Family Ties (Hidden Secrets) (4 page)

“Excuse me, Ms. Williams.”  She turned and walked away from me. 

So, I followed.  When she kept walking, I grabbed her arm and pulled her off to a corner.  She spun around fast on me and shoved my shoulder.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” She hissed as she glanced over at her approaching bodyguards shaking her head.

Thank God!

“Whoa, what did I do?”

“
You… You… Ahhh!”

“
Look, all I wanted to do was apologize.”

“
You wanted… You wanted what?”

“
I wanted to say I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have said those things.  For that, I’m sorry.  It was not my place to assume I knew you enough to say such things.” 

Pour it on thick buddy
, I thought.

“
Oh. Oh, okay.  Apology accepted.  Thank you.”

“
You are most welcome.” I gave her my best smile.  “Can I take you to lunch and make it up to you?  If I’m not being to forward that is.  I just know that you won’t be around long, with as busy as you must be, and where I’m from the apologies need to be big or they almost are never deemed as truth.” 

It
wasn’t a lie either. My dad always told me that if your apology is worth anything, the person needs to see that a truce or good gesture is in place.  This tells them that you’re trying to move in a positive direction.  She laughed softly.  It was such an arousing sound.  I had to quickly tamp down that thought.

“
I don’t make a habit of going out with fans, but more with men I don’t know.”

“
Well then how about I say I hate your music and never listen to the stuff.  Oh, and I’m really a girl under all this, it’s just a costume. Then do you think you could pretend I wasn’t a fan or a man you don’t know?” 

Again she laughed, but I found it was a sound I loved to hear despite myself and what it was I needed to do.  There was no denying that she has talent and seeing her in person, well I wanted her. Any man alive would be lying if they said that she
didn’t spark their interest. Had this been a different time, place or reason I might have expanded on that thought, but it wasn’t.  Now she had become the enemy and I knew that once my plan was done that she would definitely not want to cuddle up after a hard day’s work on the ranch and watch a movie or talk.  I almost laughed at myself for the way I was thinking.

“
You are a charmer aren’t you, Mr. Young?”

“
Well, I guess that would depend on if you were charmed.”  I smiled at her. 

Her returning shy smile sent my heart racing. 

“Wow…” I breathed before I could stop it from coming out.

“
Wow, what?”

“
Your smile is breathtaking.” 

She dropped her eyes to the floor and thanked me.  I
didn’t honestly see how this woman could have done the things I have been told she did but no one would lie about something like this; at least no one I knew.

“
Please, have lunch with me.”

Chapter Three

Mary

I looked around and then down at my watch.  Having spent so much time focusing on my family I
hadn’t eaten today, so I was hungry. For two months, I have not been able to relax or do anything non-work related; I was going nuts.  Maybe that is why I was reacting to him the way I was.  I found early on that if I did something without thinking every so often it kept me sane to work as hard and as long as I do. 

             
While I was off and staying with Kayla, my reckless behavior was sleeping with Nate.  He was a good guy, wanted only sex just like me.  It worked for us.  Though he was trying to change the game, he was still my best friend. However, lately my heart has been wondering if there is a place for happiness and love in my future.  I wanted a family, but I don’t think there is a man out there for me; one to understand my work or my schedule.  Sometimes I worked from sun up to sun down and even longer.  Hell, I was often away from home more than I was there; no guy would sign up for that.

My manager/agent, Kyle Hall, always
made it so I couldn’t sit any longer than necessary. So I was kept pretty busy during the twenty-four hours of the day.  Due to my schedule, I have never bought my own place. It made no sense to me to do that when I was never home.  So whenever I had time off I’d stay with family.  Besides, it wasn’t like I had someone to come home to anyway. 

Who would be able to see me as anything other than the superstar taking the music industry by storm?  No
one, that is who! They will never see Mary Williams the girl with ten siblings and loving parents that loves adventures and romance. The woman that would love to have a family of her own and be the center of someone’s world.  No, no one will ever see me as anything other than a celebrity.

“
Please.”

