Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? (21 page)

‘We’re going to meet our clients at Lulu’s. Barry left me a message earlier. He should be there by now.’

Grayson shot her an amused glance. ‘Our clients? Am I on your payroll now?’

Grayson didn’t know it yet, but Lauren hoped he’d be interested in helping her clients as well. He held the door of the restaurant open for her. She walked in to the warm hum of conversation and the smell of hot coffee.

In the far corner of the room she spotted another cowboy hat. ‘I think we’re sitting over there.’ She took Grayson’s hand and threaded through the packed tables. She felt him baulk behind her and come to a sudden halt as the two men at the table got to their feet.

She recognised Barry Levarr, who started to say something. He was interrupted by the man beside him.

To her dismay, the tall blond cowboy ignored her and scowled at Grayson. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

Grayson spread his hands wide and glanced at Lauren. ‘I was just about to ask you the same question, but without the profanity.’

Two pieces of information clicked into place in Lauren’s brain. One, that despite their different colouring, the two cowboys looked disturbingly alike. And two, she made a wild guess that both of them bore the same surname.

She held out her hand to the blond-haired guy. ‘You must be Mr Turner, the designer of Prairie Dawg Boots?’

He shook her hand, his grip as firm as Grayson’s. ‘That’s right, call me Jay.’ He frowned over her shoulder at Grayson. ‘I didn’t expect you to bring my big brother with you. I thought you said we were meeting a potential business-site developer.’

Grayson shot her an accusing look and Lauren sighed. ‘If I told you guys that I didn’t know there was a connection between you, would you believe me?’ Two pairs of equally unimpressed blue eyes met hers.

‘Don’t you read your clients’ letterheads?’ Jay said. ‘Grayson’s listed just below me.’

Lauren rallied at the implication that she hadn’t acted professionally. ‘Of course I did. Turner is quite a common name.’

‘Guys?’ Grayson cleared his throat. ‘Perhaps we could sit down. People are starting to stare.’

Lauren took the seat next to Barry Levarr, the business manager she’d met in Vegas. At least he’d had the sense to keep out of their discussion. He smiled and shook her hand as the two brothers settled themselves on the other side of the table. Both wore blue shirts and identical frowns. Their wide shoulders competed for room in the narrow space across the table.

She smiled at Grayson who didn’t smile back. Why hadn’t he mentioned his connection with Prairie Dawg Boots when she’d discussed them with him last weekend? Didn’t he trust her? Perhaps he was more like her father than she realised, keeping business secrets because she was only a female.

If he expected her to get flustered and forget why she’d arranged the meeting, he didn’t know her at all. She opened her purse and brought out a folder.

‘Despite the fact that you two are related, I don’t see why we can’t continue with this discussion in a businesslike manner.’

Jay looked mutinous. ‘Did he get to tag along so that he could keep tabs on me?’ He glared at his brother. ‘Don’t you think I’m capable of running this company on my own?’

Grayson picked up his water glass and drank deep. ‘Miss Redstone’s right. I had no idea this meeting would involve you. I promised to be a silent partner in this venture of yours and I intend to remain one.’

Lauren decided it was time to intervene. ‘Grayson’s only here because he’s developing a small business park on part of his ranch in Oregon. I thought that as Prairie Dawg was looking to expand their business operation they might consider moving there.’

Jay sat back and looked sceptical. ‘Why didn’t you just offer the site to me?’

Lauren wondered the same thing.

‘Because I promised not to interfere.’ Grayson sighed. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d want your company to be situated a stone’s throw from my ranch.’

Lauren studied the two brothers. They seemed ill at ease with each other. What had happened between them to make their relationship so tense? She slid the folder across to Jay.

‘I’ve gathered some information for you. I know this is not exactly my area of expertise but it used to be when I practised law. I believe your relocation will improve all areas of your company. I’ve included comparative business and property values across several states. I think you’ll find that Grayson’s proposed site stands up very well in terms of cost and position.’

A waiter appeared and Lauren spent the next few minutes ordering food and sipping iced tea. Barry Levarr made small talk with her but the brothers remained silent, both staring into their coffee as if it might be poisoned.

Lauren waited until the food arrived and then launched her second attack. ‘Jay, Barry says that you are looking for a new advertising angle for your boots. Now that you’re going to be involved with my commercials promoting the PBR, have you considered investing in the PRCA or the PBR?’

Barry spoke through a mouthful of spaghetti Alfredo. ‘What are they? Basketball teams?’

Grayson and Jay exchanged guarded smiles as Lauren hastened to explain. ‘No, they are professional organisations for the rodeo circuit and the bull riders.’ She nodded at Jay. ‘Just the kind of people who’d love the rugged design of your boots.’

Jay nodded. ‘That’s not a bad idea. My only worry is how much it would cost. We have a limited marketing and promotional budget.’

‘I know, but if we worked together we could look for someone young and up and coming who’d be glad of a little money and free pairs of boots.’

