The Texan Quartet (Books 1-4) Omnibus

by Claire Boston

  “There’s a lot to do before I can start production. I have to register a business, and a label, I need to source fabrics, manufacturers, find some funding and shops to sell the line …” Listing them out sounded so daunting.

  George picked up her business plan and flicked it open.

  Imogen resisted the urge to grab it off him. “It’s not finished yet.”

  “You’ve covered all the bases.” He passed it to Christian. “What do you think?”

  Christian scowled but spent more time reading through her plan.

  Kate piped up. “Are you doing a kids’ range too?”

  Imogen blinked. She hadn’t got that far. “I might, when I get settled. Do you like these designs?”

  “Yep. I could be your research assistant if you like. Tell you what kids want.”

  Imogen smiled. “That would be great. You’ll be the first person I call when I’m ready.”

  “Can I try my dress on now?” Kate asked.

  Imogen laughed. She’d forgotten about the flower-girl dress but it was obvious Kate hadn’t. Christian was still reading the plan so she said, “Sure.”

  “I’ll light the grill,” Adrian said.

  Piper and Libby followed Kate into her bedroom. Imogen fussed around when Kate was wearing the royal blue dress, checking the seams, making sure everything sat right. “How do you want your hair?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Imogen rummaged in her bag and produced the couple of barrette options she’d brought with her. “I think it should be down, or partially up. Your hair is too beautiful to be restrained.”

  Kate beamed at her.

  “So we could clip it here …” Imogen slid in a clip to show Kate what she meant. “Or we could pin the front up like this.” She demonstrated.

  “Like this,” Kate said when she saw the final version. “I look like a princess.”

  Imogen’s heart warmed.

  Piper whipped out her phone and took a picture.

  “Shoes?”

  “She’s allowed a small heel,” Libby said and retrieved the shoes, pretty black strappy sandals with a tiny heel on the back. Kate slipped them on and preened in the mirror.

  “Do you want to show your uncle?” Libby asked.

  “Yeah.” She walked demurely out of the door.

  Imogen smiled. It was the slowest she’d ever seen Kate go.

  “I think it’s a hit,” Piper commented.

  Down the corridor the men told Kate how beautiful she looked.

  “Ma belle, tu es très chic.” It was Christian’s voice, in perfectly accented French, telling Kate she was gorgeous.

  Imogen ignored the shiver his voice caused and wondered how much French he spoke.

  Kate returned to the room, her cheeks flushed red. “Chris spoke French to me,” she said, blushing brighter.

  “Do you know what he said?” Imogen asked.

  Kate shook her head.

  Imogen translated for her and Kate shut her eyes in delight.

  “He’s a bit of a hunk, isn’t he?” Piper asked.

  Imogen glanced at her friend, wondering if she was going to make a move on him. Wondering why it mattered so much if she did.

  “Yep.”

  “Was he cute as a boy?” Piper asked Imogen.

  Startled, Imogen stared at her. She’d never mentioned Christian’s name to anyone.

  “You mentioned his dad used to be your gardener,” Piper prompted.

  Of course. “I didn’t see him much,” she said, busying herself putting Kate’s dress back in its bag. Piper waited for an answer but Imogen ignored her. “Shall we check if dinner’s ready yet?”

  Piper gave her a look that said she wasn’t finished with this, but didn’t stop Imogen as she left the room.

  Back in the kitchen Imogen immediately noticed her business plan sitting on the table. Both Christian and George were standing by the barbeque on the patio with Adrian, so Imogen grasped the opportunity to retrieve it. She was at the doorway when Piper said, “Don’t you want to know what Chris thought?”

  “I’m sure he read it because George handed it to him. I don’t want to put him on the spot.”

  Piper raised an eyebrow and called, “Chris, what did you think of Imogen’s business plan?”

  Piper had no such qualms.

  Imogen cringed.

