Starting Over (Nugget Romance 4) by Stacy Finz Page B

killing it,” Emily said, and Sam didn’t detect any judgment on her part, even though most thirty-one-year-olds had had multiple jobs by now.
    “I’m trying. And I’m really enjoying it.”
    “Nate will come around, you’ll see. He’s a terrific guy.”
    “I hope so.” Sam grabbed her purse and got up to go. “I know you’ve got lots to do, so I’ll get out of your hair.”
    “And if you think of a florist, you’ll let me know?”
    “Of course,” Sam said. She was nearly out the door when an idea struck. “Emily, what if I did your wedding planning for you? I know I just told you that I’ve never had a job before, but I’ve been planning parties and big charity events since my twenties. I could do this for you.”
    “I don’t know, Sam. It’s a lot of work and you already have a full-time job.”
    “But if you took over the cooking duties at the Lumber Baron until we can find someone to do it permanently, I know Nate would free me up to work on your wedding.” Sam didn’t really know that, but it was worth a shot. Besides, she wanted to do it, never having planned anything on a cattle ranch before. Country weddings were extremely popular right now, and this would look great in her portfolio, not to mention that poor Emily could use the help.
    “There’s a lot to do. I have the food covered and Clay’s hired the band, but we haven’t chosen our linens, haven’t hired a photographer or videographer, and haven’t . . . well, you know about the flowers.”
    “You just give me those magazine pictures you snipped and I can take care of all of that—with your input, of course.”
    “And all I’d have to do is make breakfast for the inn?”
    “As well as hors d’oeuvres for our afternoon wine and cheese service. But you wouldn’t have to be there for that. You could just make them ahead of time, and I could pop them in the oven right before serving them.”
    “In exchange, you would do all this wedding stuff—help me with the seating arrangements, sending out the invitations, the whole caboodle?”
    “All of it,” Sam said. “And Emily, I’ll make it beautiful. I could show you pictures of some of the parties I’ve planned.” The elegant black-and-white ball at the Waldorf. And the Greenwich debutante cotillion, a stodgy old affair that Sam had revamped and turned into the “it” event of the season.
    “I have no doubt about your abilities, Sam. But keep in mind that I don’t have a bottomless budget.”
    “You just tell me what it is and I’ll stick to it,” Sam said, beaming with excitement. She loved the idea that she would have a part in making their big day.
    “Okay, you’ve got yourself a deal,” Emily said. “You have time now to sit down and we could go over a few details?”
    “Absolutely.”
    For the next hour, Emily highlighted some of her ideas, and by the time Sam left she had a long to-do list and a binder full of inspiration. She just hoped that Nate would be on board. Otherwise, she might have bitten off more than she could chew. After all, there were only so many hours in a day.
    The next morning she decided to break the news to Nate about the deal she’d brokered with Emily gently, starting with the good news first. Unlike most days, when he wore suits or a sports jacket with a tie, today he’d gone casual—Levi’s and an oxford shirt. As loath as she was to admit it, he looked extremely good in jeans. They rode low on his hips and hugged about the best butt she’d ever seen. But staring at her boss’s ass was probably a “don’t” in the employee handbook, so she quickly looked away as he bent over the kitchen coffeemaker to pour himself a second cup.
    “You have a minute?” Sam asked.
    He grunted something unintelligible, but gave her his attention.
    “Today’s the last time we’ll have to scramble for breakfast.” Nate had paid Tater again to prepare a French toast bread pudding, fruit salad, and potatoes.
    “How’s that?” He looked