Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? (23 page)

At least Lauren’s father had taste. His own father, Beau, tended more towards the Hugh Heffner style of décor. Bordello-type furniture covered in scantily clad women.

Lauren sat down on the spindly legged couch and Grayson went to join her. She hadn’t folded when her father criticised her dress. She’d stood up to him, using humour and good manners to deflect the sting of his remarks.

‘Would you like something to drink?’ Mrs Redstone gestured to the butler.

Grayson accepted a glass of excellent white wine and so did Lauren. Mrs Redstone sat opposite them, a glass of mineral water clutched in her hand. Lauren smiled at her mother.

‘Is that emerald ring new, Mom?’

Mrs Redstone extended her right hand. ‘Yes, your father bought it for me to celebrate our wedding anniversary.’

Grayson pretended to admire the ring. ‘And how many years have you been married?’

A peculiar expression crossed Mrs Redstone’s face. ‘Too many,’ she whispered in an aside. Then she said loudly, ‘Thirty-two glorious years. I consider myself a lucky woman.’

Grayson glanced at Lauren and wondered if he’d imagined the first comment. Mr Redstone strolled over to stand behind his wife’s chair.

‘I’m lucky that she puts up with me. She’s a saint.’ He rested his hand on his wife’s shoulder. She seemed to sink into her chair under the weight. Mr Redstone’s gaze flicked over Grayson.

‘So I understand you’re some kind of cowboy, Grayson.’

‘I live on a ranch and I keep horses on it, so, yeah, I suppose you could say that.’

Lauren cleared her throat. ‘Grayson owns and runs a stud farm and horse-training centre in Oregon. I’ve been helping him out with some business deals recently.’

Mr Redstone smiled. ‘From what I hear, you’ve been doing a lot more than that.’

Grayson tried not to react. Had Mr Redstone found out about their marriage? He wouldn’t put it past him. ‘Don’t put yourself down, Lauren.’ He ignored the apprehension in Lauren’s eyes and turned to her parents. ‘Lauren’s been great. She’s kept me company this weekend. I haven’t stayed in the city for a couple of years and everything changes so quickly.’

Mrs Redstone got to her feet as the dinner gong sounded. ‘That sounds fascinating. Where has Lauren taken you? Be sure to visit the new farmers’ market in the Ferry Building tomorrow morning. It’s well worth a trip.’

Grayson tucked her arm through his and escorted Mrs Redstone into the dining room. She squeezed his bicep as they approached the table and whispered, ‘Don’t let Paul intimidate you. Lauren needs someone who can stand up to him.’

‘Don’t worry, ma’am, I’ve got it covered,’ Grayson murmured back as he pulled out a chair and helped Mrs Redstone sit down.

Lauren smiled encouragingly at Grayson as he put down his napkin. He hadn’t seemed bothered by the appetiser which consisted of steamed artichokes and clams. Lauren knew her father had ordered them because they were notoriously difficult to eat. He’d done it to a previous boyfriend of hers. It had been the final nail in their relationship. He’d never called her again.

‘What do you think of Lauren’s little business then, Grayson? It’s a shame she didn’t remain a lawyer. She could’ve helped you with your little –’ he pretended to search for the word ‘– ranch.’

Grayson looked so calm Lauren wanted to kiss him. ‘I think Lauren’s doing too well to worry about my little ranch.’ He leant forwards, food forgotten, the pride in his voice unmistakable. ‘Did she tell you that she’s producing commercials for the PBR? That’s a big opportunity. You must be so proud of her.’

‘Oh, we are.’ Mrs Redstone spoke and then cast a nervous glance at her silent husband.

Grayson smiled approvingly at her. ‘Unofficially, Lauren’s also been helping me develop a small business park on the edge of my land. She’s already come up with one business interested in renting some of the units and the plans haven’t even been processed yet.’

He grinned at Lauren who smiled back. Glad of his support, she loosened her grip on her fork.

‘Ah, that’s right.’ Her father looked pleased, too pleased. ‘I had a phone call from the wife of an old buddy of mine who lives out that way.’ Lauren tensed as her father turned his attention on her. ‘Do you know her, Lauren? She said she’d met you at the town meeting to discuss the business units.’

Lauren’s fork slid from her grasp and clattered on the table. ‘If you told me her name, I might be able to remember.’

