Page 60 of A Lot Like Love
“I thought it was a sure thing, that I’d win the deeds to his ranch. I hate the bastard and I wanted to teach him a lesson.”
Ryder felt like a boy about to be reprimanded, waiting for his punishment to be dealt out. His grandfather had never been rattled, never showed his anger, just used that deep voice and commanded everybody around him. One look had been enough to tell them all when they’d gone too far, one stare had been all they needed to stop and behave. But this wasn’t Ryder acting out in his boyhood, this was him fucking up when he should have known better.
“You’re aware that our family has been feuding with Parker’s on and off for the past three decades?”
Ryder nodded. “Yes.”
“And are you asking for my help, or do you have the situation under control?”
This time Ryder met his grandfather’s gaze, squaring his shoulders as he stared back at the man he admired most in the world. “Yes, sir. I will do anything I have to do to make this right. I’m dealing with it.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.”
Ryder swallowed, waiting to be told what an idiot he was, to be yelled at just like he deserved. He didn’t want to be let off, he needed to be told off.
“You’re not angry with me?”
“Oh, I’m plenty angry,” Clay said, “but you’re not a child anymore, Ryder, and if you tell me you’ve got something under control then I have to believe you.”
Ryder stood. “I won’t let you down, Granddad. I promise.”
“Are you going to tell your brothers?”
“Do you think I should?”
“Son, only you can make that decision,” Clay said. “Now how about you pour me a whiskey and tell me all about the gorgeous girl you’ve been romancing.”
Ryder chuckled. “You make it sound like a formal courtship. And I think you’re supposed to be drinking tea, not liquor.”
His granddad grumbled. “The doc’s told me I’ll be lucky to make it another year. If I can’t drink whiskey now, then when?”
“Fair point,” Ryder said, disappearing into the other room and reappearing with two short glasses.
“So I hear she’s blond and good at keeping you on your toes.”
Ryder paused before taking a small sip of his drink. “How about I bring her over to meet you once this whole thing with Parker is sorted out?”
“I’d like that.” Clay sipped his drink, staring at the golden-brown liquid for a while before looking up. “You know, you boys are great, but it’s about time we had a woman around the place. Aside from the housekeeper, if you get my drift.”
“What, you want us all married off all of a sudden?”
“No, I’d just like some women around the place. To know that you boys are being looked after A woman makes a house feel different, in the best kind of way.” He chuckled then stifled a cough. “Hell, I’d like a woman around to look after me. It’s been five years since your grandma died and I miss her like hell every day.”
Ryder was about to tell him that Chloe was more than capable of looking after him, but he clamped his jaw shut and swirled the whiskey around the bottom of his glass instead. Chloe was going to be gone soon.As soon as the ranch was his again, as soon as she had what she wanted from him, she’d be gone and he’d most likely never see her again. She wasn’t his real girlfriend and he needed to remember it.
“You tell her not to be a stranger. That I’d like to meet her.”
He nodded. “Sure thing.” Ryder hated that he wanted to introduce her to his family, that he was starting to think of her as way more than just a good time. “I’ve got some things to do, Granddad. I’ll come by and see you again tonight.”
“Be a good boy and get me another, would you?”
Ryder took one look at the empty glass in his grandfather’s outstretched hand and shook his head. “Your doctor would have my head on a plate. I’ll tell your nurse to get you a coffee.”
Clay laughed and Ryder paused to press a kiss to his forehead. “Love you, Granddad.”
“I love you, too, son.”
Ryder walked out the door, keeping his big shoulders squared when all he wanted was to collapse and fall against the wall. He hadn’t deserved that, to be treated with so much respect when he’d been such an idiot, and the fact that Clay had a record of all his wins, all his rides?Unbelievable.
