Chapter 17
MATTHEW
I ’ve never wanted so badly to kick a man off my ranch.
Literally. I would have liked to launch that Freddy guy into space with the toe of my boot.
I didn’t know exactly what he’d done to Lauren, but from the look on her face, it wasn’t good, and that filled me with a slow boiling anger that needed release.
She briefly came back to the dance before saying goodnight, and although I spent the rest of the evening pretending to be fine, dancing the two-step with guests and neighbors, I was worrying about her the whole time.
Once I went home, I did what any red-blooded American male would do in this situation—I did my research.
Fine, maybe research wasn’t what people expected of a guy who drives a big pickup truck and can shoot a gun, but I was mature enough to know how to channel my emotions into something purposeful.
Threatening Freddy or getting violent with him wasn’t going to help Lauren.
I needed to understand what was going on before I could assist her, and I wasn’t the only one who was curious and concerned.
“What happened with Lauren?” Sam asked as I walked into my living room after putting Gigi to bed. He and Ella had come back to my house after the party.
“Her husband showed up.” I set my laptop on the table and sat down between them on the couch, hoping the WiFi was going to cooperate. “He came all the way from France to see her. They’re in the middle of a divorce.”
Sam’s eyes grew wide. “That’s wild. Is he trying to win her back?”
“Nope,” I said. “They’re fighting over money.”
Ella wrinkled her nose. “Do you think he’s dangerous? A stalker type?”
I sighed and rubbed my tired eyes. “I don’t think so, but I got a really bad vibe from the guy, and I’m looking into it.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t advise snooping.” Ella scooted forward on the couch cushions. “But in this case…” She skimmed her finger across the computer’s touchpad and the screen lit up.
“If it’s out there on the Internet, it’s public knowledge,” Sam reassured me as Ella opened a Web browser.
“Plus, you’re worried about her,” Ella said as she typed. “I am too. Lauren seems like a sweet person.”
“Drama comes to Silver Sage Ranch,” Sam said as we waited for the page to load. He propped his socked feet up on the coffee table. “Who would ever have thunk it?”
Nothing came up for the search term “Lauren Wagonblast New York City.” I knew her profession, and that she had a business with her sister, so we tried “twin sisters Lauren and Tori matchmakers New York City.” The screen flooded with hits.
I discovered her real name was Lauren Cozzi, and I quickly figured out what happened in New York earlier that summer.
Her husband had humiliated her by hooking up with another woman at a party where there seemed to be a whole lot of reporters in attendance.
“I knew he had a punchable face,” I said as Ella clicked a photo of Freddy leaving the scene of his crimes with a jacket held over his head to hide from the cameras. “But this is awful.”
“I would chop off his weiner if he humiliated me like that.” Ella cracked her knuckles. “Wait until he was asleep and—” She made a hacking motion with the side of her hand. “Off with his dick.”
Sam glanced over at her, pale-faced. “Do you have to be so graphic?”
“He deserves it!” she yelped.
“Her personal life was in all the newspapers,” I said. “That explains why she came out here. She probably wanted some privacy and peace. But why was her husband her date for a party if they were separated? She told me she changed the locks on her apartment so he couldn’t get in.”
“Sounds like they were pretending to be together,” Sam said. “Or she’s lying to you.”
“No, he confirmed that they’re divorcing,” I said, “so I don’t think she’s lying to me. She said it was complicated, and I guess it is.” I still didn’t like that word.
Ella leaned in for a closer look. “She’s also running in very posh circles in the big city. Why the hell did she choose this ranch to hide at? No offense.”
“Hey!” Even though I was grousing at her, I understood exactly what she meant.
“She was headed to some fancy spa in Montana called Silvery Sage Resort and Spa,” Sam explained. “She ended up here by mistake and then my brother seduced her.”
I slammed my laptop shut. “Okay, that’s enough for tonight.”
“Really, Matthew?” Ella said. “You slept with a guest? I’m both shocked and proud.”
