Fortune's Homecoming Page 14

  “Now what’re you doing?”

  A hot flush ran under her skin. She quickly slid the shoes off again, tucking them safely right back into the box. “Nothing.”

  She could practically hear the slow smile on his face. “You’re wearing the shoes.”

  Her bare toes pushed the box a few inches away as if he could see her. “No, I’m not.”

  “You might as well accept it, sweetheart. Those shoes are meant for you.”

  Like he was meant for her?

  She tried to banish the fruitless thought, but it wouldn’t go. “They’re too extravagant and I will be returning them to you. So accept it. Sweetheart.”

  “Aww. That’s your first ‘sweetheart.’ You’re making my heart go all pitter-pat.”

  She laughed. “You’re nuts.”

  “Well, I could get serious and promise that one day, you’ll wear those shoes and nothing else while we make love.” He paused, making her wonder if he could hear the sound of her pounding heart right through the phone line. “But...I wouldn’t want to scare you off. Not when you’re supposed to be thinking about Red Rock.”

  Her head fell back against the cushion. “You’re relentless.”

  “When there’s something I want? That’s what has got me where I am today, sweetheart.”

  “In Reno. A thousand miles away.”

  “Closer to two. It’s only a plane ride, Billie.” He sounded serious. “Say the word. And I’ll get you here in a matter of hours.”

  Word.

  She closed her eyes. “The inspection is tomorrow. And after that, I have to go to Houston.”

  “What’s in Houston?”

  “The rest of my furniture.”

  “So you do have more than boxes?”

  She smiled. “I have a couch, even. It’s been stored in my old neighbors’ garage. But they’re moving into a house soon that I helped them find, so one of my brothers, Ted—he has a pickup—is going with me to get the last of my stuff. It won’t take us long. What about you? Will you have a lot of stuff to move to your new place?”

  “I’ve got my horses, my gear and my bedroll.”

  “Sounds like you’ll be doing some furniture shopping, then.”

  “Maybe for a bed.” His voice dropped a notch. “It’ll go against the wall where it’ll overlook the lake. What do you think?”

  “I think we should talk about something else.”

  He laughed softly.

  She cleared her throat. “Why are you reconsidering retiring? Why were you even considering it in the first place?”

  “That’s what you want to talk about?”

  It was a safer subject than her future, which seemed so much less certain than it had just a few weeks ago...before he’d walked into her office. “I’ve got you on the phone,” she said lightly. “I figure I’d better take advantage of it.”

  “I’m thirty-seven, Billie. Bulldogging’s hard work.”

  “There’ve been successful steer wrestlers older than you.”

  “And there’ve been unsuccessful ones, too. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. If I’m gonna quit, I want to quit on top.”

  “On your terms.” Ego, she understood. “When did you start reconsidering?”

  “When I found myself buying a ranch twice as big as I’d figured I’d want.”

  All because he’d kissed her in a wine cellar. As romantic gestures went, it was a pretty huge one. “You need the money. If you’ve changed your mind about buying the ranch, better to do it now, rather than later.”

  “I want the money. No offense, Billie, but you of all people should understand that. You told me yourself you chose your career because of the income potential.”

  She’d told him she was tired of hand-me-downs. But the bottom line was the same. She wanted—needed—to be self-sufficient. Trotting after him on the rodeo circuit flew right in the face of every goal she’d ever had. “What you’re spending on the ranch will take more than a few years at the top of the money rankings to recoup, won’t it?”

  “It’s not the rodeo money. It’s the endorsement deals I have as a result. Billie, I can afford the ranch. I could afford two of ’em and not really sweat it. But I spent more of my life not having money than having it. So it’s kind of second nature for me to hold on to it when I can.”

  Except when he was donating small fortunes to help fund the work that his foundation did.

  “You’re an interesting man, Grayson Fortune.”

  “Well, hell, Billie. Next thing you’ll be saying is that I’m a good friend.”

  She smiled slightly. “From your tone, I take it that is bad.”

