“I can get you cash.” Evan put his card back in his pocket. “There’s an ATM in the post office just down the street. I’ll go right now.”
“Thanks so much!” Kashvi came over to pat his right arm. “It was a pleasure working on you, Evan. I really hope Joker likes it.”
“He will.” Evan grinned as he headed for the door, Josie at his side. “I’ll be right back with your money.”
He went down the stairs at a gallop and the heat of the sun hit him square in the face. Being stuck inside wasn’t his thing and two hours of inactivity made him want to run around like a wild horse.
“Hey, slow down.” Josie spoke from behind him as he crossed the busy road and headed for the post office.
He swung around to look for her and all at once the whole world went upside down and he staggered back against the nearest building.
“Evan!”
He vaguely heard Josie calling him through the sparkling black-and-white stars now encroaching on his vision, and then his legs gave way. The next thing he knew, he was sitting on a bench with Josie crouched in front of him, her gaze anxious.
“Are you okay?”
“What happened?” Evan frowned. “Did I trip up the steps?”
She took his hand and cradled it between both of hers. “You almost passed out.”
“Hell, no, I didn’t!” Evan protested.
“It was probably a reaction to having the tattoo.” Josie wasn’t having it. “You rushed off really fast and at some point, your brain caught up with your body, and you just had a moment.”
Evan leaned his head back against the wall of the post office and briefly closed his eyes. No way had he almost passed out. Millers never fainted.
“It must have been the heat.” Evan regrouped and fixed Josie with a challenging stare. “I’m probably dehydrated or something.”
She rolled her eyes and eased her hand free of his. “Fine. Whatever, cowboy. Are you good to go or do you need to drink something before you get your money?”
Evan eased his weight over his booted feet and cautiously stood up.
“I’m good. How about we get the money, take it back to Kashvi, and then go get some coffee at Yvonne’s place?”
Chapter Three
“So, how are things, irmã?” Rio asked.
For once, as she stared at the screen, Josie was glad her big brother was hundreds of miles away and not sitting right in front of her. He knew exactly why she’d abandoned her colleagues so abruptly, and she still wasn’t ready to deal with either his sympathy or his possible disappointment.
“Bacana!” Josie smiled. “Yvonne’s giving me free food at the café and keeping me company at home. Ines is mothering me and I’m enjoying working with your ranch hands and breeding team.”
“Jaime told me you’d been hanging out with him. He says you’re an asset. At least I think that was the word he used.”
“Ha ha.” Josie reminded herself that everyone on the ranch owed their loyalty to Rio and not her and wouldn’t think twice about reporting back to her brother as to what she was up to.
“What else are you doing except riding my bulls?”
“He told you that?” Josie feigned shock. “Like I’d do that without your permission.”
“He said it was a pity you weren’t up for competing because the PBR could do with a few more women bull riders.”
Josie sat back. “I’m humbled.”
“He’s got a good eye for what makes a successful bull rider.” Rio grinned. “Maybe there’s a new career for you?”
Josie’s smile dimmed. “Does that mean you don’t want me back at Howatch International?”
“Of course, I do. It means that I want you to feel free to do whatever makes you happy.” Rio leaned toward the camera, his expression serious. “As someone who changed careers myself, I’m not going to call you out for making the same choices.”
“Somehow, I don’t think I’m going to make the leap from corporate finance to world-champion bull rider quite like you did, mano,” Josie said dryly.
“Why not? Jaime says you’re good enough to compete.”
“But I can’t manage the massive bulls and you and the other breeders are focused on making the stock bigger and meaner every year.”
Rio looked thoughtful. “Maybe that’s something I should look into. We could specialize in a different kind of bull, one that allows women to compete equally.”
“In your dreams,” Josie said, making a face.
“Ines says you’ve been seeing a lot of Evan Miller.”
“Wow, at the abrupt change of subject, Bro.” Josie blinked at him. “Evan’s a nice guy.”
“I know.” He frowned.
“And we’re just friends.”
“Awesome. I was going to say you could keep each other out of trouble, but on reflection, I think you’ll make each other worse.”
“I’ll do my best to stay out of jail. Evan’s looking to change his life right now and I’m just going along for the ride.”
“Evan is?” Rio’s dark eyebrows rose. “Now I’ve heard everything.” He hesitated. “Just have fun, little sister, okay? Take the time to heal and decide what you want to do next. There’s no rush.”
“Because Howatch International can easily go on without me?”
“It’s a big company, Josie. We have the resources to cover most calamities. It doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be welcomed back with open arms. I just want you to think about what you want to do, and not what you think you ought to be doing—if that makes sense.”
“Kind of.” Josie nodded.
“I talked to Dr. Tio at the medical center the other day. He says they’ve now got a full-time therapist attached to the clinic.”
“Thanks for the not-so-subtle hint,” Josie said. “I’ll contact him, I promise.”
“Okay.” Rio smiled. “Nice talking to you, kiddo.”
“Same, old man.”
“Love you.”
He winked and ended the call, leaving Josie sitting at the table staring at a blank screen.
The ranch house was quiet around her. Ines had gone to help Yvonne at the café, leaving Josie all by herself for the first time. Not that she was ever totally alone. There were at least half a dozen ranch hands hanging out over at the bull breeding barn....
Her cell buzzed and she picked it up to see a link to Dr. Tio’s number sent by her brother. She reminded herself that Rio hadn’t become a world champion for nothing. His relentless drive for success served him well in all the worlds he currently straddled.
Did she want to go back to work?
She pictured her office and smiled. Everyone in her department was awesome and she missed them a lot. But, if she resumed her job, she’d have to go back to living in the city. Even though she was alone, Josie slowly shook her head. She couldn’t go back to her apartment. The thought of living there after her space had been invaded was too much to deal with right now.
She needed to talk to Rio about putting it on the market. There were plenty of places she could rent if she went back.