“
Fine I will have lunch with you.  Where would you like to go?  Some place close, please.”

I agreed with a picture of Kyle
’s pissed off face in my head.  It will serve him right. I had been at the meet and greet long enough.  All that was required of me was to make an appearance.  I have mingled and taken photos.  I would say my job here is complete, but if I was going to get out of here it needed to happen now.

“
Oh wow, really?  Um, there is a place right next door…”

“
Sure, let’s go.”

I walked into the restaurant with him, close behind me.  I could feel the heat radiating off him and warming my body.  As I looked around the restaurant there were a couple of things I noticed. First, it had a
very laid back atmosphere. Second was the western looking ambiance. There were antlers hung on the walls, the archways are like those on the corals in the western movies I have seen.

“
Wow!” I whispered.  Stopping dead in my tracks to take the place in caused Tobey to bump into me. The feel of his body against mine was unlike anything I have ever felt. I blushed, “Oh, I’m sorry.” 

Tobey smiled down at me before he led the way to a booth and we sat down.  The place was rustic and comfortable, I
couldn’t stop looking around.  This was like straight out of my dreams.  It was the one thing I have always wanted to do, to own a horse ranch.

“
We can go somewhere else if you want.”

“
No! This place is amazing…” I trailed off with a giggle.

“
What’s so funny?” Tobey questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“
Ever since I was a little girl and even still, I have always wanted to own a horse ranch.  I love their beauty.” Looking down twisting my hands in my lap embarrassed.  “Silly, I know.”

“
I don’t think it’s silly at all.  Horses are amazing creatures.”

“
I have saved as much of my money as possible.  I don’t go on shopping sprees or buy stupid things, which my manager seems to think I need to, so that when I get out of the music business I can buy some land and start my ranch.”

“
Really, you want to own a ranch?”  He scoffed.

“
Yes, I don’t see how that is so unbelievable!  I am great with horses and love hard work and a challenge.” I said a little offended.

“
Really?” He paused as a waitress brought menus and we placed our drink orders. Then his face lit up. “You think you can handle working a ranch?” 

“
Yes, I do.  You may not see it looking at me, but I am not lazy and can handle a lot.”

He nods his head, looking at me thoughtfully.  “Tell you what, come by my ranch and I will put you to work for a weekend just as you would be working on your ranch and then we will see if you still think you can handle your own ranch.”

“You own a ranch?” I asked, shocked.

“
Yes, hence the reason I am offering to show you what work it takes.” He stated in a manner that made me think he thought I was stupid.

“
I have heard some people around me say that work on a ranch or a farm is easier, not easy, but easier on the weekends.  So if you make it a Monday through Sunday then I will take it.  One whole week of work… Oh, and you have to let me pay you for the experience.”

This could be good.  This could help determine once and for all if my dreams of owning and running a ranch
are just that, a dream. Or if I could handle the work and time it would take to run one.  My eyes pleaded with him as he just sat there not saying anything.  I really wanted this to happen. Finally, he spoke.

“
I cannot accept your money ma’am.  I will, however, accept your deal for one week of work. When?”

             
Running my schedule through my brain, I sat back thinking for a minute.  I knew I would be taking away his time from the ranch to help me during this week, so he needed to accept my offer of money.  Just meeting him, I was by no means going to sit back and take from him.  This is completely crazy even for me, but I really did want to own my own ranch and this would be perfect to have my own experience to see what I could expect.  However, this was a man I knew nothing about.  How could I even be sure he has a ranch?

I definitely had to have time to get to know the guy and also visit the ranch once before I went out there for a week.  Now, I just needed someone who could take me out there. Someone who I knew I could be safe with if anything funny was to happen. 
Elijah!
  He could also write up a contract and make him take my money.  Yes, this was perfect.  A slow smile began to form on my face.

“
I’m not sure that smile is a good one. Though as beautiful as it is, it seems that it might be trouble for me.” Tobey said with a chuckle.