“I didn’t sleep with her!” I stood up, hoping they’d get the message and leave me alone. “I kissed her, that’s all.” And a little light fooling around, but they didn’t need to know that.
Sam was delighted. “Looks like you got yourself in a pickle, Mr. Perfect.”
“Don’t you have a dog to get home to?” I growled.
Sam jumped up. “Right! I need to let Jake out before he pees on my bed out of spite. See you later, Romeo.”
“Be her friend,” Ella said as she stood up to leave. “I can tell you have feelings for her, but I’m betting she needs a friend right now more than anything.”
* * *
The morning after the dance, Lauren arrived at the poolside breakfast buffet dressed in a pretty pair of black shorts and matching short-sleeved blouse.
She’d styled her hair in a sleek ponytail and her makeup was perfect, but she still couldn’t hide the exhaustion shadowing her eyes.
I was behind the hot bar serving pancakes because I wanted Kyra and Tyler to have a little break that morning.
Most of our staff members had worked hard getting the dance set up, serving drinks and interacting with guests, and they needed some rest. Chef Damon and Serenity were in the kitchen taking care of the food.
I still hadn’t had the chance to have a long talk about Chef’s foray into grand theft auto, or that he’d fallen off the wagon again, and I wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. Still, it needed to happen.
Lauren approached me cautiously, plate in hand. “Matthew, I’m so sorry about last night. I ruined a very special evening, and I’m sure you have so many questions. I feel awful about all of this.”
“Not at all.” I loaded her up with flapjacks, hoping to give her a little carbenergy.
“Don’t worry about a thing.” I wanted to walk around the table and pull her into a hug, tell her I’d help her get through everything.
I was way too invested in this woman’s life, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.
She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath. “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such kindness.”
“You’ve been a delightful guest at this ranch, that’s what. You help out everywhere you can, although we shouldn’t let you do any work, and you’re great company.” I felt myself blushing, as if I’d revealed something too personal. “Honestly, we were all worried about you last night.”
She nodded and attempted to smile. “I’m okay. I want to talk to you when you have a chance, though. I feel like I need to explain more about my…situation.”
“I appreciate that.” I dropped my voice lower so we wouldn’t be overheard. “I don’t want to make your life more complicated than it already is. I’m here for you as a friend, okay?”
“Oh.” Her expression stiffened, and she nodded.
“I see. Thank you.” Something had shifted between us, and suddenly the air felt tense.
What had I said wrong? Ella had advised me to be there for her as a friend.
Before I could find out what had happened, Freddy strode into the dining room looking like he was ready for a day on a yacht with his pristine chinos, button-down shirt and deck shoes.
“Please excuse me.” She headed toward an open table with her plate of food.
“Good morning!” Freddy called out as he approached me. “I see we have an American-style breakfast. Eat until your pants won’t button.”
I would not apologize for good, hearty food. “That’s right. Grab a plate, and I’ll fill it. We have fruit too.”
“Yum.” He eyed the buffet with such a snooty look on his face that it was hard not to react, but I managed. I’d had some experience with difficult guests. “What’s on tap for today, Mr. Hart? I’d love to join Lauren for whatever she has planned.”
“You’ll have to ask her if you’re invited to join her plans,” I said dully. “That’s none of my business.”
He stuck a fork into a slice of cantaloupe and slid it onto his plate. “You’re acting quite superior for someone who was pawing my wife last night.”
Trying to smile at this idiot hurt my face, but I didn’t want my other guests to see my temper flare up. “From what I understand, she doesn’t want to be your wife and hasn’t for a long time.”
His eyes sparkled with rage, but he was still smiling like an alligator. “And do you seriously think she would be with a man like you? As desperate as Lauren may be, I don’t think she’s ready for that kind of downgrade.”
Fortunately, Chef arrived with another pan of bacon before I could leap over the buffet table and downgrade Freddy’s face.
No one had pushed my buttons this way since my brother Bowie and I had to share a bedroom as teenagers.
