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Silence met me, and it was hard to hold back my chuckle. But as my baby cousin and the only cousin I was in contact with, she needed to learn that going behind her Daddy’s back was a big fat no-no.
“Fine. See you at four pm.” She disconnected before I could say another word.
At 3:45, I met Gray outside Rawhide University.
“Are you on your way to my place?”
“I am. Harmony called to ask for a favor.”
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“I didn’t give her a chance to ask me because I knew it would be pretty big as she asked me to come over.”
He stopped walking. “She didn’t say anything to me about a favor of that magnitude.”
“I’m aware.” I held his gaze.
“I see.” And he did indeed see. I fell in step with him while he got quiet, no doubt already processing how best to deal with his woman. Despite the chilly February weather, the day was sunny and perfect for a walk to his property. He’d built Harmony a beautiful home here at Rawhide Ridge. Like us, Gray was from old money and was quite wealthy. He’d graduated as a lawyer but had turned away from a career in law to be a professor at Rawhide.
“She’s excited,” he commented. “Too excited.”
“You know Derek has given me time off to help with anything you need done.”
Gray smiled. “Yes, and I’m appreciative you are taking the time to help. My parents won’t be arriving in time for my mother to assist Harmony with anything, so really, it’s up to you and me and anyone else crazy enough to want to help.”
I didn’t hold back the bark of laughter. “Why was it so sudden? You don’t strike me as the type of man to make sudden or rash decisions.”
“Oh, believe me, I have my moments. And I can be a very indulgent Daddy. This was how your cousin wanted to celebrate our anniversary and, of course, it took her forever to own up to what she really wanted, but I had fun getting it out of her. When she turned those tearful eyes on me, I knew it had to be done, especially when she’s been such a good girl.”
She had been good, better in fact than I’d ever seen her, and it was all due to Gray supporting her and helping her grow. She really was turning into the very best version of herself.
Gray opened the front door, and Harmony was waiting for him. And was already blurting out a rush of words when I walked in behind him. She completely deflated and crossed her arms. “Oh, I guess you know then.”
“Know what, my Little bride-to-be?”
“That I called Jacob to ask for a favor.”
“You did? And what did you need to ask him so badly that required talking to him before me?”
Harmony chewed her bottom lip, at a loss for what to say.
“For someone so desperate, you seem quiet now. I want you to go to the bedroom and stand in the corner with your nose touching the wall, your skirt up and your bottom out. Maybe you’ll find your tongue after Daddy warms your bottom.”
“Yes, Daddy.” She scurried off down the hall.
“Let’s have a drink.”
I followed Gray down the hall and out to the best entertainment deck I’d ever seen, complete with an entire outdoor kitchen. Grabbing two beers from his booze fridge, he popped the caps and handed me one. He palmed a small remote and pressed some buttons, the outdoor heater lamps came to life. Perfectly warming the area in which we sat.
“I’m just giving her time to think. Then we’ll find out what she needs that apparently, only you can provide.”
I may have heard a sliver of jealousy in his tone, but the twinkle in his eyes told a different story.
“Did you see all the new arrivals?” Gray asked, relaxing back in his chair.
He never truly relaxed but gave off the energy of a king purveying his people. I got it, as he was from the same old money wealth as myself, although our circles never touched. That was the thing about old money. Those who had it were a tight, often snobby clique. If the families hadn’t been allies for a fewgenerations, there would be no penetrating into one now except through marriage.
I’d never really thought about it, but by getting hitched, two very powerful families were merging through marriage. If this were New York, I knew their union would make the headlines. They could create a power vacuum and stir up the ire of other families. Although on the outside they would cheer the happy couple on, behind their backs, there would be a lot of speculation about what it meant for them. Almost as if reading my mind, Gray brought up his parents and the family lineage.
