“Since Hope only got about two hours of sleep last night,” Garrett replied.
Some of which had been his fault. They had spent a couple of hours, total, making love.
The rest was all on her.
Chance asked sympathetically, “Max giving her a rough time?”
Garrett shook his head. “She was working on a revised written history of the formation of the Lockhart Foundation. Putting together some photos, making plans for the camera crew coming out today and tomorrow.”
“They are everywhere, aren’t they?” Wyatt said, joining them.
Garrett blew out a frustrated breath. “Not to mention constantly underfoot.” Taking both video and still photos of the ranch entrance, the mown and unmown fields, and the barns, corrals and original ranch house.
“And what’s with the ‘staging’ being done in the bunkhouse?” Wyatt asked, not nearly as irritated as Chance to find interior designer/general contractor Molly Griffin there.
Garrett turned so Max could get a better view of the tractors. “Hope wanted some more Texana feel to the main room.”
Chance chuckled. “Well, if that’s the case, I could probably borrow some stuffed animal carcasses for the wall.”
Garrett spared a glance at his younger brother. “I think you know what Hope probably would tell you to do with that suggestion.”
Chance shrugged. “I know what you would tell me to do. Hope is a lot more polite.”
So true.
“Although she can be direct,” Chance said. He turned to Wyatt. “Did she ask you to bring over some horses?”
Wyatt nodded affably. “I said I’d give her one tomorrow morning, before the TV crew arrives.”
“She wanted cattle from me but changed her mind when I said all I had was bulls,” Chance drawled.
The brothers all laughed.
“Has anyone heard? Is Mom coming back tonight?” Chance asked.
“Yes,” Garrett said. “If all goes according to plan. She’s been meeting with the charity CEOs in groups at the foundation office to speed up the delivery of the money. It appears once word got out on the news yesterday, everyone clamored for their money before it all ran out. So at least that part of wrapping up this whole mess will be done with.”
Wyatt frowned. “What about the police?”
Garrett informed them, “Her attorneys are handling that for her. She’ll eventually need to be interviewed by detectives, of course, but that can wait a few days.”
Molly walked out of the bunkhouse. She attached flag holders to two of the front posts, then hung an American flag on one and the state flag of Texas on the other.
Garrett frowned.
So did his brothers.
Paying homage to their homeland was a very good thing. But as a means to an end...?
Temper rising, Garrett eased the baby carrier off his shoulders. He looked at Chance. “Mind walking this little fella around for me for a few minutes?”
Chance shrugged. “As long as he doesn’t mind.”
Because Chance was nearly the same size as Garrett, little adjustment was needed to the Baby Bjorn carrier. The sleepy Max frowned at the transfer, then paused, looking up at Chance.
Chance mugged comically and talked gibberish in a soft, soothing tone.
Max grinned.
Unable to resist, Garrett slapped his brother’s shoulder. “Just so you know—it’s only gas.”
“Ha!” Chance crowed. “He likes me, don’t you, Max?”
Chance and Wyatt walked over to the shade, still doting on the baby. Garrett headed inside the bunkhouse. Hope was on her smartphone, video chatting with his sister Sage. “Thanks so much. I’ll be sure you get all the groceries you need...Yes. Promise. See you tonight.” Hope hung up. Immediately concerned, she asked, “Where’s Max?”
“With Chance and Wyatt. He’s fine.” Garrett gestured to the window.
Hope peered out. Smiled. “For not being used to men, Max sure is adapting easily to this environment.”
Too bad I’m not, Garrett thought sullenly.
Hope studied him. “What’s wrong?”
* * *
WHAT WASN’T? GARRETT HISSED out a breath, feeling as if he had been transported back to his youth. “For starters—” he gestured broadly “—all this.”
Her emerald eyes widened. “You don’t like the new vases filled with wildflowers?”
If only it were that simple. “I don’t like false impressions.”
She put her hands on her hips. “We’re just sprucing things up a little bit, doing what Lucille would have done had she been here.”
“You’re making it look like something it’s not. This isn’t the true current state of the Circle H.” Perpetrating another myth would only make the family reputation shakier. And while he couldn’t have cared less what anyone said about him, this stuff did matter to his mother. Garrett strode closer, noting Hope looked exhausted, too. “Any good reporter could find a local resident to complain about the prior state of the ranch. Go on record as saying all this was only done for the TV interview.”
Her chin lifted. “You’d prefer it be filmed looking rundown and unkempt, which is the shape most of the property is in?”
“Why film anything here at all? This is a zone of privacy, or it should be. Why not film in Dallas, at my mother’s home there, or at the foundation offices where things could easily stay just as they are?”
Hope glared at him. “Because all of those places have negative connotations for the viewing public. They support the image of your mother that has been exaggerated and bandied about in the press. None of them show where she came from. Or how she and your father eventually discovered that money didn’t bring them happiness, but giving to others, bringing their whole family back to their roots, did.” Hope came closer. Another shimmer of tension floated between them. “It’s a great story.”
