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Pretty was an understatement. Rayna was drop-dead gorgeous.
“Daddy,” Harper whined. “Can you get me another worm? A fish took the last one.”
Reaching for the can, I smiled. “Sure, sweetheart.”
* * *
When I got in and washed the stink of fish off me, I grabbed my phone, ready to call Rayna, when I saw a red dot on my voicemail icon. I pressed it, held the phone to my ear, and heard Rayna’s voice on the other end, explaining the situation with Tyler, his dad, and some mediation day.
Jesus.
But at least my irritation vanished. She had not left me in the dark about it, and now that I knew what was coming my way, I could prepare for it. Unlike Brandon. I didn’t know what that sneaky sonofabitch was up to, but I knew he was furious that I’d won the Twisted Twines contract over him.
Dropping the cell, I wandered to my row of French windows that gave me a panoramic view of most of my land. Sometimes it still boggled me that all this had once been a dream in the back of my head. I’d done all this for my girls—that ironically, I hadn’t spent much time with them in the last couple of months.
I wanted them to be free of worrying about where their next cent and meal would come from. I wanted them to be happy and content.
But I was not. For years I had shoved my needs behind me, making sure everything was set for the girls, telling myself that my time would come eventually—but somehow, it never did.
A life of ironies.
Turning away, I shook my head and headed to my office. I could worry about that another day. Right now, I have work to do.
ChapterSeventeen
Rayna
Ididn’t do mediations often—well, never before—but knowing the severity of the issue with Samantha and her dad, I had to be there.
“Mr. Hollins,” John reached out for a shake, and Tyler’s dad met him. Lucas Hollins was a tall man, tall enough to be a basketball player, but he was a corporate lawyer with sharp eyes and tailored clothes to show it. “I’m sorry we had to meet his way.”
“So am I,” Lucas replied. “Please, come in. Miss Everett, is it?”
I nodded. “Pleased to meet you.”
I was surprised the man was so calm; from the tone of Rayna’s message taken from the principal, I thought Tyler’s dad would be spitting fire and chewing iron.
He showed us to the living room, and I gazed around in appreciation. Tyler’s home was beautiful in a modern, Architectural Digest way. It was all cream, dark wood, and chrome. I preferred something a little more lived-in myself—the homey, country style of John’s home came to mind—but I was not there to critique the man’s house. I was there to make sure Samantha, John, and Tyler’s folks came to an amicable resolution.
An apprehensive-looking Tyler and his mother—a pretty blonde woman in a summer dress—came in, and Tyler looked at John, me, and then Samantha. Then, he gave a wide smile, and with the way Samantha returned it, I recognized puppy love when I saw it.
“Tyler—” his father began.
“It’s not her fault, Dad,” Tyler blurted. “I said something nasty. Don’t be mad at her.”
Lucas’s eyes flew to his wife, who looked as shocked as he was. “What did you and why did you say it, son?”
As Tyler explained the debacle, I stole a look at Samantha and John. He held her close, one arm around her shoulder and rubbing her opposite arm comfortingly.
“I didn’t mean it, I promise,” Tyler said. “I like Sam. I really do.”
“And I’m sorry I punched you,” Sam said shyly. “I was just upset.”
“I understand it as a bad day; we all have those,” Lucas said. “But what if another bad day happens, and you choose to do it again? One might be an accident, but a second time is a choice, and I will not stand for that. What if the roles were reversed, Mister Maxwell? What would you say about that?”
“I would not stand for that either,” John replied. “It’s not right for anyone to beat anyone. It was not right back in the so-called boys-will-be-boys’ days and it’s not right now. Sam and I have talked about it, and she’s given me a promise that nothing like this will happen again. I know you don’t know her, but I do, and believe me, when she promises something, she never breaks it.”
Mr. Hollins looked doubtful, so I added my two cents, “I know Samantha as well, and I can assure you, she is truthful and is not afraid to admit her faults when it comes to it. I will keep an eye out for her at school. For them both, actually.”