  ***

  Hearing his name called, Chris turned from the conversation he was having with George. His gaze immediately found Imogen, but from the expression on her face, he didn’t think it was she who had called him. It was Piper who was waiting for an answer.

  Beside him, Adrian was piling up the meat in a dish to carry inside, so Chris wandered in. “What did you say?” he asked Piper.

  “What did you think of Imogen’s plan?”

  He’d been impressed but he wasn’t going to admit it. Imogen’s father’s company would have plenty of people to write that kind of thing. “It’s a good start. Did one of Tour de Force’s business managers write it?” There was no way she’d know how the real world worked. People as rich as the Fontaines had minions to do all the hard work.

  Fire flashed in Imogen’s brown eyes, an intriguing contrast to the smile on her face and her pleasant tone as she replied, “I wrote it. It has nothing to do with Tour de Force.”

  He believed Imogen was a harder woman than she pretended. That fire proved it. It was a good reminder not to trust her. “They’re not footing the bill?”

  “No.”

  Chris was intrigued but he didn’t want to seem too interested. Luckily George was curious as well.

  “Your label isn’t going to be part of Tour de Force’s empire?”

  Imogen shook her head. “It’s not a good fit,” she said, only hesitating slightly. “I’ll be doing this on my own.”

  With Daddy’s support, Chris was sure. “How are you funding it?”

  Her cheeks flushed red and she lifted her chin. “I have money.”

  Probably a trust fund.

  “How can the plan be improved?” Piper asked him.

  “Find a good lawyer to draw up the documents and if you’re serious about manufacturing overseas and you care about your workers, make sure you visit the factory before you make a decision.”

  Imogen nodded. “Thank you.” She sounded like she meant it.

  “Chris can probably recommend a few lawyers,” George said. “They’re his species.”

  Chris smiled but he wasn’t happy. He wanted to have as little to do with Imogen as possible, not help her build a business that would enable her to do whatever she liked with people’s lives, like her father.

  Luckily at dinner he sat next to Kate, who kept him entertained chatting about all manner of things, including the new book she was writing. She also complained bitterly that Libby wouldn’t let her read any of the next Jessop Chronicles book.

  Libby heard her. “You know full well it’s in dirty draft stage. It’s not ready for human consumption yet.”

  Kate laughed. “I know, but I so can’t wait.” She turned back to Chris. “What do you like to read?”

  Chris couldn’t remember the last time he read for enjoyment. There were always reams of contracts, legalese documents and background papers he had to read and he often fell asleep with one on his lap. “I love adventure series.” At least he had as a kid.

  “Have you read the Jessop Chronicles?” she asked.

  He glanced at Libby, acknowledging the twinge of guilt. “No, I haven’t.”

  “You must,” Kate declared. “I’ll lend you my copy.”

  Before he could refuse, she left the table and ran down the hallway toward her room. She returned with a stack of books, which she placed next to Chris on the table.

  “Here’s the first four. Once you start reading, you’re going to want to read the lot and then we can talk about them.”

  Chris swallowed his grin as Adrian said, “Kiddo, he might not want to read them all.”

  Kate gave her uncl
e a disbelieving look and then turned to Chris. “Trust me. They’re addictive.”

  “Thanks, Kate.”

  Libby looked mortified.

  He grinned at her. “Can’t wait.”

  Though kids’ books weren’t his thing, he’d make an effort to read at least the first one, so if Kate grilled him later, he’d have answers. He liked the young girl and was pleased to see her cheerful and happy. He remembered too well what she’d been like after the car accident that had killed both her parents. He and George had helped Adrian get through those first few months, one of them always being there as his sounding board when things got too much. It had been rough.

  He got to his feet to help clear the table and stack the dishwasher.

  “Any more wedding lists, Libby?” George asked.

  Libby shook her head. “I think everything’s organized. My parents arrive next week and then we just need to pick up the cake on the day.”

  The wedding was the following weekend and Chris was glad. There would be no more planning dinners and he wouldn’t need to see Imogen again. Her presence made him antsy.

