, I'm going in with a sunny disposition and zero problems with colleagues. It's going to be wonderful. I have decided."
Chapter 3
First Impressions