“
No, it’s not bad.  In fact, it is good all the way around.  Okay, here is how the deal will go.  I will visit your ranch one day with someone I trust so I know that the ranch indeed exists and I am not being taken to some place to be kidnapped or something.  Plus, it will allow someone I trust to know where to look if I do not contact them or come back when I said I would.  Next, we will spend the next week getting to know each other.  I cannot go out in the country and spend a week with someone I do not know.  After those two things have been met and I feel comfortable enough, I will then move out there for a week and work.  Deal?”

“
You’re one smart cookie.  I was going to suggest getting to know me before you come out.  However, your idea of coming out with someone is genius.”

“
Lawyers and a cop in the family; some things rub off on you.” I beamed proudly.

We shook hands on the deal.  I
didn’t mention about my brother drawing up a contract; somehow I knew he wouldn’t do it if I did.  The waiter came over then and took our orders.  We talked about everything we could think of.  I was amazed with how much we had in common.  What was really intriguing was learning that the ranch has been his family for a long time.  He has worked on the ranch since he was old enough to walk.  His story was amazing.  This was one of the reasons I wanted to own a ranch. It was a legacy, something to hand down to my children.

If I ever had any that is.

The thought made me frown.

“
What’s the long face for?”

My head shot up and I gave him a questioning look.

“You frowned suddenly there.  What were you thinking about?”

“
Oh, nothing.  So if this is a busy time of the year for you, why did you come here?”

He looked at me for a minute, his eyes burning into mine. 
Tobey hasn’t said anything for a while, it was making me uncomfortable.  Men never made me feel uncomfortable.  I was confident when it came to men, but this man… He had me on edge.

“
I wanted to meet you, of course.  I’ve heard a lot about you and of course your music is great.” He shrugs.

Something told me there was more to that story than that, but I left it alone.

“What was it like growing up with your family?”

“
Just what you would think it would be like; crazy, irritating, and fun.  I love my siblings and would do anything in the world for them.  My brother and his fiancée are expecting their first soon.  I’m excited to be an aunt.” I said with a little clap of my hands.

Tobey laughed softly.  “Okay best memory?”

“Hmm, now that is a tough one.” I really had to think about this one. “Oh, I know, I was performing at a center near here.  Whenever I’m close, my family will come and see my shows.  This show was not long ago and my brother Carson performed a special song he wrote just for his fiancée and then proposed.  It’s my best memory in my life.” I sighed just thinking about his proposal.

“
Your brother’s proposal was your best memory? You don’t have one that affects you?”

“
How do you figure it didn’t affect me?  She is going to be my sister-in-law.  My brother is beyond happy and the proposal was romantic and inspiring.  Just because it didn’t directly involve me doesn’t mean it didn’t affect me.”

It was his proposal to Colleen that had me rethinking things in my life.  Made me start questioning what happiness was and what I really wanted out of life.  Not that my life was horrible, but it was lonely. 
I could have whatever guy I wanted and for a while there I did, but the thing is all the things my brother and sister talked about never happened.There weren’t sparks, or irresistible pulls…nothing.  That was what I wanted.

Looking at Tobey, a feeling fluttered in my stomach.  It was an alien feeling and I had no idea what it was, but something told me that Tobey was different. 
Different how? That I wasn’t sure of just yet, but I would soon figure it out.  I hope because it was driving me crazy.

“
I’m sorry Mary.  It wasn’t my intentions to offend you.  It’s just shocking that your best memory isn’t even about you.  Do you have any that are about you?”

“
No, I guess not,” I shrug.

“
Your career isn’t one of your best memories?”

“
No, I mean don’t get me wrong, I love doing what I do.  It’s not that at all.  I guess it has created more bad things than good things.” I said, unable to meet his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he clears his throat. “My funniest memory is also one of my best memories.  My buddy was helping me on my ranch.  We were younger about sixteen or so, when some girls from school stopped by to pick up some stuff for their families. My buddy decided he was going to try and show off.  He
wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing and got on the wrong horse.  This horse hadn’t been broken in yet.  To make a long story short, he was tossed off.  If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, he landed in shit.  He was called Piles for a while after that.” Tobey said, laughing.

“
I can actually picture that,” I said laughing.