She didn’t seek him out often these days. Not that he’d ever been her favorite conversational partner or had ever paid much attention to her one way or the other.
“There’s something I’d like to talk to you about,” she said.
His gaze narrowed. “I don’t need any more bad news.”
“It’s not bad news. It’s good news.” She plowed forward before he had a chance to react. “Ross told you we were planning a fundraising auction for the business community?”
Rusty frowned at her. “He certainly told me you’d pledged Edmond money for it.”
“Some,” she said. “The three of us all agreed.”
“I don’t remember agreeing.”
“Dad.”
“Don’t Dad me.”
“Billy was—”
“Not my son, that’s what Billy is,” her father snapped.
“Billy was our responsibility.”
“And how do you figure that?”
Gina realized she’d made a tactical error. Talk of Billy was only going to infuriate her father.
She quickly backtracked. “I wanted to talk some more about the auction.”
His glare would ordinarily have stopped her.
“Yes, we pledged some family money,” she continued. “And it was the right thing to do. The Edmond family has always been a huge part of the local business community. I was always told, by you, that we prided ourselves on our participation. As far back as I can remember, you said we were pivotal to the success of the town.”
He waved a dismissive hand, but he didn’t outright disagree.
“The auction is a good idea. Lots of people are buying in. Thirty-two cowboys have stepped up, and Royal Tonight! is going to broadcast the program. Mandee Meriweather has even agreed to host.” Gina could tell she had her father’s interest.
Mandee was flamboyant and attention-seeking, but Gina always had the impression her father admired the on-air host. She’d assumed it was because the woman could be influential. The three things Rusty admired most were money, power and influence.
“We expect to make good money on it,” Gina said. “But we need a location for the live broadcast.”
“They have a studio.”
“That’s way too small and not nearly enough pizzazz.”
“Pizzazz?”
“We need thousands, tens of thousands of people to tune in to watch the broadcast and log in online. We need an interesting location, a magnificent location to help draw them in.”
“Did you have a specific place in mind?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
“And where would that be?”
“The Elegance Ranch.”
Her father stared at her, looking more perplexed than angry. But then her meaning seemed to sink in. “What!?”
The force of his question nearly made her step back.
“Have you lost your mind?” he demanded.
She stood her ground. “It would be perfect. We could use the back patio, the lawn for seating, the pool gazebos as a balancing feature...”
“No! Absolutely not. TV cameras? In the house? What are you even thinking?”
The reaction was pretty much what Gina had expected, but she wasn’t done yet. “It’s not like we’d film in your bedroom.”
Rusty’s mouth moved, but no sounds came out. At the same time, his face turned a comical red color.
“And it’s not as if the family secrets are just lying out there on the coffee tables for anyone to see,” she said.
He found his voice. “We don’t have secrets.”
“Great. Then there’s no reason not to let the world see a little bit of life behind the scenes.” She made a small space between her thumb and forefinger. “Just a little bit of our magnificent house.”
“No.”
“It’s for a good cause.”
“Do it at the Cattleman’s Club.”
“Nobody’s going to tune in to see the Cattleman’s Club, but the Elegance Ranch...now that would be an audience draw.”
“Ghoulish curiosity,” Rusty said with disgust.
“Take away a little of the mystery,” she said. “Show them we’re a normal, functional, happy family.”
He tilted his head in obvious incomprehension.
“We can pull it off,” she cajoled. “People will be too busy looking at the furniture, the sculptures and the paintings to pay much attention to the people. And if we show them the wine cellar?”
“The wine cellar?”
“Okay, maybe not the wine cellar. It’s so big, we’d look like we overindulged in liquor every night. But the reception hall, the great room, the patio and yard, and here.” She gestured around the library. “The most personal we’d get is the kitchen and dining room. It’ll make us look more ordinary. It might tone down some of the gossip.”
He didn’t respond for a minute, and she grew hopeful. Had her reasoning worked on him? “Just think about it.”
“Where did you even come up with such an asinine—”
“Dad?” Ross appeared in the archway.
The tension remained between father and son, but it was diminishing as the weeks went past.
Ross glanced between Gina and Rusty, taking in their posture and expressions. “What’s going on?”
Rusty rounded on his son. “Will you talk some sense into your sister?”
Ross looked to Gina.
“I’m asking about holding the auction here,” she said.
Comprehension came into his eyes.
Gina put a pleading look into her own. She needed her brother’s support on this. “We have everyone on board. It’s going to work, Ross. I know it is. We just have to have a stellar location to bring it all together.”
“Elegance Ranch is not some tacky Hollywood film location,” Rusty groused.
Gina bit her tongue. “We need a big audience,” she said, spreading her arms wide. “The bigger the better. That’s how we get the bidding up high. That’s how we make real money. That’s how we save Royal businesses.”
“But does it have to be here?” Ross asked. “Surely another venue besides our family home can—”
“No!” Gina cut in. “No. I don’t ask for much around here. I show up when the rest of you need me. I smile. I nod. I don’t push my ideas in the company. Even when I think of something—even when I see opportunities—I keep my mouth shut because that seems to be the way everyone wants it. But I want this. I need this. This is my project, and last time I checked, this was my house, too.”
