Loving Lauren

by Jill Sanders

Chase stood in the market and looked down at the flowers. Which ones would Lauren like best? He knew he hadn't dealt with their last meeting the best way possible. He needed to show her that he didn't want to come in and take over everything. It had been a moment of craziness seven years ago when he'd proposed the crazy scheme of marriage for money. Okay, he'd had his reasons back then. His heart had led him to tie up his future in a tight little knot. He had wanted out of the small town for a while and was heading to college in Dallas. But he’d also known that he wanted Lauren. He just didn't know how to get everything. When he'd sat across from her that day seven years ago listening to his father and Mr. Holton talk to her about all the money she now owed them, he’d seen the despair in her eyes and he’d felt something shift inside.

  He'd honestly just wanted to see that look go away. After the older men left, he'd sat out on the front porch swing and talked to her. He'd just suggested it in passing, not really meaning it, but she had looked at him with such excitement that he hadn’t been able to turn back. The next day, unknown to everyone in the small town, they'd driven into Tyler and had signed the paperwork at the courthouse. Then he'd stopped by the bank that held the inheritance that had been left to him by his grandmother. He'd handed her the cash to pay her father's debt to his two best friends, and plenty for her to live on for the next few years.

  A year later, while he'd been attending college in Dallas, he'd received a letter from her with a check. He'd thought about her message of wanting to pay him back, of wanting out of their arrangement, for two days before he'd sent the check back to her with a note saying he didn't want her money. Even then, he knew he didn't want out of their agreement.

  He'd talked to Cheryl on the phone and had asked if Lauren was seeing anyone. When his father's assistant called him back a few days later, after confirming it herself, he'd been relieved to find out that Lauren was still single. If she didn't want free from their agreement because of personal reasons, he knew she just wanted to be free from him.

  She'd tried again a few weeks later, this time sending money orders in his name. He'd returned those to her as well. Then six months later, she'd started sending him receipts from the local bank. The receipts showed both of their names on an account and the dollar amounts she was depositing.

  One thing you had to say about her—once she had her mind set on something, she never gave up. Well, you could say that about him as well. He was determined to show Lauren that he was just what she needed. After seeing her for the first time in seven years, he realized how much he still wanted her. She'd done a lot of growing up since he'd last seen her; he supposed they'd both done some. He'd enjoyed exploring the new curves she’d developed since the last time he'd kissed her. Kissing her was like breathing again for the first time in seven years.

  Now he looked down at the flowers. He set the white ones down and picked up the yellow ones. These reminded him more of her, so he walked up and paid for them, not noticing the looks the cashier gave him. As he drove out to the ranch, he thought about their meeting two days earlier.

  His duffel bag and a small box full of his other effects were in his trunk. When he'd told his dad that he was moving out to her place, his father had just smiled.

  “’Bout time,” he'd said.

  “I'm moving into one of the ranch houses, not the main house.”

  “Give it time, son.” His father had laughed and slapped him on the back.

  He drove to the ranch and turned off from the main drive, heading towards the farthest house on the dirt road. The smaller brick place looked like it had seen better days, but was still in pretty good shape. He dropped his stuff off, using the key hidden under the last porch step. The inside of the place looked new. All the appliances were well maintained, and the hardwood floor gleamed in the light. The furniture was simple yet comfortable. The small one-bedroom, one-bathroom place was all his for as long as he wanted. He knew Lauren had been telling the truth, that she wouldn't argue or ask him to leave.

  After dropping off his stuff, he hopped back into his truck and looked down at the flowers next to him. He hadn't planned on courting Lauren when he'd returned, but seeing her in the diner and being with her had made him realize that he still wanted her. After being gone for seven years, he still had a thing for her and now that he knew he was sticking around, he could pursue his feelings further.

  When he drove up to her house, the first thing he looked at was the old roof. She'd mentioned that it leaked and he wondered why she hadn't had it replaced. He saw the spots where someone had tried to do some patchwork, but in his opinion, the whole thing needed to be replaced. The house itself could use a new coat of paint and some trim needed to be replaced. Then he noticed there were a few other trucks and cars parked over by the garage. Just how many vehicles did she have to run the ranch? He parked next to Lauren's truck, got out, and carried the flowers with him. Halfway to the back of the house, he heard her laughter coming from the barn and started walking in that direction instead.

  When he walked into the barn, he blinked a few times to let his eyes adjust. Then he saw Lauren towards the back in the arms of another man, their silhouette highlighted by the brightness of the fields behind the opened doorway.

  His fingers tightened around the flower stems and before he knew it, he was across the barn. He cleared his throat when he approached the couple.

