Chapter 16
LAUREN
H ad someone asked me before that moment what was the worst surprise of my life, it would definitely have been standing amongst a hundred and fifty people as we all watched Freddy getting a hand job from a bartender.
Didn’t think he could beat that, so to speak, but now he had.
I pulled away from the warmth of Matthew’s embrace and walked over to Freddy, my limbs jangling like a marionette on strings.
“What are you doing here?” I was still hoping this was a bad dream.
“Hello, darling,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t seen me kissing someone a second earlier. “A very kind assistant at your company gave me your whereabouts. I told her I needed to get in touch with you immediately, and she was quite helpful.”
Sully, no doubt. I forgave her for sending me to the wrong ranch, but this mistake was unforgivable. Then again, maybe it wasn’t a mistake at all. Did he pay her for this information? I’d definitely be investigating later.
“We’re supposed to speak through our lawyers.” I glanced over my shoulder at Matthew, who was watching us with a dark expression on his face.
Freddy clicked his tongue. “Still an ice queen, I see.”
I hated it when he called me that, probably because there was a grain of truth to it. Instead of getting emotional with Freddy and showing him my anger and pain, I’d always resorted to freezing him out. Why should I show him how badly he was hurting me? Ice queens could at least keep their dignity.
“I’m being practical.” Unlike him, who flew all the way out here to have a conversation.
“Lawyers only want to take our money,” he said. “I think we can settle this between the two of us, don’t you? We’re both reasonable adults.”
Before I could ask Freddy how much he’d spent flying out here—first class, no doubt—Matthew was at my side, so close that our elbows were touching.
“Everything alright, Lauren?” he asked.
He had a few inches of height on Freddy and was brawnier, too.
My ex didn’t seem worried, though. Freddy slid his manicured hands into the pockets of his linen blazer and gave Matthew a quick appraisal, no doubt making judgments about his clothing and haircut.
I usually smiled every time I thought about Walt trimming Matthew’s hair in the barn, but nothing seemed funny at that moment.
“Matthew,” I said, “this is Frederic Arnaud Tremblay, my?—”
Freddy extended his hand toward Matthew. “Her husband.” I wanted to smack the smile right off his face. How did I ever find him charming?
Matthew reluctantly took Freddy’s hand in his and shook it. “Can someone tell me what’s going on here?”
I grabbed Matthew’s arm, desperate to make him understand I wasn’t a creepy cheater.
“We’re only married in the legal sense of the word.
We signed separation papers over three years ago, and we haven’t really had a marriage in much longer than that.
Freddy doesn’t live with me, and I even had the locks changed so he can’t get into the apartment anymore. ”
“You what?” Freddy had the nerve to be offended. “Why would you do that?”
I shot him a deadly look before continuing. “We’re nothing to each other except a problem to be solved. I’m sure he’s here because our lawyers haven’t been able to get us to come to an agreement about the divorce settlement.”
“I understand,” Matthew said. “It’s alright.” He sounded calm, but he didn’t look happy.
“Ahem, excuse me.” Freddy waved his hands to get our attention. “I don’t know who you are, but I need to speak privately with my wife.”
“I’m the owner of this property, and I can have you thrown off it if I want to.” Matthew crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s who I am.”
“And I’m about to be your ex-wife,” I reminded Freddy, “if you’d sign the damn papers instead of trying to get more money out of me.”
Matthew turned toward me and placed a protective hand on my shoulder. “Do you want me to make him leave?”
“That would be my preference, but, unfortunately, I need him to stay so we can come to an agreement. I want my marriage to be officially over.” I scowled at Freddy. “Go to your cabin, and I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“I want to talk tonight,” Freddy said petulantly. “I came all the way from Europe to sort this out with you. The least you could do is make time for me now.”
My eyes bugged out of my head. “The least I could do?” Realizing I’d raised my voice too loud, I grabbed Freddy’s arm. “Excuse us, please.”
Matthew nodded crispy. “Sure. I’ll be right inside if you need me.”
As the door swung closed behind Matthew, Freddy struggled free of my grip and rubbed his arm. “Ow. Nails, darling.”
“You came out here uninvited and now you’re demanding that I stop my lovely evening so I can talk about divorce terms with you?” I scolded. “Who do you think you are? I decide if and when I’ll speak to you. And if you don’t like that, you can get on a plane tomorrow and talk to my lawyers. Got it?”
“There’s that Italian temper.” I glared at him, and he finally caved. “Fine, we’ll talk tomorrow.”
I ran my hands over the skirt of my dress. “Good. I’ll see you at nine.”
As I turned to walk inside the Round Room, Freddy called out to me. “All these years, you acted like I was the only one running around in this marriage. Now we find out the truth.” He made a scoffing noise. “Make-believe cowboy.”
My hands shook, and if I weren’t afraid of getting charged with assault, I would have slapped him.
“I’ve been separated for years, and this is the first person I’ve met who—” I drew in a deep breath.
“You know what? It’s none of your business.
Just make sure you treat everyone who works here with respect.
Whether or not I like it, I’m associated with you, and I’ve had enough second-hand embarrassment to last a lifetime. ”
“Oh, please. What happened at the salon was more embarrassing for me than it was for you. My mother heard about it all the way in Switzerland. For you, it was free advertising. As they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
Just when I thought he couldn’t sink any lower…
“You don’t even care that you humiliated not only me but your sons, as well? Is this the role model you want to be for your children?”
Freddy reached out to pat me on the cheek, and I smacked his hand away. “Poor Lauren. You’re so American. People have affairs. A lifetime of monogamy is completely unrealistic.”
“I wish you’d notified me about that before we said our wedding vows.” The tears were threatening again. “I meant my vows when I said them, and, silly me, I thought you did too. You knew I believed in monogamy or you wouldn’t have tried to hide those first affairs.”
I’d finally cracked his facade and frustration bubbled over. Spittle flew from his lips as he snapped at me. “I know you love to shame me, but you weren’t the perfect wife, either. You worked all the time, and our sex life was nonexistent. What was I supposed to do?”
Mrs. Jernigan popped her head out the screen door. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’re heading back to our cabin.”
The look of pity she shot me turned my stomach. Freddy had succeeded in humiliating me once again. It seemed to be his entire purpose in life.
“C’mon out,” I said. “I’m sorry we were so loud.”
She gave me another sympathetic glance as she and her husband whisked their children past me. I could only imagine what they must have thought. There was no way I could go back inside to the dance now.
After they were gone, I moved closer to Freddy so I could speak quietly. “I know I’m not perfect, Freddy. Mistakes were made on both sides, and there’s no point in rehashing the past anymore. It’s time to move on.”
“I agree.” His anger seemed to retreat a little. “I really did come out here so we could talk like adults.”
“Then I’ll meet you in the dining room at nine so we can talk. Goodnight, Freddy.”
I refrained from telling him not to be late.
The man loved his beauty sleep, and he’d probably rest peacefully all night, while I tossed and turned, trying to predict what legal maneuvers he had in store for me.
I would not let him take advantage of me.
Not this time. Lauren Cozzi might have let him do it, but Lauren Wagonblast?
She carried pool sticks into bar fights, and she was no man’s doormat. Freddy was about to find that out.