Instead of storming straight back to the kitchen like he usually did, Chef stayed by my side, arms crossed over his chest.
“Is everything alright?” he asked me quietly. “I heard our new guest was giving Mrs. Wagonblast a hard time outside the Round Room last night.”
I loved that even Chef was looking out for Lauren. Maybe somewhere in his alcohol addled brain the other night he comprehended her concern and care for him.
“I think she’s okay,” I said. “But you can burn his piece of meat tonight.”
Chef’s mouth twisted into the closest thing to a smile I’d ever seen from him. “I thought you were obsessed with getting us good reviews.”
I glared over at the table where Freddy had taken the seat across from Lauren. “In this case, I’m willing to make an exception.”
He shrugged carelessly. “I’ll drop it on the floor before I cook it. He’ll never know.”
I pinned him down with a look. “Have you done that before, Chef?”
“Of course not.” He winked at me. “But if I did, you’d never know.”
* * *
When I stopped by the stables after lunch, Walt was saddling up horses for a group trail ride.
He tightened the cinch on Banjo, one of our younger horses, as he looked over at me. “You coming with us today?”
“Nope.” Loki nickered and swished his tail to get my attention, so I walked over to greet him. “I’ve got too much to do, but I wanted to check on Elijah. Has the medicine been working, you think?”
“I thought you might be out here looking for Lauren.” He was right, but I certainly wouldn’t admit it. Instead, I stared Walt down until he sighed. “Elijah seems fine. He left me the gift of a dead mouse on my bench this morning, which is always a fun way to start the day.”
I casually leaned against the wall, crossing one leg over the other. “Since you brought her up, is Lauren riding today?”
“Oh, so you’re here to check on the cat. Right…” Walt chuckled as he placed the bridle on Banjo’s head. “She signed up for a ride this afternoon, and she’s bringing that Freddy person with her. Says he knows how to ride. Is he really her husband?”
Gossip spread around a dude ranch like a spark in dry brush. “Technically, yes, but they’re separated and in the middle of a divorce.”
“Ah, I see. That sounds miserable.” Walt stopped working and turned to look at me. “Are you getting yourself into trouble there, Matthew?”
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “I hope not. I don’t think so.” I squinted into the distance. “Maybe?”
He laughed again and tied up Banjo so he could bring Loki out of his stall. “Okay.”
“Are you giving him Loki?” I asked. “I was thinking Doug might be a better choice. Maybe you could walk them into a field of butterflies or something.” Walt knew I was joking because Doug would buck if a big winged insect like a butterfly came his way.
“I take it we want this guy to suffer?” Walt asked.
“Mild suffering,” I said. “Nothing deadly.”
Walt’s mustache twitched as he held back a smile. “I never took you for the vengeful type.”
I tapped the toe of my boot against the floor. “I’m not. Put him on Banjo or Loki and make sure he has a nice ride.” Sometimes being the ranch owner was a tough gig. Duty always came before vengeance.
“Oh, I’m giving him Alma today,” Walt said. “Let him try to show off his riding skills on the laziest horse in southern Wyoming.”
I laughed, imagining Freddy trying to urge Alma into a gallop when she was busy eating clover. “Thanks, buddy.” I started to leave the barn, then stopped and looked back at him over my shoulder. “Hey, Walt? I like her a lot.”
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “I’ve spent a little time with her now, and I can see why you like her so much.”
“Were you checking her out for me?” Suddenly, it made sense why he was sitting with her at dinner the other night.
“With your dad gone, I feel like I should do better looking out for you boys. Maybe I did want to make sure she was a good person. I’m a little worried about the fact she lives in New York and that her ex is here at the ranch, but I suppose a little woman trouble is more fun than none at all.”
I laughed and shook my head. “That’s your personal motto, huh?”
“You can’t say it isn’t true, can you?”
He was right. Life might be more complicated with Lauren in it, but as far as I could tell, she was worth it.