  “It is when it’s coming from the girl I’m tryin’ to woo.”

  Her smile widened. “I’ve never been wooed before.”

  “Not even by the guy who inspired the toe tattoo?”

  She wriggled her toes. “Not even by him.”

  “Does it earn me any points?”

  She stared out at the glorious sunset. Imagined the same view from a lakefront bedroom with him by her side. “You’re sure not losing any.”

  Chapter Ten

  “You know he got her freaking pregnant, right?”

  Billie nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of the furious voice. “Max! I thought you were still in Reno!”

  Her cousin stepped into her office cubicle and planted his hands on her desk, leaning toward her. “Did you hear what I said?”

  She looked nervously at the glass walls surrounding her. It was Wednesday afternoon and the office was hopping. “Keep your voice down. There are people here trying to conduct business.” She pushed him toward her side chairs. “Sit down.”

  He didn’t budge. “How could you, Bill?”

  “Who is pregnant? And what do I have to do with it?”

  “He’ll just use you, same as he did her. And then he’ll throw you away, same as he did her.”

  “What are you talking about?” But her stomach was already sinking.

  “Who do you think? Your new boyfriend, Grayson the Great. What the hell, Billie? Did you forget what loyalty to your family was all about?”

  She hopped up from her chair and it rolled back, knocking noisily into her filing cabinet. “Keep your voice down!” She grabbed his arm and hauled him down the hall and into one of the conference rooms. It was surrounded by glass, too, but full walls of it that afforded a fair measure of soundproofing. She pushed the door closed and looked at him. “Grayson’s a client.” It was the understatement of the year. “And how’d you even hear about that?”

  He shoved back his cowboy hat. “Are you kidding me?”

  She frowned at him. “Did Grayson tell you?” They were both competing at the rodeo in Reno. She still hadn’t given Grayson any reason to connect her with Max, but she had no idea what kind of conversations went on between men when they were hanging around waiting to wrestle an enormous animal to the ground.

  “Like I’d listen to anything he said.” Max’s voice was filled with disgust. He’d pulled out his cell phone and was fiddling with it. “There.” He flipped the phone between his fingers so she could see and hear the video playing on the screen.

  “Is she the reason for the five million dollar house you’re buying in Austin?”

  “Y’all know me better ’n that. It’s just business.”

  With a swipe of his finger, Max silenced Grayson’s words. “Two of you didn’t look like you were doing much business.”

  It was from the night they’d been to La Viña. It seemed so long ago, but had really been less than a week. “Where did you find that?”

  “I didn’t have to find it. It’s all over the news that he’s buying that big ol’ Southfork-sized ranch outside of town.” He made a face. “‘Is Grayson finally settling down?’ That’s the question the media keep asking. Geez, Billie, I knew you were still crushin’ on him. I can’t believe you worked with the guy after what you know about him!”

  “I had a job to do,
Max. It’s not like I can afford to pick and choose who my clients are!”

  He waved his phone in her face. “And you can’t choose who you’re hitting up the latest hot spot in Austin with?”

  “It was a business dinner,” she said through her teeth. The business of you falling for Grayson, maybe. “Look, Max. I’m sorry if you think I’ve betrayed you, but none of this was about you!”

  His look turned pitying. “You still don’t get it. She. Is. Pregnant.”

  “She who?” Even as the exasperated words burst from her, she realized the answer. “Bethany.”

  “Bethany.” Max rubbed his hand over his face.

  But she still saw the gleam of moisture in his eyes and her shoulders suddenly fell.

  This was the boy she’d grown up with. The one who was more a brother than a cousin.

  “Oh, Max,” she breathed. “You really loved her.”

  He dropped his hand, glaring at her. “I told you I did. You think I made it up?”

  “No, but...” She spread her palms. “You’ve never been serious before about anyone and I thought—we all thought—it was just another fling.”

  His jaw worked. He grabbed a chair several spaces down the table and sat in it. “It’s his, you know. The baby.”

