Cowboys Don't Marry the Beauty

by Jessie Gussman

  “You’re beautiful,” Ford said, and he wanted her to be his.

  Chapter 14

  It was a day of constant rushing. Sawyer’s new calf was fine. Lolli’s puppies were all doing well, and Ford and Morgan made it to the charity gala a fashionable five minutes late. If Morgan had bags under her eyes, he didn’t notice them. She looked stunning to him. At least one of them looked good.

  The closer they’d gotten to Chicago, the more he felt like this was one of the dumbest things he’d ever done. Soon he would be face-to-face with his business associates, the people that he worked with daily and weekly, not just on development projects, like the phone prototype he had in his pocket, but in investing in new and faster technology and fine-tuning existing tech to make it more consumer friendly.

  He’d made smart investments, and he’d had some help, but this prototype he’d developed all by himself, and it was the accumulation of years of work and testing. He’d spent a lot of time and money on it, and he’d been depending on it being a nice cash cow for his business.

  Maybe tonight wasn’t the best night to finally expose himself to his associates.

  Their driver let them off at a side entrance. It wasn’t his intention to be photographed as they entered. He could remain unknown for a while longer, although people were already staring at Morgan, then him, before they’d even taken the elevator up to the correct floor and checked their outerwear.

  Morgan put both hands on his lapels and smoothed them down. “You look amazing,” she said. “I love you in a tux.” Her regal head tilted. “But I think my favorite look is your cowboy ensemble. The boots and the hat. The jeans and the button-down. It speaks to my roots and makes my toes curl.”

  He showed his dimple, grateful that even with her great beauty, she’d taken the time to help bolster his courage. He knew she didn’t really mean he actually looked good.

  “Maybe we can spend some time on the roof, looking at the stars tonight, after the meeting.”

  “We have two hours of gala to get through. Then eating. Then you’re meeting your potential buyers in the back room for your presentation.”

  “That’s right. Then I have a beautiful woman who will look at the night sky with me.” He offered her his arm, and she took it with her long, slender fingers and a camera-worthy smile. They swept through the door and into the bright lights of the room.

  People mingled and made small talk while looking at the auction items. He’d dreaded this part, because people’s reactions when they saw him were almost always negative, but Morgan saw a few people she knew and gracefully included him in her conversations.

  As they moved through the room, with its glittering lights and richly dressed people, he loosened up some, despite hearing some comments about his appearance, and kept his eye open for men he’d recognize as people that he’d worked with and for Spencer in particular.

  A tall blond, almost as tall as Morgan, swept by in a deep purple gown with a plunging neckline and a hip-high slit. Large diamonds hung around her neck and in her hair. A large stone gleamed on the left hand that she seemed to hold up just so people would see.

  Ford happened to glimpse her just as her eyes were sweeping past. Their gazes met. Hers widened. A shaft of recognition pierced through him, although her name didn’t come to him right away. His stomach coiled like a snake on defense.

  Maybe Morgan felt the change in him because her head turned gracefully to him before scanning the crowd.

  Ford had moved his eye on, keeping his expression inscrutable, although the woman had not been able to contain her shocked and horrified expression at his patch and scarred face.

  “Sarwith,” Morgan whispered, like the name should mean something to him. It didn’t.

  “Who’s that?” he asked, giving a casual glance over the crowd again, sweeping past the woman in purple who Morgan had called Sarwith, and realizing Spencer, the man who insisted he come and sell his picture in exchange for the meeting, was with her. Their heads were tilted together, and Sarwith whispered furiously in his ear.

  Something pinged in his brain. Familiar.

  “She’s the girl who demanded I never work again if I didn’t wear her see-through blouse. A huge name in the fashion industry. Not as a designer, but as a facilitator. Maybe the biggest.”

  “I’m sorry you have to see her tonight,” Ford said, trying to think of why she seemed familiar to him.

  Then the woman inclined her head and narrowed her eyes, and that look that had been burned in his brain shot to the surface.