“Then why can’t you just tell it openly and honestly instead of doing all this?” he asked her in frustration. “It’s bad enough that you’re writing advance questions and answers for my mom to rehearse with, and inviting a friendly journalist to cover the story.” He shot her a disapproving look. “Which, by the way, I’m still not totally on board with. Remind me again why it’s so important?”
Hope dug in all the more. “Because I think Lucille’ll be more comfortable if she feels prepared rather than under siege.” Clearing her throat, she added, “Of course, there is a way to make this easier on her...”
“Just issue a press statement and leave it at that?”
“No. One step better.”
He waited.
“Your mom could step down as CEO.”
Shock turned to anger that Hope could even suggest it. “Not. Going. To. Happen.”
Her jaw took on the consistency of granite, too. “Have you spoken with Lucille about it—even in theory? Because I have to tell you, it’s the best way to take the heat off her.”
“No. And for the record, I don’t want you or anyone else suggesting it to her, either.”
For a moment, he thought she was going to argue the point. Cheeks pinkening, she stepped closer and, dropping her voice persuasively, tried another path. “Have you thought about taking a more active public role in managing the scandal?”
Garrett blinked at her in surprise. She was serious! He flexed his shoulders in an effort to make the increasingly unsettled feeling go away. “Such as...?”
“Heading up a task force?”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “A little silly when the foundation only employs three—I guess now, two—people. My mother and her executive assistant, Sharla.”
Hope lifted a delicate hand. “Again. It’s all about optics.”
He leaned over, until they were nose to nose. “An
d again. I’m not.”
She stared up at him. Shook her head. Sighed. “Substance over style?”
The way she said it made it seem like a character flaw. “You betcha.”
Hope paused again. She seemed to be wrestling with something. Finally, she sighed again, sifted both hands through her soft blond hair and said, “Look, I can see all this is bothering you.”
You think?
“So why don’t you take a break from it. Go off and find a way to relax, do something you like. I can interview your brothers this afternoon, get what we need for the revised family history from them.”
R & R sounded tempting. Leaving her alone with his two very single brothers did not.
Although they had a rule about not going after the same woman, Chance and Wyatt did not know he’d staked a claim where Hope was concerned. Although they had sensed his interest, he couldn’t tell them anything definitively because he had promised Hope he would keep their fling a secret between the two of them.
Although that, too, was a misnomer in his opinion.
“Well?” Hope prodded impatiently.
Garrett snorted. “Not sure you’ll get anything you can use from Chance or Wyatt.” Except maybe embarrassing stories about yours truly.
“Mmmm.” She considered for a long moment, then met his challenge with a level glance. “I bet I can.” Her gaze softened. “Seriously, your mom and Sage will be back late this evening.”
“Adelaide...?”
“Is staying in Dallas to help the police try and track down her father and Mirabelle Fanning.”
That sounded like Adelaide. Responsible to the core. Which meant this scandal must be killing her, too.
“So you have plenty of time to take a time-out from all of this redecorating chaos, and enjoy what little R & R you have.” She patted his arm. “In the meantime, have a little faith. And trust me to be able to put together a video perspective that does ring true.”
* * *
“TRUST ME”, HOPE had said.
Did he?
Personally, Garrett thought, the answer was yes. When it came to anything one-on-one with him, he did trust her. But when it came to her doing her job, it was a different matter entirely.
There, he found it a lot rougher going.
Aware, however, that he couldn’t do anything about that—he hadn’t hired her, couldn’t fire her—he decided to tackle something he could accomplish. Getting the Victorian cleared of all trash so it could be put on the market.
He worked through the rest of the morning and the entire afternoon without taking a break. The physical activity felt good. But not as good as seeing Hope walk through the door at dinner time, a pizza in one hand, a six-pack of flavored water in the other. She walked past him to the window seat overlooking the backyard and set both down. Hands on her hips, she turned around, first scanning the newly cleared-out downstairs, then him. Taking in the fact that he was shirtless, she smiled and quipped, “Too bad I’m not looking for studly actors to star in a soap commercial.”
“Studly?”
She waved an airy hand. “I’ve been around horses all day.”
“Plural?”
She sauntered closer. “Wyatt said since I declined all of Chance’s bulls that he would bring me two horses, instead. They’re really gorgeous, by the way. Your brothers put them in the corral between the bunkhouse and the barns.”
Her hair shone like gold in the sunlight pouring through the windows. He itched to run his hands through it. “I thought the corral was in bad shape.”
Shaking her head, she raked her plump lower lip with her teeth. “Chance brought some cowboys over and they fixed it. Put on a new coat of paint, too.”
It was odd not to have their tiny chaperone. ’Cause right about now, he needed a chaperone to keep from following his base instincts. He put a twist tie on the trash bag he’d been filling. “Where’s Max?”
“Bess Monroe came out to the ranch to film a pro-foundation bit for me, then offered to watch Max while I went off chasing you.”