  Her stomach clenched. “Grayson’s not involved with Bethany. They’re just old friends. He told me.”

  “And you believed him, Little Miss Don’t-Believe-in-Love.” He snapped his fingers. “Just like that.” He leaned forward. “He gave her a job. He gave her money.”

  Billie didn’t want to believe it. “How do you know that?” She couldn’t imagine Max actually talking to Grayson about it. Not the way he felt. “Did Bethany tell you?”

  His lips twisted. He looked away. “She won’t see me.”

  “Then how—”

  “Heard it from his hazer.” He made an impatient sound. “Lou Blackhorn. He’s Grayson’s regular hazer and he’s been filling in for Trav for me in Reno.”

  “This Lou...he told you specifically that Grayson paid Bethany money because she’s pregnant with his child.” Saying the words made Billie more than a little nauseated.

  “No, he didn’t tell me specifically, but I heard it all the same. Your boyfriend got her knocked up and now he’s moved on to you.” He pointed his finger at her.

  She shook her head. “You’re wrong.”

  “He’s not trying to get into your pants?”

  She flinched. “Don’t be crude.”

  Max snorted. “Right.” He shoved out of the chair. “Well, next time he does, just remember what I said. He’ll use you, same as he used her. And when he’s finished, he’ll move on to the next and the next and the next.” He yanked open the conference room door and stormed down the hall out of sight.

  She exhaled shakily, lowering her forehead onto her hands while Max’s words rang inside her mind.

  “Billie?” A tentative voice interrupted her misery. She looked up to see Amberleigh’s concerned face. “Are you all right, hon?”

  She lowered her hands to her lap and nodded. “I’m fine, Amberleigh. Just...just family...stuff.”

  The older woman nodded sympathetically. “Your two-o’clocks are here to sign papers. I came to find you when you didn’t answer your line. I can see if someone else can handle it. Elena’s in this afternoon, I think—”

  “That’s okay, Amberleigh.” Billie pushed to her feet. “The Nguyens are my clients.” Lana Nguyen was also the secretary of Ben Fortune Robinson that she’d mentioned to Grayson.

  The same day he’d told her Robinson was his half brother.

  “I was just printing out the rest of their paperwork when I got interrupted,” she said around her tight throat. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Okay.” Amberleigh gave her an encouraging nod. “Family stuff works out, hon. Don’t forget that.”

  Billie smiled sadly. She was sorry that Max was hurt, but she knew that eventually, everything between them would work out.

  Grayson, however, was another situation entirely.

  Why on earth had she ever let herself believe that he would be different? That he was worth risking her entire future on?

  He was Grayson Fortune. Flirtation was his stock-in-trade.

  Amberleigh’s gaze dropped to Billie’s feet before she started walking away. “Meanwhile, those are some pretty spectacular shoes. They ought to make everything feel better. Are they real?”

  Billie looked down at the red-soled pumps. “They’re real,” she murmured. She followed the receptionist out of the conference room. “But they’re going back.”

  She just had to figure out the proper way to do it.

  * * *

  “Just another picture, folks. Grayson, why don’t you put your arm around our rodeo queen here?”

  It was the same routine he’d followed at hundreds of rodeos. Holding the championship spurs in one hand. Dropping his other arm around a beaming rodeo queen. He’d even done it more than once right there in Reno.

  Only difference this time was that Billie was here.

  He’d spotted her beyond the glare of the grandstand lights. She hadn’t made any move to approach him yet from where she stood off in the shadows, but he’d still recognized her. She wore jeans and a short jacket—not much different than a lot of women there—but he would recognize the shape of her anywhere.

  “That’s great now, folks. Grayson, how about—”

  He lifted his hand, cutting off the photographer. “Sorry.” They’d already gotten plenty of pictures. “Have someone I need to see.” He tipped his hat to the rodeo queen and headed off to Billie. Anticipation made short work of the walk across the arena.