  “Sarwith isn’t her real name.”

  “No. I’m sure it’s a stage name,” Morgan agreed.

  “That’s Shauna.”

  “The Shauna?”

  “Yeah. And she’s with Spencer.”

  Morgan didn’t even bother to look. She gasped. “You’ve been set up.”

  “It seems that way.”

  “It’s not too late to leave.” Her brows had lowered, and she’d moved closer to him. Was she even aware that she did it? He appreciated the fact that she was all in for him.

  “They’re walking this way.” He wanted to turn and run. “I’m done hiding,” he said instead.

  “This means he’s probably not going to buy your prototype.”

  “I think you’re right about that, too.”

  Morgan straightened beside him. “That’s okay. There are other potential buyers.”

  He appreciated Morgan’s optimism, but Spencer had the deepest pockets of all the potential investors, and he would have been the best choice.

  “My fiancée tells me that you are the mysterious and genius Ford Hanson.” Spencer’s cultured voice held a hint of humor as he held his hand out to Ford.

  Ford cringed inside but took Spencer’s hand in his maimed one with a firm grip and nodded. “She is correct. And this is my girlfriend, Morgan Nelson.”

  He and Morgan hadn’t exactly talked about what the status was of their relationship, but Morgan gave him a glowing smile before it turned more reserved, and she allowed Spencer to take her hand.

  “Ah, yes, a strategic move to show up tonight with a beautiful woman on your arm.” He bent over Morgan’s hand, kissing her fingers. “And this is my fiancée, but you already know her, don’t you, Ford?” Spencer’s smile didn’t seem overly evil, but Shauna’s eyes glared at Morgan.

  Shauna held her hand out for Ford, but Ford didn’t do the bending and finger kissing thing, so he just grabbed it and shook it. He was rewarded with an irritated flash before Shauna smoothed her features out once again.

  “We knew each other once. A long time ago,” he acknowledged.

  Morgan took his arm. He put his hand over hers. Whatever happened tonight, it felt good to know that she stood beside him.

  Shauna’s regal face gave a small smile. “It was kind of you to offer to sell the rights to a photograph of your face.” Her voice dipped down. “Considering how private you are. But,” she waved her arm, “People are curious, and freaky things sell.” The sweet smile on her face was at odds with her words. Her eyes traveled down his body and back up. “You’re so brave.”

  Morgan’s fingers tightened on his arm.

  “You’re still going to give us your presentation later? I heard you hardly ever go out. Maybe this will be too stressful for you?” Spencer’s face showed polite concern.

  “I’ll be fine.” He’d been up at four that morning to drive to Sawyer’s, checking on the cows, fixing a hole in the fence, and untangling one of the older calves that had gotten caught up in another section of fencing. It had felt good to be back outside, working with his hands. Even better, Morgan had been beside him. If they could do that, he could handle a little presentation.

  “You brought the prototype with you?”

  “I’ve been using it for the past six months. Morgan has one too.”

  “Oh.” Spencer glanced at Shauna. Maybe his secretary hadn’t relayed the information that he and Morgan had given her. Or maybe Shauna inte
rcepted it. Regardless, Ford assumed Shauna would still not allow him to make an offer, although why she was bitter toward him, he had no idea. She was the one who had decided she didn’t want him.

  More people came over to be introduced, and Ford eventually felt more in his element as people asked about his business, his plans, and his prototype. It was a charity gala, yes, but he wasn’t the only one conducting business. The whispers and stares faded into the background.

  Morgan excused herself to use the ladies’ room. He felt adrift and alone as she walked away. It was harder to focus on the conversations, and he was much more aware of his deformities without her.

  It seemed to take her a long time to get back. He missed having her by his side. It was funny that he’d spent so much time alone and never felt like he was missing anything, but since she’d come into his life, he felt incomplete without her.

  The dining area opened, and the crowd started moving in that direction. Ford crossed the large hall, going toward the sign that said “restroom,” when a woman’s voice caught his attention.