She stopped talking, and the room went dead silent.
The grandfather clock chimed the quarter hour, a single bong. It seemed significant somehow.
Ross stared at her as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
She couldn’t really believe it, either. Confrontation was not her strong suit.
Rusty cleared his throat. “Well. You sounded a little bit like your mother there.”
Gina didn’t imagine that could be good. She tensed, waiting for him to reject her idea again, wondering if she should argue back one more time or simply give up and accept inevitable defeat.
“I suppose if you stuck to the main floor,” her father said.
It took Gina a moment to absorb what she’d heard. Even then, she didn’t quite believe it. “So...yes?”
Rusty nodded, but he also frowned. “But I don’t want to be tripping over these people. You hear me?”
“Loud and clear. We’ll stick to one day, maybe two if they need some setup time.” She hoped she wasn’t making a promise she couldn’t keep.
“I can always take a drive down to Mustang Point,” Rusty grumbled. “Got some things to do there anyway.”
It was all Gina could do not to cheer out loud. She couldn’t wait to call
Lila and give her the good news.
* * *
It was Sunday, so Rafe’s mother, Carmen, was happily bustling around the yard of the ranch house making sure everyone at the cookout had a drink and was sampling her grilled peppers and empanadas. The family was all here—Rafe’s father and grandfather, Lorenzo and Valencia, along with Matias who was entertaining the ranch hands’ kids by throwing a lasso, plus Rafe’s two younger brothers, Tomas and Diego. About twenty assorted hands and staff members from the Cortez-Williams Ranch were also in attendance. Diego was currently strumming his guitar for a small appreciative audience.
The only person who looked happier than Carmen was Gina, and Rafe settled back to watch her from a distance. He was gratified to see her again after their dinner at the Twin Bears had ended so disappointingly. He took responsibility for that, for letting the conversation go in a negative direction. He liked teasing her too much, and he’d ended up annoying her.
She was working with a photographer now at his family ranch. Apparently she’d decided the fun of the cookout would make a nice addition to the auction website photo array. The photographer had taken landscapes this morning and was focused on Matias and his lasso right now.
Rafe figured his turn would come next. He wasn’t crazy about being a model for the website advertising, but he’d suck it up and let them take a few shots of him dressed in blue jeans and a Stetson, especially if it gave him a chance to spend more time with Gina.
Her mood had soured so abruptly at the Twin Bears that he hadn’t found a way to work the conversation back around to the kiss. He felt like she owed him one, or he owed her one, assuming she was still willing.
He watched from a distance, thinking she hadn’t exactly dressed the part of cowgirl today. Her black pants were snug to the ankles, showing off her toned legs. She wore a white tank top layered under a filmy sapphire blouse that flashed bright in the sunshine. Her heels were low, but her boots were a pale cream color, a risk on a ranch for sure. She also wore a gold pendant necklace, a matching bracelet that jangled enough to scare a horse, and a pair of long earrings below a messy knot of hair up high on the top of her head.
He was also thinking she was stunningly beautiful, and he couldn’t stop staring at her, remembering their dinner, her expressions and gestures, how much she’d loved the milkshake and how he’d wished they were on a real date. He needed to find a new reason to kiss her. And quick. Because she looked absolutely ravishing in the late-afternoon sun.
His mother approached Gina, clearly offering her an empanada. Gina tried to say no, but Rafe knew that was a losing proposition. His mother had raised five boys on a working ranch. In her mind, there was no such thing as being too full since you’d likely burn off the excess calories in the following twenty minutes.
Carmen’s determination worked yet again, and Rafe smiled to himself as Gina accepted one of the little empanadas. She took a bite, and her eyes went wide. He guessed it was spicier than she’d anticipated. But she smiled and nodded, obviously telling his mom it was delicious.
But when Carmen turned away, Gina wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Rafe took pity on her and started across the lawn, weaving his way through groups of people who were laughing and drinking punch, past the five picnic tables and around the grill where his dad, Lorenzo Jr., was grilling under a billow of smoke and surrounded by the tasty aroma of beef.
“What’ll you take on your burger?” his dad asked as he drew close.
“In a minute, Papa.”
“What do you mean in a minute? They’re ready now.”
“The works, then,” he said over his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” A few steps later, he was beside Gina.
“Hi,” he said.
She looked up from cautiously eyeing the empanada. “Oh, hi.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the flush in her cheeks.
He leaned close. “When I say...”
“When you say what?”
“When I say now, hand it over.”
She looked confused. “Hand what over?”
“The empanada. My mom makes the best ones in three counties, but you need to work up a tolerance for the habaneros.”
A wave of relief crossed Gina’s face as she glanced around and lowered her voice. “I don’t think I’ve done that yet.”
“Now,” he said, seeing his mother’s back was turned.
Gina surreptitiously handed it over, and he popped it into his mouth.
“Thanks,” she said. “You saved me.”