‘Her name is Anna, Anna Paulson. She’s married to a guy I used to work with, Roger Paulson.’ His sideways glance included Grayson in the discussion. ‘Said she was a neighbor of Grayson’s here. Is that so?’

Grayson sat back in his chair. ‘That’s right.’

‘I gave Anna my old business card with the address of your law firm on it when we met,’ Lauren said, ‘but I don’t understand why she contacted you.’

‘Because, my little ignoramus, she hoped I’d use my influence on you to stop Grayson’s plans for the town. Apparently he’s upsetting a lot of people down there.’

Lauren met her father’s gaze head on. ‘Why would she think you’d be able to do that?’

He reached across and patted her hand. ‘Because I’m your daddy, and when it comes down to it, blood is thicker than water.’

Lauren got slowly to her feet. ‘If you think I’d interfere in Grayson’s private affairs just to satisfy the whim of an ageing wannabe actress like Anna Paulson, or her husband because he happens to be a buddy of yours, you’re mistaken.’

Grayson leant across the table and took her hand. ‘I think you’re forgetting something else, sir. The land belongs to me. Any decisions that are made about it are mine. Even if you could convince Lauren to help you out, she’d still have to get through me.’

Lauren sat down again with a bump. She’d never felt so angry in her life, yet part of her was shocked because she’d dared to stand up to her father. Grayson was still talking.

‘If you’re interested in finding out both sides of the story, sir, I can get Lauren to show you a copy of my business plan.’

‘That won’t be necessary.’ Her father’s smile was so patronising that Lauren gritted her teeth. Why was he so interested in Anna Paulson’s complaints about Grayson? What did he have to gain? ‘I don’t have time to dabble in such small concerns. I leave that to Lauren here.’

The butler brought in the next course. Lauren wanted to weep when she saw it was seafood still in the shell. She fought an urge to throw all the platters in the air, grab Grayson’s hand and make a quick getaway. Instead she took some crab and concentrated on working the thin strip of white meat out of the narrow leg channel.

Grayson winked at her and then turned back to her father who began to grill him about his business income.

‘He’s a very nice young man, Lauren.’

Her mother’s whisper made Lauren jump. She smiled gratefully. ‘Thanks, Mom. I like him too.’

‘He looks very familiar. Are you sure he’s from Oregon?’

Lauren’s mother had a legendary ability to remember faces which was why she was such a successful hostess.

‘I think he was born in Texas, but his family moved around a lot. If you find out he’s a famous soap star or escaped convict, let me know won’t you?’

‘I surely will, dear. Now don’t forget to bring him to my birthday lunch tomorrow.’

Lauren groaned. ‘I thought we agreed I could skip the big formal party this year and just take you out to dinner by myself?’

Her mother glanced across the table. ‘Paul told me I must insist you come. He says he has a surprise for you.’

Lauren knew she had no choice. She couldn’t risk her mother being blamed for her non-appearance. ‘We’ll come, Mom, but we’ll only stay for a little while. Grayson has to get back to Oregon.’

And out of my life, she thought miserably. And how on earth was she going to deal with that?

Grayson stole a glance at Lauren’s profile as the cab headed back to her apartment. She’d made no attempt to hide her desire to leave her parent’s house as soon as possible. He reached across and took her hand. Her fingers were icy cold.

‘I told you we’d survive,’ he said softly.

Lauren continued to stare out of the window.

‘Your mother is very sweet.’

‘Yes, she is.’

Grayson was almost pleased when the cab stopped. He wasn’t used to initiating delicate conversation. Call him a sexist pig, but that’s what women usually did best.

Inside her apartment, Lauren walked straight through her bedroom and into the bathroom. Grayson heard the door lock. He took off his jacket and tie and returned to the kitchen to make coffee.

When Lauren reappeared he was ensconced on the couch watching a ball game. She’d wrapped herself in an old pink bathrobe and left her damp hair loose. She looked surprised when she saw him as if she’d half-expected him to have left. To his relief, she came to sit next to him.

He kept his gaze on the screen as she leant back against his chest. Her body was as unyielding as a steel post. Grayson tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ‘Does your father do that to all your boyfriends?’

‘What?’

‘Try to intimidate them.’

She shrugged. ‘I told you what he was like. You were the one who wanted to meet him.’

