12. Blake
Blake
M ilo greets every person he passes as Ryder and I escort him to the lobby. “So, what brings you by, Milo? You aren’t supposed to be here for another few weeks.”
“Funny you should ask. I was heading to Galveston because their event is this weekend. I got caught up in singing along to one of Joelle Summer’s latest hits on the radio and must have missed my turn. When I saw the sign for Shuckley, I knew I’d made a teensy mistake! Whoopsie-Daisy! Sometimes I feel as though I’m going Mach 2 through life and not slowing down. Did I ever tell you that breaking the sound barrier is on my bucket list? Too bad I can’t even bring myself to go above the speed limit. Rules are in place for a reason and….”
I interrupt his rambling because if I don’t, Milo will continue to veer away from the topic with more random tangents. I’ve never known him to finish a conversation without doing it at least once. “Speaking of Joelle Summers, her concert tour ends in Houston on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. She volunteered to sing a few songs at our event.”
“Really?” Milo asks. “How did you manage to score that?”
I gesture to Ryder. “I didn’t. Ryder knows her personally and introduced me. She’s all about worthy endeavors and has been a part of Cornhole for a Cause since she was a teenager. She and all of her friends have been and are champion Cornholers. They’re known as The Beanbaggers of Cornhole County, and they’ve volunteered to help us this year.”
Ryder hooks his thumbs in the front pockets of his cargo shorts. “My friend, Merdy, has a YouTube channel dedicated to events such as this one and will promote Play It Forward. My friend, Gabby, is an artist and will run a face painting station. Two of my friends, Hunter and Hayden, run a ranch and will bring a few of their horses to offer pony rides to the younger children. They’ll have a few of their trainers demonstrate barrel racing and saddle-bronc riding for rodeo competitions.”
Milo claps his hands with delight. “How marvelous!”
I can’t help but grin at his childlike excitement. “The group is also going to set up several cornhole boards for the kids to play with. We thought we would add a few backyard games that are also professional sports that anyone can compete.”
“That’s a great idea. I look forward to seeing how it all turns out,” Milo says as the doors to the lobby burst open and three women with fluorescent heads of hair barge in—The Baggersville Biddies.
Before I can ask why they’re here, Alma lights up when she sees Milo. She shuffles over to him and pinches his cheeks. “Well, you’re as cute as a bug and just as colorful!”
“There’s nothin’ cute about bugs, Alma,” Mabel retorts. “You’re makin’ the guy feel awkward.”
Milo stands there, taking it. There’s not even a hint of pink in his cheeks or a trace of embarrassment from the exchange. If anyone knows how to be awkward, it’s Milo. Once Alma releases him and gently pats his cheek, he holds up a finger and says, “Actually, bugs are quite cute if you see them up close. I’ll take it as a compliment.”
Ryder gestures toward the three women. “Milo, these effervescent ladies are the Biddies. Meet Mabel, Lettie, and Alma. I forgot they mentioned that they would be stopping by to get a tour of the facility and see where I’ve been spending my free time lately.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Milo says. “Why don’t I show you ladies around?”
Instead of accepting the invitation, Mabel briskly rubs her arms. “What temperature do y’all keep the air conditionin’ at? It’s like a refrigerator in here.”
For the record, it’s 72 degrees and I’m a bit warm and on the verge of getting sticky from the humidity. However, I don’t bother to mention that to Mabel. I haven’t spent much time with her—other than a quick introduction at the prison and dinner at her place—but even in that short amount of time, I’ve learned that there’s very little use in arguing with her.
Milo offers his arm, and Alma quickly accepts the gentlemanly gesture. He begins the tour, “Ah, it can be a bit chilly, but not as cold as the time I got stuck in a walk-in freezer.”
“Fascinatin’,” Alma says, not only hanging on Milo’s arm, but on his every word. “I’d love to hear all about it.”
I quickly tug on Ryder’s shirt as the group walks away. “Trust me, you’ll eventually hear the story. For now, I need your help to unload the pallet of supplies that was just delivered. It’s why I came to find you. Let’s get Mina and Trevor and see if they’ll be willing to assist.”
Ryder shakes his head. “Mina is helping Trevor do his homework. That’s more important than helping unload a few boxes.”
