Page 30 of Unforgettable
Franklin and Eugene started talking. I tuned them out. I was becoming an expert on tuning shit out, which was good at the moment.
Franklin might have been a seasoned pro at masking his anger, but I wasn’t, and even though the incident that had happened at James Enterprises had taken place well over a year ago, it felt like the senator had just ripped open the scar.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Haven asked.
Only four days ago, she was calling me a jerk in front of a room full of women. Regardless, I had so many comebacks on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them. I might have been a dickwad, a jerk, and an asshole, but church wasn’t the right place to show that side of me. There would be plenty of time to have fun with the senator’s daughter.
I cleared my throat. “Just make sure you’re at the fundraising meeting on Thursday.” My voice was loud on purpose.
She tensed, pursing her pink lips as I caught a glimpse of the senator whipping his attention our way.
I pushed to my feet. “Senator Hale, thank you for coming.”
The large man turned to me with a fake grin plastered on his freckled face.
I draped an arm around Haven’s tight shoulders. “I want to also thank you for allowing your daughter to be part of our fundraising efforts for the football team.”
He narrowed his eyes, his fury lasering in on her. “Fundraising?”
She lowered her gaze, trying to get away from me.
Inwardly, I grinned like the asshole I was. Man, this woman had a way of changing my mood. I pulled her to me. “All proceeds go to support the Chelsea House for Battered Women.”
He schooled his features as he regarded his daughter. “What’s involved in the fundraiser?”
“We’re auctioning off your daughter,” I said. That probably wasn’t the kind of attention he wanted for his election.
Haven gasped and managed to get away from me then practically ran out of the church.
Franklin shook his head at me, silently telling me to shut up.
“Son,” Senator Hale said. “It would do you best to stick to football.”
“First, I’m not your son.”Thank God.“And it would do you best to stay out of my father’s business.”
“I’ve never been in your father’s business,” he said. “And from my understanding, his company violated a discharge permit. If I recall, the matter was settled in the appropriate manner.”
“So you’re going on record that you had nothing to do with making sure the water board took its time in handling the company’s case?”
He mashed his lips into a thin line. “I don’t work for the water board. But it’s my duty to the people of this state to make sure we have a clean environment. Companies such as your father’s threaten the livelihood of this state.”
My eyes rolled without any effort. Typical of him to avoid the question. “Keeping the oil refineries operating is key to your success too. Isn’t it? You’ve touted how important it is to the Texas economy. After all, the refineries employ thousands of citizens as do the chemical companies, which, by the way, keep the refineries operating.”
“Again, stick to football,” Senator Hale said. “After all, the loss yesterday isn’t a way to start the season.”
Asshole.
The loss was hard to swallow, nonetheless.
Franklin touched my arm. “Ryker, can you see if your aunt needs anything?” That was his way of saying,shut up and leave.
I ground my back teeth as I walked away, although I didn’t check on my aunt. Instead, I headed for fresh air.
“Oh, and Ryker,” Senator Hale said to my back. “My daughter is off-limits.”
We’ll see about that.
10