  He’d got over her a very long time ago. Right after her father had said she never wanted to see him again and threatened to take out a restraining order on him if he came anywhere near his daughter.

  When Kate made noises about playing a board game, Chris knew it was time to leave. “I’ve got some briefs to read through,” he said by way of explanation.

  “And the Jessop Chronicles too,” Kate said, handing him the pile from the table.

  He took the books and smiled. “And those.”

  Adrian walked him out. “Libby will give you the rundown on her stories if you don’t want to read them.”

  Chris glanced at him. “I’ll read the first one. I promised Kate.”

  “We both know she can be tenacious at times.”

  Chris grinned. “But so loveable. It’s probably about time I gave myself some downtime. This will force me to do it.”

  “Just as long as you don’t feel obligated.”

  “Not a chance.” He hesitated, debating whether he should ask Adrian the question he’d been wondering all night. “Do you really think Imogen can get this label thing off the ground?” he asked as he reached his car.

  Adrian turned to him in surprise. “Yeah. Don’t you?”

  Chris shrugged. He didn’t know the person Imogen had become. “Setting up a business is difficult.”

  Adrian shifted. “She’s dedicated. That’s one thing I’ve learned about her in the last six months. Dedicated to her friends and to her work. I think she’ll make it work.” He was quiet a second and then asked, “What’s your issue with her?”

  Should he tell Adrian?

  Today wasn’t the time to go into it. “It’s nothing. I’ll see you next week.”

  He drove home to his apartment. Once inside he dumped the books on his kitchen bench and walked over to his office, which was stacked with neat piles of papers he needed to go through. He flicked open his calendar to check what he had on tomorrow, even though he had a fair idea.

  The last thing he felt like doing was reading through more dry documents.

  But that was what he was paid to do.

  He made a coffee and sat down to read.

  An hour later he was confident he had all the information he needed for the next day. It was getting late and he should head to bed. An image of a smiling Imogen popped into his head but he shook it away. She was not what he needed to be thinking about.

  Still, his fingers typed Tour de Force into his laptop’s search engine.

  The website was bright but stylish. Chris clicked through buttons to check the latest range and snorted.

  It was ridiculous. They weren’t the types of clothes people would actually wear in public, unless going to a fancy-dress party. No wonder Imogen’s father hadn’t liked her designs.

  He paused, not sure why he’d assumed Remy Fontaine hadn’t liked Imogen’s work. Probably because he wasn’t willing to make it part of the Tour de Force brand. Still, from what he knew of the man’s love for his daughter, Chris was surprised. He would have expected Remy to give Imogen the moon if she’d asked him for it.

  He sighed and shut off his computer. He didn’t want to think about Imogen. He’d spent far too many years obsessing over her when he was younger.

  Standing up, he picked up the books Kate had loaned him and found the first in the series. He flicked over and read the blurb on the back. It sounded all right.

  He’d read the first chapter and then go to sleep.

  It would keep his thoughts away from the girl who’d taught him not to trust.

  Chapter 4

  When Christian arrived at Adrian’s house the next weekend for the wedding he carried all four of Libby’s books with him. Kate answered the door wearing a blue kimono, her hair half up and the lightest hint of makeup on her face.

  “All ready to go?” he asked as he handed back the books.

  “We’re on schedule,” Kate answered. “Did you read them?”

  Chris grimaced. “It is entirely your fault I’ve had little to no sleep this week,” he said. “Yours and Libby’s.”

  “I knew you’d like them!” Kate crowed.

  He followed her down the corridor. She was right. The books were well written and had reminded him why he’d loved to read action adventure as a kid. “So when’s the next one out?”

  “Libby got her author copies this week,” Kate said, smiling slyly at him. “If you’re nice to me, I might be able to swing you a copy.”

  He laughed. “I’ll be super nice then.”

  Kate stopped him at the kitchen. “Guys are that way,” she said, pointing down a passageway. “Guests should arrive in about half an hour and then you need to take them through there.” She pointed again.