  Until she stepped out of the shadows and he saw the shoebox she was holding.

  The leap inside him didn’t fully nosedive, though, until he saw the unsmiling look on her face.

  He closed the rest of the distance. Ignoring the shoebox, he reached for her shoulders, dropping a kiss on her cool cheek despite the stiffness he felt in her. “This is a surprise. When did you get here?”

  “In time to see you win the final round. Everyone thought the numbers were against you, but you surprised them all.”

  He’d surprised himself, too. Breaking his own fastest time. Setting another record. “If you’d have told me you were coming, I would have made arrangements—”

  She shook her head before he could even finish. “I didn’t plan at first to come.” She looked away. “But I couldn’t just send these by messenger, either.” She held out the box.

  There was no question that it contained the red-soled apology shoes. He didn’t take it. “Those were a gift.”

  “I told you I couldn’t accept them. And now...” Her lips twisted. She shook her head again and her sleek hair slid down over her cheek.

  “And now...what?”

  “Yo, Big G. Sweet run, man.” A man in clown makeup brushed past them as he jogged into the arena, where two women on horseback were circling the arena with flags, preparing the boisterous crowd for the next event while rock music blasted from the loudspeakers.

  The interruption had been brief, but Billie had still backed away from him even more.

  He stifled an oath and closed the distance again. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”

  “It’s really not necessary.” She sidled away again, holding out the shoebox.

  “It damn sure is if you think I’m going to let you shoe and run without at least tellin’ me why first.” He took her elbow, and steered her around a bunch of giggling teenage girls carrying sodas and cotton candy.

  “Hi, Grayson,” they chimed like a chorus.

  He tipped his hat. “Ladies.” But he didn’t slow his steps. Nor did he release Billie’s elbow, despite her effort to pull free. He aimed away from the lights and the crowds, bypassing the animal pens and heading for where his own trailer was parked out on the dirt. The people they were likely to encounter here were more interested in loading up thei
r horses and their gear and pulling out for the next stop than they were with Grayson and Billie.

  “All right.” When he reached the side of his horse trailer, he turned to face her. “What bee have you got in your bonnet? Last time you and I talked, you were all but set to go to Red Rock with me.”

  Her jaw worked from one side to the other.

  “Dammit, Billie!” He grabbed the shoebox and tossed it onto the open tailgate of his pickup. “Just talk to me.”

  Without the box to clutch to her waist, she folded her arms tightly over her chest. “I know about the baby, okay? I know!”

  He stared hard. It was nearly dark and there were more shadows than there was light shining from the lampposts. “What baby?”

  “Your baby!”

  He felt a jolt deep inside his gut. No matter how randy his past was, he’d always been damn careful. Considering his upbringing, he knew better than to carelessly make a baby that way. “If I had a baby, I think I’d know about it, darlin’.”

  “There’s no reason to hide it. Max told me. You and Bethany—”

  “Max.” His brain felt sluggish, trying to keep up. “Max Vargas?” He knew Bethany had briefly dangled the younger man from her strings. “How—”

  “Max is my cousin.” She cupped her elbows, looking miserable.

  Whether she was as miserable as he felt seemed debatable at that point. “Your cousin.” He waited a beat. “And you’re just now thinking to mention it.”

  “I didn’t think it was relevant—”

  “Relevant.” He’d told her about Jerome Fortune/Gerald Robinson being his father. But she couldn’t mention that the guy who’d been dogging his heels for months was her cousin. Grayson resettled his hat, trying to contain his temper. It wasn’t often that he lost it, but he knew he was as close to that line as he’d ever been. “When did you think it might get relevant?”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “The hell it doesn’t.”

  “Grayson? Everything all right here?”

  Billie startled even more than he did at the sound of his mom’s voice. He hadn’t heard her approach.

  His jaw felt so tight it was hard to speak. “Yeah.” He looked from his mom to Billie. “You remember—” Billie, he’d been about to say. But he was too damn mad. Instead he added, “—my real estate agent?”