Taking Ryder’s hand in mine, I drag him down the hall and outside to where the truck dropped off the supplies. I giggle when Ryder takes in the number of boxes. “That’s more than a few.”
“At least we’ll work up a good appetite. Are you still coming to the family dinner tonight?”
Last week didn’t end well since my dad threatened Ryder, which is likely the reason he’s shaking his head. “We’re assuming he’s tracking you and knows that we are seeing each other behind his back, but until we’re certain, I don’t want to risk it.”
I understand his position since we’ve only been seeing each other for a week, but I’m willing to walk away from everything my dad is offering since I don’t want it with the strings he’s attached. It’s time for me to take a stand for what I want no matter how things turn out on the relationship front. “We can’t let him win,” I blurt.
Ryder tenderly caresses my cheek and tenderly brushes his lips against mine. “I don’t intend to. Regardless of what happens between us—and I very much want there to be an ‘us’—no one gets to tell me how to live my life. I’ve been under my father’s control before, and it’s not a place I ever wish to be again. I simply need to get a few ducks in a row. Were you serious about Wheelie Good Tires being interested in adding a driver to their team?”
Since no one is around for the moment, I wrap my arms around his taut waist and kiss his slightly clenched jaw. “Yes. With one phone call, I can set you up with an interview.” I let go and step back, removing my phone from my back pocket. I unlock my screen. “Just say the word.”
Ryder takes a moment to ponder the gravity of the choice in front of him, but then the edges of his lips quirk up.
“Word.”
The drive to my father’s house is far from lonely, despite Ryder not coming along for the ride. Mark Daugherty—the owner of Wheelie Good Tires—wasn’t available when I first called, but the sound of his exuberance fills the car now.
“I’d love to have Ryder Stone as part of the team, and an interview isn’t necessary. You’ve told me enough about him to quell any fears I would have had, and I trust your judgment. I had planned to make the offer to him at the end of the season. If we were to poach him mid-season without a trade, then the cost of breaking his contract would far outweigh the benefits.”
“Mark. Mark. Mark. You know as well as I do that my father has been wanting to poach Reggie from you. He wasn’t concerned about offering a trade, but maybe you should consider it.”
There’s silence on the other end, and the only indication that the call hasn’t been cut off is the call timer still ticking upward. There’s a huff before Mark asks, “Are you sure that’s the right move? I don’t really want to lose….”
“It’s just until the end of the season, Mark. Next season, you can have both of the drivers you want. My father is trying to control Ryder by hanging his career over his head. While I don’t have any proof, I also believe my father paid someone to rig the inspections on the vehicles to frame Ryder and discredit him.” I take a few minutes to explain to Mark the nature of my newfound relationship with Ryder, well aware that my boss is a sap for romance. He’s been married to his wife for more than three decades and still brings her flowers for no other reason than to show he’s always thinking about her.
“All right. Text me Ryder’s number and I’ll give him a call. If he’s amenable to the trade, then I’ll call your father with the offer. No one should stand in the way of love. On that note, when you decide you don’t want your current position, I have a CEO spot with your name on it. Janice and I are ready to spend some quality time together cruising around the world. Ryder isn’t the only one who could use an escape outlet. You need one too.”
“That’s very kind of you, and I’ll most definitely consider it. My father still has a chance to make everything right and see the error of his ways. Hopefully, he will.” After thanking Mark and hanging up, I pull off to the side of the road to text him Ryder’s info.
I quickly call Ryder, who picks up on the first ring. “Miss me already?” he asks playfully.
“More than you know,” I tell him with sincerity. “I’m only a few miles from my father’s house, but I wanted to give you a heads-up that Mark Daugherty will be calling you shortly with a trade offer.”
“A trade? He’d give up Reggie for me?”
“He’ll get Reggie in the end, trust me. Ryder, if you want out from under my father’s thumb, this is the best way to do it.” I send up a silent prayer. Please let him take the offer.
“He’s calling me now.”
I pull onto the long stretch of driveway that leads to my father’s mansion. “I’ll let you go and talk to you later.”
Before Ryder hangs up, he says, “I don’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough.”
I chuckle. “You can say ‘Goodbye’ because you really need to take the call.”