‘Did you expect me to bail out on you the minute he started on me?’

She moved abruptly out of his arms. ‘Why shouldn’t you? Everyone else has.’

He stared at her, feeling curiously insulted. ‘I told you, I’m not easily scared. I’ve dealt with a lot of bullies in my life. Your father was nothing new.’

She crossed her arms and stuck her chin in the air. ‘The whole evening was designed to intimidate you.’ She brushed angrily at her face where a single tear slid down her cheek. ‘Even the food. Why aren’t you mad?’

Grayson realised she wasn’t annoyed at him but at her father. ‘Because if I had a daughter like you I’d be protective of her as well. I wouldn’t want some asshole walking in and taking her away from me.’

She knelt up on the couch, her fists clenched. ‘You don’t understand. That’s what he likes people to think, but it goes way further than that. He’s possessive to the point of obsession.’

She broke off and moved away from the couch. ‘Dammit, I should’ve checked for bugs before we even started this conversation. Whenever I go away for the weekend, he gets in here and plants the darned things.’

Grayson followed her into the kitchen feeling as if he’d stumbled into a bizarre spy movie. She rummaged in her purse and produced her cellphone. She punched in a short number.

‘Kevin, did my father or any maintenance guys come up to my apartment last weekend?’

Her shoulders sagged as the guy on the other end of the conversation obviously returned a negative.

‘Great. Thanks, no everything’s fine. I’ll call you tomorrow.’

Grayson waited until she returned the phone to her purse. ‘Will you please tell me what’s going on?’

Lauren walked back into the family room and sat on the couch. ‘I found out a few months ago that my father was “listening in” on my conversations. He let something slip that I knew I hadn’t discussed with anyone but Ella.’

She drew her feet up under her. ‘I confronted him about it. He promised not to do it again, but you never know with my father. Now I’ve asked the building supervisor to deny entrance to anyone except the emergency services when I’m not here.’

Grayson remained leaning against the wall. He had the strangest feeling that if he attempted to reason with her, Lauren would show him the door. He studied her resolute face. Why would she even bother to lie about something like that? It might explain her reluctance to get involved with him.

‘When did you first begin to believe your father was interfering in your life too much?’

Lauren half-smiled. ‘When he sent two of his bodyguards to threaten the guy who asked me to my junior prom. I was all dressed up and ready to go when my date called and said he was sick. Daddy stepped in and took me himself. God, I was so grateful.’

Grayson nodded. ‘So what happened to the guy who took you to the senior prom? Did he get sick too?’

‘Oh no, he broke his leg on the day of the prom. Someone pushed him down a flight of steps at the mall.’

Grayson straightened up. ‘And you think your father had something to do with that as well?’

‘You don’t believe me, do you?’ Lauren got up, wrapped her arms around her waist and walked across to the window.

‘Honey, I’m not judging you. But you must admit it does sound . . .’

‘Far-fetched, impossible, fantastic?’ She shrugged. ‘He’s scared off every single boyfriend I’ve ever had. It’s amazing I ever managed to lose my virginity. Why should anyone believe that a fine upstanding citizen like my father could really be a monster? I’ve spent years denying it to myself.’

Grayson sat on the couch she’d vacated and stared at her averted profile. ‘If you think he’s got a serious problem, why haven’t you talked to your mom about it?’

‘I have. Why do you think she’s had all that plastic surgery, Grayson? Is that what you expect bored rich woman to do?’ She swung around, her hands on her hips. Tears glinted in her eyes.

‘I asked my mom to talk to him after he threatened yet another boyfriend of mine and guess what he did?’

Grayson shook his head, a bad feeling in his gut.

‘He called me and said that Mom had had a terrible accident and was in the hospital. When I got there, I overheard Mom’s doctor telling her that he didn’t believe she’d fallen against the glass mirror, that she’d been deliberately pushed into it. She refused to change her story but I know who did it. The same man who paid for all the surgery to remove the thousands of splinters of glass embedded in her face.’

Grayson fought an urge to throw up.

‘I never asked Mom to help me again.’

Grayson got to his feet and closed the distance between them. He pulled Lauren into his arms. She was crying hard now, her tears soaked his shirt. ‘It’s all right, baby,’ he whispered, knowing that at this moment she needed to be held and comforted more than anything else.