Chapter 41 Honey
HONEY
In the morning, Beau’s quiet as he dresses. It makes me wonder if my father’s words wormed their way into his head.
I press myself to his back. “Thanks for coming over.”
Turning, he kisses me. “Sorry I have to go, but I have a ton of crap to do at the ranch.”
“I heard about the vendors. I’m so sorry.”
He shrugs. “Not your fault, darlin’.”
“Do you need help with anything?”
“Normally, I’d take you up on the offer, but I saw that huge stack of essays on your kitchen table. So no. You need time for your work.”
I jut out my bottom lip. “I don’t want to grade. It’s Saturday. I’d rather clean your tack or help you with your fencing or literally anything on the ranch. I’d like to see Paige’s chickens.”
“Careful, princess, or I’m gonna lock you away in my cabin.” With a groan, he hugs me. “You’re making this hard. Especially since you’re all naked and warm.”
Reluctantly, I let go of him. “I don’t want to keep you from your work.
” But I want him to know what he’ll be missing, so as he stands there, I reach up to tie my hair in a messy bun.
Then I shrug on my pajama top, not bothering to button it up.
Lastly, I pull on my underwear. Beau has a thing about my panties.
He grins as he watches me dress. “I know what you’re doing.”
“I’m just giving my boyfriend a show so he misses me.”
Shaking his head, he laughs and adjusts his erection. “If I miss you any more, I’m going to bend you over your couch.”
I grin and shove on my duck slippers. “Food for thought.” I follow him out into the living room. “Are you sure you can’t stay for breakfast? I’m not much of a cook, but I can make French toast.”
At the door, his eyes track over my body, pausing on my underwear.
I grin and lean up to kiss him again. I want to ask when I’ll see him again, but that sounds needy.
I don’t want to be that girl. He’ll call me when he wants to see me.
He’s already invited me to his family’s for Thanksgiving, so at the very least, I’ll see him on Thursday.
Ugh, that feels like a lifetime from now when it’s only five days.
“See you soon, princess.”
Even though I want to attach myself to him like a human octopus, I nod and smile and wave bye like an adult.
When he’s gone, I sigh like a lovesick fool. This is bad.
I reach for my phone because I need someone to help me process.
Even though I spoke to her the other day, I need my best friend.
When Cynthia answers, I blurt it out. “Beau just left. My dad harassed him and is messing with their vendors. I was afraid he was going to scare Beau off, but then we had sex, and it was literally the most erotic night of my life.”
She snickers in my ear. “Damn, girl. You got the good D.”
“So good. I’m actually walking funny.” Someone knocks on my door. “Hold on. I think he’s back.” Maybe he forgot something.
Except when I open the door, it’s not Beau.
I gasp. “Ian. What are you doing here?”
His eyes are zeroed in on my pajama top, which is barely clinging to my breasts. Shit. I slam the door and button all the buttons. Then I remember I’m on the phone. “Cyn, I’m going to need to call you back.”
“Ian’s there?” she asks, as surprised as I am.
“Ugh, yes.”
“Why?” She sounds pissed. I love that she’s as irate about this situation as I am.
I shake my head. “I don’t know, but I’m barely dressed. I have to go.” I hang up and run to the bedroom. A minute later, I have my pajama bottoms on, my slippers, and my robe cinched tightly around my waist.
When I open the door again, he’s leaning against the wall, grinning. “That was a nice show.”
“I hope you enjoyed it because that’s the only one you’re ever getting.”
He rubs his chin. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“Yes, my boyfriend. The one I fucked three times last night. In fact, his cum is still dripping out of me.” I’m as crass as I can possibly be.
His smile fades. “Funny. Listen, can we talk? I need to share a few things with you.”
I’m about to tell him we can meet up at a coffee house in half an hour when he brushes past me and heads for the couch, where he manspreads like he owns the place.
“Yes, please come in,” I mumble to myself as I shut the door.
Sitting on the far end of the couch, I don’t bother offering him anything to drink. “What’s up?”
“I feel like we got off on the wrong foot.”
“Showing up here like this, uninvited, isn’t doing anything to change the impression I have of you.”
He rolls up his sleeves. This is the first time I’ve seen him in casual clothes.
He’s wearing boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved button-up.
“My apologies for dropping by. Your father said he thought you might be home right now, and since you weren’t responding to my texts, I didn’t think I had much of a choice. ”
Unbelievable. My dad won’t return my calls, but he’ll talk to Ian. “I didn’t respond because I don’t want to talk to you. I think we said all there was to say when we had dinner. When you left that bruise on my arm.”
He winces. “I’m sorry. I promise that will never happen again. I swear I’m not the asshole you think I am. Here’s the truth. Your father owes me a lot of money, and his solution to this is merging our families.”
I stare at him long and hard. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard we’re having financial troubles. “I’m not sure I believe you. My father’s never complained about money.” About what things cost, sure, but not about debt.
“He’s a proud man. Why would he burden you with those details?”
I pause because there’s some truth in that. My father never wants to discuss business with me, but I can’t believe he’d drive our ranch off a financial cliff. I’ll ask Cash. He’ll level with me. “If we’re so strapped, why does my father fly private every week to go to Dallas?”
“You mean on my jet?”
I blink at him. “What?”
“I loaned it to him last year.”
My mind races as I try to make sense of what Ian’s saying. “So when I asked you why you wanted to marry me the first time we met, you were lying? It’s not about my father’s political connections. It’s about his debt to you?”
“One doesn’t have to negate the other.” He shrugs. “Your father didn’t want me to disclose his financial problems, but now that you’ve made it clear you have other plans for your future, I thought I should mention it before you decide.”
I’m almost afraid to ask the question. “What happens if I decline your offer?”
His cold gray eyes bore into me. “Then I’ll call in my loans, and your family will be ruined.”
Is this guy for real? What the hell is going on? My heart beats in my throat as I try to process everything. “I’ll ask this again. What do you get by marrying me?”
“A third of your ranch and assets. A chance to buy out your brothers. And sex with a beautiful woman.”
I want to vomit. I cover my mouth and try to breathe through my nose. It takes me a full minute to not puke. “What… what did my father do to get into debt with you?”
“What didn’t he do?” He chuckles. “Made bad investments. Gambled. Whored. Overextended himself. The usual.”
Standing, I fold my arms. “You need to go.”
He stares up at me with a smirk on his smug mouth. “I’ll give you until the first of the month to decide what you want to do. So you can have a nice Thanksgiving.”
I’ve never wanted to throat-punch someone so much in my life. “That’s so gracious of you.” I hope he hears the sarcasm in my voice.
“I’m a gracious person.” He finally stands and checks his obnoxiously large Rolex. “I’m headed to New York for a few days. I couldn’t entice you to join me, could I?”
“Not in this lifetime or the next.” I open the front door and point toward the hallway as I stare straight ahead.
Ian pauses in front of me, stopping to graze my chin with his thumb. I turn away, so his hand drops. “I like your fire, Honey. I think we could have something special.”
“You mean while you fuck your sidepieces behind my back? No thanks.”
He shrugs. “I could be persuaded to give up that pastime. I’m not seeing anyone special. She’s just a diversion. What about you? That boyfriend of yours worth losing your ranch?”
Beau’s worth a hundred ranches. I know that in my bones.
But what about my family? What about their future?
I swallow the curses I want to level at this man and smile snidely. “I guess we’ll find out.”