I sigh as I park in the circular drive, bracing myself for what’s about to come. I don’t bother knocking as I enter my father’s home. I seek out my brother, who is napping on the couch in the living room. “Where’s Dad?” I ask, jostling Teague from his slumber.
He swats at me like I’m a pesky fly. “Who knows? I’m getting my beauty sleep. Leave me alone.”
I grab his hand and pull him off the couch, his butt hitting the floor with a thud. “You and I need to go for a walk. When’s dinner supposed to be ready?”
“Now,” Dad says as he walks into the room and then right back out. Teague and I are expected to follow him into the dining room.
We do, and I sit in silence until the food is set in front of us. I’m about to open my mouth when a staff member that I don’t recognize enters and whispers in my father’s ear. Standing up and excusing himself, he says. “I have an important call to take. Don’t wait on me.”
Once it’s just Teague and me in the room, he leans forward, “What did you want to talk to me about? I assume that’s why you wanted to take a walk.”
I cut into my perfectly cooked steak and grin. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re about to find out soon.”
Half an hour later, and after the plates have been cleared, our father walks into the room with a smug look on his face. “That was an interesting call and one I took great pleasure in having. Ryder is on his way over, so I can tell him the news.”
“What news is that?” Teague asks.
“We’re getting Reggie Buchanon.”
Playing dumb, I ask, “Can you afford three drivers?”
Dad replies, “I can, but I don’t have to. Morrison Motors is dumping Ryder Stone onto the lap of Wheelie Good Tires. He’s their problem now.”
“What? Why?” I ask, continuing the ruse. Teague appears genuinely stunned by the turn of events, but then his gaze widens momentarily when it dawns on him that I’m already aware of the situation. Thankfully, he keeps his mouth shut.
Overplaying his hand, our father admits, “I warned Ryder that if he pursued you, his career would be over. I would have liked to see him ousted permanently, but he’ll mess up soon enough. He always does. My first plan didn’t work, but this is as close to getting him out of your life as I can get.”
Teague shakes his head. “On the contrary. Now, there’s nothing stopping Blake and Ryder from being together.”
Dad laughs maniacally, as if he has already won. “Blake always puts family first, and that includes you, Teague. She wouldn’t risk your inheritance to date someone she just met. This is over before it even began.” Our father’s eyes turn in my direction, piercing me with a challenging gaze. “Would you? You aren’t that selfish, are you? Ryder Stone is not worth losing everything over.”
I did not expect my father to threaten my brother, and while I try to formulate a response, Teague stands up and heads for the front door. He turns around and holds out his hand toward me. “Let’s go, Blake. You’ve done everything that Father has asked of you, and yet he still can’t find it in his heart to support you. He’ll always dangle the carrot to get what he wants. This stops now.”
“If the two of you walk out the door, then you’ll get nothing. Your racing career will be over, Teague, and you’ll lose the company, Blake.”
I hold up my hand and silently ask Teague to give me a moment. I turn toward our father. “All we ever wanted was your unconditional love and support. Instead, you gave us an ultimatum and forced our hand. Were you ever planning on letting me race for Morrison Motors after I helped reform the ‘Bad Boy?’ For the record, there isn’t anything to reform. Ryder made some mistakes when he was young, and the public has criticized him for it, but his heart is as good as one can get. Despite accusations and always being the suspect any time something goes wrong, he faces it with a positive attitude. You’ve only seen the surface because you never took the time to dig deeper. You treated him like a commodity instead of a human being. You think I’m losing everything? You’re wrong. I’m gaining my freedom, and it’s worth the sacrifice.”
Teague’s lip curls as he says, “Give Reggie our regard. You have three options, Dad. You can let me finish the season, let me go and pay the rest of my contract, or hire someone to take me out of the race like you did Reggie. I have to ask, why did you do it?”
It’s a bold accusation, and our father has never admitted to being wrong. If he did it, he’ll stand by his actions because he’ll feel that they’re justified. “I knew the moment Ryder left my office that he wouldn’t concede to my wishes. I could see it in his eyes. I needed his reputation to be ruined so that you could see him for the man he truly is, Blake.”
Tears well up in my eyes at how far my father has fallen from the pedestal I’d placed him on. “You wanted me to see him for the man you believe him to be. Instead, I discovered the man you really are. If Ryder and I end up together, know this: I’d rather be a Stone than a Morrison.”