“No hardship. I love these things.”
“I’m impressed with the strength of your palate.”
Rafe didn’t recognize the photographer taking the unscripted shots of Matias and wondered if he was associated with Royal Tonight! “Who’s that guy?”
“Quentin Waters,” Gina said. “He’s part of our marketing department.”
“At the Edmond Organization?”
Gina nodded.
“You got Rusty on board?” Rafe was surprised by that. He’d taken the oil tycoon’s absence from the Chamber of Commerce meeting to mean he’d wanted nothing to do with the fundraising effort.
“I wouldn’t exactly say on board. But he did agree to us hosting the auction at Elegance Ranch.”
That shocked Rafe even more. “How’d you ever pull that off?”
“Smiled and batted my princess eyelashes.”
“Daddy’s little girl?”
“That was sarcasm, Rafe.”
“Oh.” He’d taken her literally, earning himself an irritated frown.
She continued with exaggerated patience. “If you must know, I explained the merits of a compelling location in growing the audience size and therefore forcing the bidding higher so more Royal businesses could benefit from the funding raised.”
Rafe felt bad for making the quip. “That sounds very logical.”
“I wish you wouldn’t sound so surprised that I’m logical.”
“I’m not surprised.” He wasn’t, exactly. It simply hadn’t occurred to him that logic and reason would be her go-to strategy for persuading her father.
“Rafe?” his own father called out from behind him.
“You want a burger?” He was more than happy to change the subject.
She shook her head. “I’m working. I don’t expect your family to feed me.”
“Don’t let the spicy empanada scare you. The burgers are quite tame.” He called out to the photographer. “Hey, Quentin. Come and get a burger. Matias, bring the man along and feed him.” To Gina, he said, “When in Rome, remember?”
She capitulated with a look of surrender, and Rafe squelched an urge to take her hand.
After collecting their burgers, they got settled at one end of a picnic table, Rafe and Gina across from Matias and Quentin.
“Turn sideways,” Quentin said to Rafe.
Rafe swallowed and did as the other man asked. “Why?” He didn’t see anything untoward, just a bunch of kids climbing a fence and a couple of dogs rushing around beneath them.
“I want to check out your profile,” Quentin said.
Rafe used it as an excuse to turn Gina’s way.
She turned to meet his gaze.
He’d thought all this time that her eyes were rich mocha, bordering on hazel. But he’d been wrong. In the sunlight he could see they were much more complex, with spikes of green radiating from the pupils and a blue-gray ring at the edge of the iris. They were exotically beautiful. He’d never seen anything quite like them.
He was about to say something when Quentin interrupted.
“Little more,” the photographer said.
Rafe didn’t want to move. He wanted to stay right here in this position and stare into Gina’s eyes forever.
“Toward the back,” Quentin instructed.
Her expression smoothed out, and her lips seemed to soften as she gazed back.
“With a Stetson,” Quentin said. “Can you see it?”
Rafe realized the man was talking to Matias.
“See what?” Matias asked. “Rafe’s ugly mug?” He took a bite of his burger.
Gina’s face broke into an amused smile.
“At sunset,” Quentin said. “Maybe leaning on a fence post, that profile, hat pulled down, little bend to the head. Oh, yeah. We gotta get that.”
Matias was staring openly at Quentin now, clearly confounded by his level of enthusiasm.
For that matter, so was Rafe. “I’m not—”
“He’s saying you’ll look rugged,” Gina said. “Outdoorsy, über cowboy.”
Matias made a sound of disgust. “I’m more cowboy than he is. I ride bucking horses. Heck, I breed bucking horses. Rafe waits snooty tables.”
Rafe chuckled while Gina turned back his way, looking shocked that Matias would insult him and clearly bracing herself for his reaction.
“I do wait tables sometimes,” Rafe said easily. “And Matias means he used to ride broncs when he was young and fit.”
This time his brother grinned at the comeback.
Gina looked equally worried, like the good-natured ribbing might turn into an actual fight.
“Relax,” Rafe told her. “We’re just joking around.”
“I know just the spot,” Quentin broke in, his mind obviously firmly on his photography. “The split-rail fence beside that old windmill where the river bends into the shallows. We can get those oak trees in the background. But we have to hurry.”
Rafe checked the sky and agreed they had to hurry if they wanted to catch the sunset. It was a twenty-minute drive then a fifteen-minute walk to the old windmill—and that wasn’t even accounting for Gina’s fashion boots.
He couldn’t say he was happy about Quentin going all artistic-vision on this, but mostly he wanted to get it over with. So he dug into his burger, and soon they were all traipsing into a pickup truck.
When Matias started to hop into the pickup box, Rafe handed him the keys and told him to drive. Before Matias could ask why, Rafe ushered Quentin into the middle of the bench seat, then Rafe climbed in and gestured for Gina to sit on his knee. It was an obvious trick, and he could tell by the amused expression on his brother’s face that he knew exactly what Rafe was doing. But Rafe didn’t care.
Bidding on a Texan Page 7