  “Oh.” Lauren pulled back and looked over at him, and her smile fell away from her lips. “Hello, Chase.” Her eyes went to the flowers he was holding by his side upside down.

  The man dropped his hand off Lauren and took a step back. His face was shadowed by his Stetson hat, but when he moved, the light from the doorway hit his face. Chase stopped cold. “Grant? Is that you?”

  Grant took a step forward and held out his hand. “Well, if this don't beat all. I heard you were back in town.”

  Chase was shocked. Grant Holton was a few years younger than him and had left town shortly after he had. Grant had been accepted into Harvard, which had at that time entered his name on Fairplay's biggest celebrity list.

  The last time he'd seen Grant, he had been an overweight boy whose face was hidden behind large glasses. Now a tall, muscular man without glasses stood in front of him. He grabbed his hand and shook it fast. “I'll be damned.” He looked over at Lauren. “Beg your pardon,” he mumbled, and watched her smile. He turned back to Grant. “I hadn't heard you were back.”

  “Just got back yesterday. I was just getting a good look at one of Lauren's geldings here.” He nodded to the horse that was standing in the stall beside them. “I've just bought the Wilkinson's place down the street and I'm in the market to get a horse.” Grant smiled.

  Chase didn't know if his friend was looking for anything else, so he took a step closer to Lauren, putting the question in his friend’s eyes to rest. Grant looked down at the flowers and smiled. Then he took a step towards the horse, patting its mane when it stuck its head out the door.

  He and Grant had been friends since the crib; their mother's had been best friends. Chase's mother had passed when he was younger. Grant's mother was still living and had taken it upon herself to help raise Chase after her best friend’s death.

  Chase and Grant started talking about Grant moving back to town, him buying a place and a horse. Both men had forgotten Lauren was standing next to them, until she cleared her throat.

  “Are those for me?” She nodded towards the flowers he'd forgotten he was holding. He looked at them, smiled, then handed them to her.

  “Just a little something to say I'm sorry about the fence-a-dent.”

  He watched as understanding flicked in her eyes then enjoyed the sound when she laughed. Her eyes sparkled in the dim light of the barn, and her smile lit up the darkness.

  “Fence-a-dent?” Grant asked, his eyebrows shooting up.

  Chase laughed. “Private joke.”

  “Well, if you two want to finish catching up, why don't you stay for dinner?” La
uren asked.

  Grant shook his head. “I can't. I promised my ma I'd be home for dinner. She's pulling out all the fine china tonight. You might want to stop by and visit sometime. She'd be happy to see you.” He looked at Chase.

  “I sure will.” They shook hands again.

  “Well, I'll be by later this week with the trailer. He's just what I had in mind.” He shook Lauren's hand and then bent down and placed a friendly kiss on her cheek.

  “I know you'll be happy with him.” She walked over and started rubbing the gelding's head. “Make sure to say hi to your folks for me.”

  “Will do.” Grant nodded then turned and started walking out of the barn.

  When they were finally alone, Chase walked over next to Lauren and started petting the gelding.

  “Selling off this guy, huh?” The horse was trying to eat the flowers he'd just given to Lauren. She laughed and pulled them out of its reach.

  “Yes, we took on a few younger ones last fall. Bob here is just too old to keep up with the young studs we have around here now.”

  “Bob?” He looked at her then laughed. “Still letting Alex name the animals, are you?”

  “Occasionally.” She smiled, then put the flowers up to her nose and inhaled. “Still think you can buy me off with flowers, I see.”

  “Never underestimate the power of a good bouquet.” He walked over to her. “Besides, I saw these and thought of you.”

  “That's because you know that daisies are my favorite.” She smiled at him. “Remember the time we went picking them in the fields?” She sighed and looked out the door, then frowned. His gaze swept in the same direction and he saw Grant talking with Alexis outside.

  Alex looked like she was about to eat the kid alive. “I'd better go break that up,” Lauren said and started walking towards the doors.

  He stopped her by putting his hand on her arm. “I think Alex can handle herself.”

  She looked at him with something close to humor in her eyes. “It's not my sister I'm worried about.” She turned and waved her hand towards Alex and Grant. Now he could see what she meant. Alexis had on a pair of the shortest cutoff shorts he'd ever seen. Her tank top was tight and her bright red bra was showing a little around the top. Her hair was pulled up and she was wearing what could only be described as full war paint. Her eyes were painted a dark brown and her lips were deep red. He looked at Grant and realized the man did need saving. Grant's face was only a shade lighter than Alex's lips. Chase could hear him stuttering as he spoke to Alex.

  “Yeah, we'd better go save him.” He chuckled and followed Lauren out of the barn.