Chapter 12 Honey
HONEY
My dad yells so loudly, I pull the phone away from my ear. When he’s done screaming, I take a deep breath. “I told you, I’m fine. Yesterday’s fire wasn’t that close to my place.”
“This is why you should be living at home. You could stay in the guest house this time. I’m sure it’s bigger than your decrepit apartment.”
“I’m not moving home, Dad. I love where I live. It’s a minute from my job.”
He grumbles in my ear. “You sure you’re okay?”
I smile because my grumpy dad sounds so out of sorts. “I swear, I’m fine. The fire department arrived quickly and canvassed the block to make sure everyone was okay.” Damn Beau Walker for looking so swoony doing it.
When I see the time, I rush around my apartment, grabbing my purse and keys. “Listen, Dad, I need to go. I’m having dinner with Ian.” That should make him happy.
“Oh, well, why didn’t you say so? Get going.” Click.
Nice talking to you too.
The traffic is light, so I get to the restaurant early. I picked the Cactus Bloom Diner on Main Street because it’s in the middle of town. It’s not romantic. There’s no candlelight. No soft music. No fancy place settings.
I chose a place with murals of cacti on the walls and plastic succulents on the table. Because even though I have to go on a date with Ian, I’m uneasy about it.
After I order something to drink, I grab a seat by the large bay window where I study an assortment of festive, hand-embroidered cactus baskets.
When six rolls around, I smooth down my shirt and try not to fidget.
Maybe I should have changed instead of donning work clothes.
I’m wearing a white blouse, a tan skirt, and beige pumps. It’s boring, I suppose.
Ian strolls in twenty minutes late. He’s on the phone. When he sees me, he holds up a finger and continues to talk. He’s wearing a tailored black suit and expensive leather shoes. Not what I was expecting for the son of a rancher.
I’m finishing my iced tea when he joins me. “Sorry I’m late. Business. But I’m sure you’re used to that with your family.”
You mean coming last in their list of priorities? Yes. In fact, I am used to that. “No problem.”
Where Beau is rugged with that scruffy face, shaggy hair, and intense green eyes, Ian looks like he spends his days in an office. His black hair is short and neatly combed back, and he has cold gray eyes. And his smooth hands tell me he doesn’t actually do much ranching.
He snaps his fingers to get the waitress’s attention, which makes me cringe.
Maybelle wanders over. She gives me a look, and I silently apologize for my date. “What can I get y’all?”
Ian orders, then turns to me. “Maybelle, can I get an order of fries?” I ask. “And another iced tea. I have a stack of papers to grade tonight, so I need the caffeine.”
“Sure thing, Honey.” She clicks her pen and walks off.
Ian frowns at me. “You could have picked a nicer restaurant. I’m paying.”
“I don’t want to be wined and dined, but thank you.” Ian and I stare at each other, and I laugh uncomfortably. This is ridiculous. “Can I ask why you want to do this?”
His brows lift. “Date a beautiful woman?”
I wish he’d cut the crap. “Do you really want to marry someone you barely know? In six months? Because that’s what my father says has to happen.”
He cracks a smile. “I like that you don’t pull any punches.”
“I’m learning to be more upfront with what I need.”
Nodding slowly, he gives me a once-over. “So you’re a teacher.”
Ugh, we’re doing this. Making small talk. Fine. “High school English.”
“My least favorite subject. My penmanship is shit, so my teachers never tried to read what I wrote.”
“That happens, unfortunately, which is why I book time in the computer lab so my students can type their work.”
His lips tug up into a smile. “Nice. What else do I need to know about you? Did I hear something about a club?”
My dad must have told him about the Harvesters.
“Yes, it’s a group that fosters interest in animal husbandry and farming in students.
I participated in high school and got awards for raising cows and their calves and training my horse.
” I explain how I’m hoping to purchase Mr. Turner’s old farm and expand our outreach in the community.
As I talk about the competitions I used to do, his eyes glaze over before he glances down at his phone. At texts, I assume.
After a minute, I stop talking and wait for him to say something.
He finally sets the phone face down. “Sorry. More work stuff.”
“I figured I was boring you.” Since he has no idea what I just said.
“Not at all.” He folds his hands as he appraises me. “Honey, you seem like a smart woman. Think of this, you and me, like a business transaction. We get together, make our parents happy, and everyone makes lots of money. Win-win.”
What a romantic. “You make it sound simple.”
“Isn’t it?” He leans back when Maybelle puts our food down.
I pour some ketchup on my plate and drag a fry through it. “No offense, but I’m generally a fan of that time-honored tradition of falling in love as a prerequisite for marriage.”
“That’s cute.” He laughs as he picks at his food. “Were your parents really in love when they married?”
“I’m not sure.” They’re not the kind of people who are overtly affectionate, but I used to think they were fond of each other. Although now I’m beginning to wonder.
“Well, mine weren’t. They had neighboring ranches and decided to merge their assets to form a kickass business.” Excitement lights his eyes. “You and I can be like that, Honey. We can forge new opportunities for our families.”
I’m still confused. “My father said he’ll get oil rights to some of your land, but what do you get out of this?”
He frowns for a moment, but then his expression clears. “Besides marrying you?”
“Besides that. What financial gain do you get?”
Nodding slowly, he wipes his hands. “I get to align my family with one of the biggest ranching families in Texas. That means when one of those tech companies tries to put some monstrous call center next to our property, and guzzle up all our water that we need for our cattle, we have the collective power to lobby the state congress.”
“So you’re interested in my father’s influence in Austin.”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
He chuckles. “That’s a pretty big deal, Honey. Not every rancher can brag about being able to call up any politician at the drop of a dime. It’s my understanding your father can do that.”
Now that I understand what Ian’s after, I start to relax. “I’m not marrying you if I don’t like you as a human. So please don’t snap at our waitresses. It’s rude. Around here, we don’t do that.”
His eyes brighten with amusement. “My apologies. I’ve been on calls all day, and it makes me forget my manners. If I leave the waitress a big tip, will that make up for my shitty attitude?”
“Depends on the tip.” From what I overheard Maybelle tell one of her friends at the Blackbird Coffee House last week, she needs money to buy her kids new winter coats. Maybe I can get Ian to cover that.
Anxious about how this is going to play out, I eat my fries as fast as possible while Ian picks over his food. When I’m done, I flag down Maybelle. “Can we get the check?”
When she drops it off, I give Ian a look, and he laughs. After he pays, he drops a hundred on the table. “Does that satisfy you?”
I nod. “Thank you.”
We walk out to the street, and I point to my SUV.
“I’m over there.” He leans in for a hug, and I hold out my hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ian.” He shakes it with a little smirk on his mouth that annoys me.
“Maybe if I didn’t feel like a heifer up for auction, I’d be more amenable, but I’m not a fan of how you and my father are pressuring me to do this. ”
He holds his hand over his chest. “I’m sorry for how this appears, Honey, but I swear my intentions are honorable. Do you think you could give me a chance? Let me wine and dine you for real next time? Who knows, we might have fun.”
Ian is handsome. Well dressed. Has money. A good job. And yet there’s absolutely no spark between us, at least on my end.
While the man who lights my body on fire doesn’t want me.
I guess it can’t hurt to try this with Ian. As we walk around to the driver’s side, I nod. “I’m open to being persuaded.”
He chuckles and opens his arms. “Can I at least have a hug?”