Do Him Right by Cerise DeLand Page A

would be more objective. To some extent that was
true, except for the fact that she didn’t sleep well at night and walked the
floor, reliving what she’d lost, yearning for what she needed with him. So if
she had more time to complete her plans here at her aunt’s ranch, Shana also
had more time to realize that if she was successful at building the Hayward
rodeo into a first-class event, she could then work on the courage it would
take her to confront the real issues that separated her from Chet.
    If Chet perceived that or if he had just given up on her
when she’d left him, Shana could never tell by his voice on the phone. He was
distant and cool. Always. Was this Chet calling now to once more be the
efficient businessman and show her his indifference?
    “Shana, darlin’,” Aunt Mary began now as she put her hand
over the receiver. “This is your boss. I know you said you wanted to talk to
him if he called.”
    Shana reached for the phone.
    “Hello, Jeff.” She’d known she’d have to have this
conversation some time, though she wished she could have waited until opening
night of the rodeo. “How are you?”
    “Better now that you’re talking to me,” he said with rare
contrition in his voice. “Look, Shana, let me start off by saying I’m sorry.”
    “Thank you, Jeff. I appreciate it,” she told him with all
honesty. He’d just been himself. If that wasn’t what she wanted in a man, in a
lover, in a mate, or even in an employer, his nature wasn’t something he needed
to regret. “Circumstances weren’t good that day. It all went sour because that
was what was meant to be.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” She knew it would be the last words that
passed between them that held any kind of intimacy. She switched to the
professional aspect that had brought them together four years ago. “I hope you’ve
had an opportunity to read my latest reports.”
    “I have. They’re very detailed. You’ve done a spectacular
job. Hayward will reap the rewards.”
    “I do believe you’re right,” she declared with more joy. “Will
you go to the opening?”
    “No. I think I might not want to show my face in Hayward for
quite some time.”
    “Don’t be like that, Jeff. They should welcome you. You came
up with the plan.”
    “No, Shana, you did.”
    She was grateful for the acknowledgment. “And you agreed to
the lower retainer.”
    “Yes, and since you left Hayward and went home to Uvalde,
you haven’t even charged that amount for living expenses.”
    “Right. I didn’t need them.”
    “I’m giving them to you, Shana.”
    “You charged them my expenses?” Oh, she would be
madder than a coyote if he had.
    “No. I’m just paying you for them anyway. I know you’ll turn
around and give them to your aunt.”
    Shana was quiet, stunned with his perception—his generosity
and his atonement. Maybe there was hope for him after all. “I would.”
    “And I’m giving you a bonus too.”
    “No.”
    “Yes, ten percent on the retainer. I saw the ticket sales
for the first performance on opening night, Shana. What with Kylee’s small take
and the enormous ticket sales, they can well afford to give us more. I had a
talk with Sam Trunbridge this morning, and they are sending it over with this
month’s retainer.”
    “That’s very generous of Sam.” She wondered what he’d done
for Chet who had negotiated such a hard-driving bargain with her in the first
place.
    “He gave Stapleton a raise. Effective immediately.”
    “Wonderful.” He deserves it and more. So much more.
    “Twenty percent.”
    “Amazing! Sam Trunbridge doesn’t like to part with his money
unless it’s for a good cause.”
    “Well, he found his man, didn’t he?”
    So did I. Tears clogged her throat. She couldn’t
reply.
    “So then,” he shifted his tone to all business, “want to
tell me when you plan on coming back?”
    “When I’m done here, Jeff, I’ll come see you.” When I’m
done figuring out what to