Page 64 of Texas Made
“About damn time,” Chase said from the back door. “Get a room, y’all.”
“Go away, Chase,” Marshall said without looking at him.
“Sorry. No can do. We’re hungry.”
Damaris, Chase, and Ella stood in the doorway grinning at them. “We couldn’t help overhearing,” Damaris said.
“Especially since you made no move to let us know you were there,” Marshall responded.
Damaris gave him a dirty look. “When are you moving in?” she asked Jaclyn.
“I’m not sure. I’ve got a bunch of things to do in Dallas before I can manage it. I’ll tell you all about it. While we eat,” she added. “I’ve got more appointments after lunch.”
“All we heard was Marshall asking you to live with him,” Ella said. “Are you moving your company down here?”
“No.” She filled them in on her plans for a new division of Divinity. They all agreed it was a great idea.
“I know I’ll be competing with Lavender Dreams but they only manufacture lavender products. Mine will be less specific and not lavender-based. Not to mention I’ll be wholesale and online, not a storefront.”
“You don’t want to open a shop here?” Damaris asked.
“No, I don’t think that’s my forte. I don’t know the first thing about it, to be honest.”
After lunch she kissed Marshall and said, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be but let’s go out to dinner. Do you think you can get away?”
“Should be able to.”
“Good. I’ll see you later.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
After their parentsretired Marshall had moved into the master bedroom and Damaris had taken over the upstairs. It had worked out well for them since neither one got in the other one’s way, it put them both near the horses, and Ruthie was there, which was a definite plus. And Marshall had learned the hard way to keep his mouth shut about Damaris’s choice of dates. It only took a couple of times for her to ream him out before he gave up. He admitted she was grown and could handle herself, but sometimes it was hard to remember that when he saw her make what to him was an obvious mistake.
Shortly before Jaclyn moved in, Damaris cornered him. He was in with Cappuchino who was nearly ready to be pastured again. For short periods anyway. He was very happy with how well his stud was doing.
“Marshall, I need your help.”
He left Cap with a last pat. “Doing what?”
“Will you help me move into the cottage?”
He stopped walking and stared at her. “What? Why?”
“Because you don’t need your sister living with you and your girlfriend.”
“It’s your home too, Damaris. Jaclyn wouldn’t want to kick you out any more than I do.”
“You’re not kicking me out. I’m choosing to move.”
“Ruthie lives here. There’s no reason you can’t too.”
“Ruthie has her own separate quarters. It’s different from living in the same house.”
“But the cottage is so small.” He knew his sister and she had way more shit than would fit into the tiny cottage.
She shrugged. “There’s only one of me. I tend to expand as long as there’s room, but I can keep it down if I have to. Besides, whatever crap won’t fit I’ll just leave at the house.”
He shook his head. “It isn’t fair to you. It makes me feel like a jerk.”