Was there anyone she couldn’t charm into doing her bidding? “You could have called me on my cell. I would have watched him for you.”
“I needed a break from all the action, too.” She sat on the counter while he washed up as best he could with the hand soap and paper towels the renters had left behind. “Missed a spot.” She pointed to his chin. He gave it a swipe. “Still missed.” She pointed again.
“Third time’s the charm.” He gave it another try.
Eyes darkening, she smiled. “Or maybe not.” She leaned over and did it for him.
He looked down at her. She looked up at him.
He had the feeling she wanted to make love with him as much as he wanted to make love with her.
But, once again, duty called.
She pushed off the counter and walked over to retrieve the roll of paper towels, the pizza and the flavored water. There was no comfortable place to sit inside, so they took everything out to the back porch and settled on the steps that led down to the spacious yard. “I’m guessing you brought me dinner for a reason?” he asked dryly.
She handed him a slice of pepperoni pizza and a paper towel. “I did want to talk to you.”
He uncapped a chilled beverage for them both. Taking a cue from her serious expression, he said, “I’m listening.”
“I had a phone call from your mom a little while ago. She wants to shut down the foundation entirely. And make the announcement tomorrow afternoon.”
Garrett enjoyed a bite of the hot, delicious pizza. “Makes sense, if all the money is gone.”
“Does it?” Hope sighed. “We don’t know for certain that law enforcement won’t be able to recover the twenty-five million that was stolen. If they do...”
“In cases like this, it’s always a long shot.”
“But it happens, Garrett.” She helped herself to a slice, too. “We shouldn’t rule that possibility out.”
Garrett arched a brow. “Nor should we push or guilt my mother into doing something she doesn’t want to do anymore.”
Hope pushed on in a surprisingly empathetic voice. “That’s the thing. Lucille’s not really in any position to make a decision like this right now. There’s too much going on. Too many emotions. Too much shame and embarrassment.”
She paused to look into his eyes. “Your mom hasn’t had a chance to feel the accolades for what she has managed to do, for the last two years, the last week. There’s still a lot she could do, even if she doesn’t have anywhere near the financial resources.”
Hope had a point. There was no reason to rush into or out of anything. Not the family’s involvement with the foundation. Not his connection to Hope and Max, either.
“That’s why you asked Bess Monroe to come and talk about West Texas Warrior Assistance, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right,” she said, nodding. “They need a lot more than what they have to meet their goals, but a little can still go a long way to get them started. It’s going to be good publicity for WTWA. And, when your mother sees the video clip, I think it might give her a fresh perspective on the goals yet to be achieved.”
“So she won’t quit. And you won’t have failed in your mission to save the foundation.”
“Right.”
“I still think it should be my mother’s decision. I’ll back up whatever she wants to happen.”
Hope studied him as though he was a test she just had to pass. “Even if it’s not what you want?” she asked finally.
Aware he’d been cut out of the loop in some bizarre way, and Hope hadn’t been, Garrett grimaced. “Even then.”
* * *
BY THE TIME they’d finished eating, the last of Hope’s dwindling supply of energy had seeped from her body. And it was only
six thirty in the evening. How was she ever going to make it to Max’s bedtime?
“You look tired,” Garrett said, ruffling the hair on the top of her head.
She leveled him with a look. “Thanks.”
He smiled at the sarcasm dripping from her voice. He wrapped his arm about her waist as he walked her to the curb, where her SUV sat parked behind his truck. “Why don’t you let me drive you back to the ranch?”
Resisting the urge to curl up against him and take a good long nap, Hope fished the list and keys out of her bag. Now was not the time to lean on her military man. “Can’t. I have to stop at the grocery store to get stuff for Sage to cook for the film crew and reporter tomorrow.”
Garrett read over her shoulder. Swore at the lengthy and, in some cases, rather complicated ingredients.
Hope gestured aimlessly. “She’s a chef.”
“She’s impossible.”
Hope made a face. “I’ll tell Sage you said so.”
Garrett tweaked Hope’s nose. “She already knows. I’ll help you get the supplies. “
“I’d appreciate that. Bess said she could stay as late as nine o’clock, but I’m anxious to get home to Max.”
By the time they hit the checkout line, Hope was yawning.
Garrett pushed the basket full of groceries out to her SUV.
He gave her another long, assessing look. She lifted a palm. “Not to worry. I may not be able to have coffee, but I can have a cup of ice chips. Chewing on those while I drive will keep me alert just as well.”
With a frown, he headed for the Dairy Barn next door. “I’ll get it for you.”
Hope stifled another yawn. “You are a prince among princes,” she called after him.
He turned and flashed her a sexy grin. The kind that said he’d accept payment for his kindness later.
With an amused shake of her head, she climbed behind the wheel, let her head fall forward onto the wheel and closed her eyes, just for a minute. It had been a mistake to spend time making love with Garrett the night before instead of using all available hours to sleep.
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