  Chris smiled. It seemed Kate had taken on the role of wedding organizer. He glanced outside. The garden had been decorated in swathes of white and blue fabrics, lanterns and other pretty decorations. He had to admit it looked pretty good.

  Leaving Kate, he wandered down to the groom’s end. He wasn’t sure what state he’d find Adrian in. His friend had had anxiety attacks when they were younger – even through his early twenties – but the attacks were less frequent now.

  When he walked into the room he found both George and Adrian sitting in lounge chairs sipping mint juleps.

  “You’ve got the alcoholic version and the non-alcoholic version,” George said by way of a greeting.

  “Non-alcoholic,” he answered, not wanting to mess up his role as master of ceremonies and usher. There’d be time for drinking later. He took the drink George handed him and sat down. “No nerves?”

  Adrian shook his head. “None at all.” He held out a steady hand. “Asking Libby to marry me was the best decision of my life.”

  George laughed. “Even if it took a bit of prompting.”

  Adrian shrugged. “I got there in the end.”

  Chris sipped his drink, happy to have the chance to sit and chat to his mates.

  “You looked wiped,” George said.

  Chris opened the eyes he hadn’t realized he closed. “It’s his niece’s and fiancée’s fault,” Chris said. “I started Libby’s damn book and couldn’t put it down.”

  Adrian beamed at him. “She’ll love to hear that.”

  Chris grunted. “So anyone I need to keep an eye on today? Anyone likely to misbehave?”

  George passed him a folder. “Photos of the guests,” he said. “For those you don’t know.”

  Chris opened it and read through. He didn’t want to be responsible for letting paparazzi in. There was a face he recognized somewhere. He checked the name, Michael Atkinson – Piper’s father. He was a vice president at an oil and gas company that Chris occasionally had to do business with. It made sense that Remy let Imogen be friends with her. Piper was in the right social sphere.

  Closing the folder, he was pleased. There weren’t too man
y guests he didn’t personally know.

  “I’m not sure about Libby’s parents,” Adrian said. “They’re here, but I got the feeling when I met them that it’s more because it’s expected of them than from any real love for Libby. They don’t understand her.” He scowled.

  “Her father walking her down the aisle?”

  “No. No one is,” Adrian said. “She agonized over it for weeks. I think she would have asked Piper’s father if her own parents weren’t coming but she didn’t want to snub her father. And he would have made it seem like a chore so she went without.”

  Families could be hard work at times. He was lucky he and his dad always got along.

  “Does she want someone to walk her down the aisle?” George asked.

  Adrian hesitated. “I think she would, but really there’s no one she could ask without causing offense to her parents.”

  “What about me?” The offer was out before Chris considered it.

  Both George and Adrian looked at him.

  He shrugged. “We’re about the same age so you can’t call me a father figure.” He liked Libby. They’d got along really well since they first met. “We could say the usher doing it is a Texas tradition. Her parents aren’t likely to check.”

  “I’ll ask her.” Adrian reached for his cell and dialed. When he hung up he said, “Imogen’s cross with you for making Libby cry and ruining the makeup. She’d love you to.”

  Chris’s chest tightened, but he smiled. “I’d better go check my amended schedule then.” He placed his glass on the table. “I’ll see you guys out there.”

  Down the other end of the house he caught a glimpse of Piper running between rooms.

  “Male entering,” he called as he entered the female zone.

  Kate raced out. “You’re the best, Chris.” She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

  Chris hugged her back. The kid could always make him feel good about himself. He walked with her into the room where Libby, Piper and Imogen were getting ready. His step faltered as the first person he saw was Imogen, or rather her firm, rounded bottom pointing toward him, covered in nothing but a nearly see-through slip, as she bent toward Libby to fix her makeup.

  His body stiffened and he glanced away, clearing his throat.

  “Come in, Chris. We’re all decent,” Piper said.