  “He paid her to come with him. That’s the only explanation.”

  “I agree,” another woman with a deeper voice said. “It has to be for money. What else would someone so beautiful be doing with something as ugly as that?”

  Ford didn’t need to hear any more to know who they were talking about. Who else? There wasn’t a man in the room uglier than him. No woman more beautiful than Morgan. And he’d made her stand by his side all that time. No wonder she escaped to the restroom and didn’t come back.

  He moved again, changing direction, heading toward the balcony. It was chilly outside and windy. But he welcomed the chill and the bits of slushy rain that drizzled down.

  This wasn’t the first time this evening that he’d felt like running away. But it was the first time that he’d considered not taking Morgan with him.

  He was sure she wasn’t after his money. He also believed she liked him. It wouldn’t be hard for him to believe that she didn’t want to be embarrassed of him, that in a place like Sweet Water, she could be happy. But when they got out around the people that she used to know, saw the pitying looks or, worse, the shocked expressions, it couldn’t be fun for her to be on his arm. More like torture. He didn’t want to do that to her.

  To save her from himself, he could spend the dinner hour out here, on the balcony. He could do the presentation himself.

  He figured those ladies had it a little wrong. Morgan wasn’t being paid to be with him, and she wasn’t after his money, but who wouldn’t be embarrassed to be with someone who looked the way he did?

  The logic was there, but his heart rebelled against it. A little part of him pushed him to seek Morgan out and make sure he’d come to the right conclusion. She’d been honest with him from the start. He could trust her not to lie to him tonight. He’d just flat-out ask if she were embarrassed and ashamed of him. If she were, he’d let her go. Or he’d go.

  Reaching that decision, he opened the French doors and strode back inside.

  ~~~

  Morgan had known they were going to be stared at. That they would draw attention. After all, everywhere they went in Minneapolis, people had watched them.

  She wanted to look her best, which is why she excused herself to go touch up her makeup and make sure her hair survived the Chicago winds as they’d walked in.

  But she wished she’d stayed with Ford. At least nine people had stopped her on the way to the restroom and either asked how much Ford was paying her to be with him tonight or asked how much his net worth was, like they couldn’t imagine she’d be with him if he weren’t filthy rich.

  A couple of industry people had stopped her too, asking why she wasn’t working. They’d apparently not heard that she’d been blacklisted and dumped by her agent, and she’d not even gone there. It didn’t matter now anyway, as she had no intention of going back to work as a model. Although she’d make a firm decision after she found out what Ford’s plans were.

  He’d introduced her as his girlfriend, and that had made her heart sing. But the future of their relationship and the future of her working with him was uncertain. Ford had hinted that he needed to sell his prototype, and soon. If he didn’t, maybe they’d both be out of work.

  People were migrating toward the ballroom where the dining tables were set up. She looked around the large hall. Surely Ford wouldn’t have gone in without her? Of course, he wouldn’t have, but she didn’t see him anywhere. She started walking toward the far corner of the room where a cluster of people stood. Ford was too tall to not be noticed, but she couldn’t think of where else he’d be unless she missed him in the restroom.

  Someone grabbed her arm before she had a chance to change direction.

  Morgan turned and saw two young ladies and a middle-aged woman. They had the knack of looking down their noses at her, even though none of them came close to her height. Her heart sank. More grilling on why she was with Ford, no doubt.

  She’d had enough of that.

  But she wouldn’t be rude and stood through a blast of cold air as someone opened a door somewhere and the older woman opened her mouth.

  “We know that freakish guy you’re with is paying you.” She took hold of the girl on her left. “My oldest daughter would be willing to work for him. Not for something like this, of course, but something more low-key, where people wouldn’t see her. Maybe a vacation on his yacht. Or his private Italian island. That type of thing.” The woman had lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone.

  “I’m not cheap, though,” the girl said. “I want to know how much you charge. Is it by the hour or by the day? And he, of course, would provide clothes and food.”

  Morgan had been shocked into silence when the woman first started talking. She wasn’t even asking but had just assumed.

  “What’s his name, anyway? He must be new money.” The woman laughed a little. “Oh my. Where are my manners? I’m Shelby Kastenly.” She held out her hand.

  Anger burned and boiled inside of Morgan’s chest. But she put on her nicest smile and shook the woman’s hand. Her aunt and uncle wouldn’t have cause to be ashamed of her because she’d flipped out and punched someone in the mouth.

  “If you want to work for Ford, you’ll need to talk to him.” She adjusted the charm bracelet she wore on her wrist. It didn’t really go with her outfit, but she hadn’t cared. “He’s a hardworking, kind, caring, compassionate man. But I suppose your daughter is welcome to offer to sell herself if she wants. I do think, though, that she will need to find a less virtuous man than Ford.” She lowered her voice and leaned forward as though she were telling a secret. “I’m with him tonight because I love him.”

  All three of their mouths were open. Morgan did not allow herself the luxury of a laugh. “Do you happen to know where he is? He seems to have run off and left me.”

  A hand touched her waist and slid around her back. A deep voice rumbled in her ear. “I’m right here, Dumpling.”

  “Patch.” She turned. Knowing Ford was a modest man, she almost held back, but out of the corner of her eye, she could see the women still staring, and she couldn’t resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. Their lips touched, and she forgot about the women who wanted to rent their bodies to her boyfriend.

  ~~~

  The meeting went like they’d figured it would, with Spencer and Shauna being the ringleaders. Ford put on a brilliant presentation, if Morgan did say so herself, but in the end, there were no offers.

  “They need some time to think about it. Relax,” Ford had assured her, but she was almost sure, although she couldn’t prove it, that Ford was being blacklisted in the IT world because of being with Morgan.

  “Shauna’s involvement couldn’t have been coincidence.” Morgan leaned her head back and looked at the stars overhead.

  It was late, almost three. But they’d both wanted to go home, so they’d taken the private jet Ford had rented just as s
oon as the meeting was over.

  Now they stood in the solarium. They’d wanted to check on Lolli, who was thrilled to see them. Ford held her, petting her head.

  Morgan stood with her arms around her waist, discouraged. Ford would have been better off without her tonight.

  The ring of his phone startled them both. Tucking Lolli in one arm, Ford answered, “Hello?”

  Morgan couldn’t hear what the person on the other line was saying, but she said a silent prayer for Sawyer and hoped it wasn’t anyone in the family with bad news.

  “No,” Ford said. “I have the specs in my desk upstairs. If you can wait a minute, I’ll get them.” He started to hand Lolli to her.

  “Just tell me what you need, I’ll grab it,” she offered. She was restless anyway, and a hundred trips up the stairs would probably not be enough to help her sleep tonight.

  “There’s a printed paper in the right-hand side of my desk, second or third drawer down.”

  Morgan nodded and jogged in her bare feet—she’d taken her heels off as soon as they arrived home—up the stairs and to Ford’s office.

  Flipping on the light, she padded over to his desk, opening the second drawer first.

  If she hadn’t seen one exactly like it, she probably wouldn’t have noticed, but after spending an afternoon with Elaine, Morgan recognized the letter right away. She didn’t need to read the whole thing.

  She saw the word “married” and the word “billion.” That was enough. If Ford got married, he’d receive a billion dollars. He didn’t need a buyer.

  She’d marry him. Even without the money, she’d marry him.

  Unless he didn’t want her.

  Opening the third drawer, she found the specs he needed and grabbed them, heading back down.

  She didn’t pay attention while he ended his call, took a picture of the specs, and texted it.

  She walked over and sat down beside the box of puppies. “An interested buyer?”

  “Yeah. He’s not going to give me what I wanted, but it’ll be a good chunk of change.” Ford came over and knelt awkwardly beside her, setting Lolli in the box.