Grayson put down his glass. ‘I might be able to help with this.’ Lauren stared at him, a question in her gaze. ‘Dakota’s a bull rider.’

Jay made a disgusted sound. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve discovered another one of Dad’s cast-offs?’

Grayson didn’t smile. ‘Yeah, Dakota’s a couple of years younger than you. I went to Las Vegas to watch him in the PBR finals. He’s pretty good. It took some persuading that we were family but he relented in the end.’

Jay caught Lauren’s eye. ‘My big brother considers it his mission in life to gather up all my father’s by-blows and make us into some kind of family.’ He poked Grayson in the ribs. ‘So how come I haven’t met this Dakota yet?’

‘Because last time we talked you told me to stay the fuck out of your life.’

Jay hunched his shoulder and sipped at his coffee. Lauren retrieved a second file from her case and leafed through the contents.

‘I have a Dakota Scott on my list of potential riders to approach.’ She glanced up at the brothers. ‘Perhaps one of you would like to call him and ask if he’d be interested? And if he’s a good-looking as you two are, he might even be able to work as our advertising model.’

Two identical expressions of revulsion crossed Grayson and Jay’s faces. Lauren wasn’t sure if it was her reference to their looks or the thought of a modelling assignment which offended them more.

Barry Levarr glanced at his watch. ‘I’m sorry, Lauren but I need to be out of here by one. I left my wife shopping at Saks.’

Jay laughed. Lauren couldn’t believe the difference it made to his face. ‘Are you afraid she’ll wear out your credit card?’

Barry got to his feet and searched his pockets for his cellphone. ‘She used that up years ago. I’m down to protecting the kids’ college funds.’ He grinned at Lauren as if to make sure she knew it was a joke.

Lauren moved out of his way. ‘Give me a call when you and Jay have gone over the information I’ve provided. I’ll let you know when I have more definite dates for the filming of the first commercial.’

Barry shook her hand. ‘I sure will and thanks for your input. Jay and I have a lot to talk about.’

Barry left. Lauren was left with the check for lunch and, more worryingly, with the Turner brothers. Grayson seemed to be avoiding her gaze. She couldn’t work out whether he was annoyed with her for duping him into a meeting with his brother or worried about her reaction to his lies.

Jay cleared his throat. ‘So how do you two know each other then?’

Lauren opened her mouth and couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

‘We met through mutual business acquaintances,’ Grayson said smoothly. ‘Lauren’s also been helping me out with the new plans for my ranch land.’

Lauren studied Grayson. He sounded so sincere. Perhaps he was a better liar than she realised. Jake finished up his coffee and liberated the remains of the apple pie from Grayson’s plate.

‘I need to get going myself.’ He grimaced as he stood and rubbed his right thigh.

Grayson took a breath and very carefully didn’t look at his brother. ‘Is your leg still hurting you? If you need the money for the surgery . . .’

‘Don’t try to buy me, Grayson,’ Jay snapped. ‘You sound just like Dad.’ Jay’s expression darkened and he turned his back on his brother. ‘Nice to finally meet you in the flesh, Lauren. I’ll call you when we’ve made some decisions.’

Without a backwards glance he strode out of the restaurant. He slammed the door so hard that he caused a mini tornado among the closest tables. Lauren called for the check as Grayson rubbed his forehead.

‘And it was going so well,’ Grayson muttered. ‘Why does Jay have to be so touchy?’

Lauren shot him a straight glance as she scribbled her name on the bill. ‘Perhaps it runs in the family.’

He stared right back at her. ‘Perhaps we’d better talk.’

When they left the restaurant, Lauren headed back towards the Embarcadero. Grayson kept pace beside her, his hands in his jeans pockets, his hat tipped low over his eyes. The sun had defeated the morning fog and blazed high in a cloudless blue sky.

‘When did you realise I was connected to the Prairie Dawg Boot company?’ Grayson’s terse question shattered the uneasy silence between them.

‘I didn’t. It never occurred to me that you were.’ Lauren kept her answer short. Men always expected women to jump in and justify themselves. She wasn’t prepared to do that just yet.

Grayson moved closer to avoid a collision with a UPS guy struggling to carry a large package. ‘Then why did you set me up for this lunch? Were you trying to make me look stupid?’

To Lauren’s surprise, he didn’t sound too annoyed. ‘As I said earlier, I was hoping you could do business together. I had no idea you were already involved with them.’

Grayson sighed so loudly that Lauren heard him above the street noise. ‘I’m not really “involved” with them. I lent Jay the money to start the business and put him in touch with Barry who used to work for me. I knew they’d be successful without me sticking my nose in.’

Oblivious to the glares of her fellow pedestrians, Lauren stopped walking and turned to face Grayson. ‘You might have mentioned that “non-involvement” of yours when I mentioned Prairie Dawg last weekend. You made me look unprofessional.’

Grayson took hold of her arm and drew her to one side. ‘Dammit, I knew this would happen. That’s why, until I met you, I’ve always made it a rule never to mix business with pleasure.’

Lauren gritted her teeth. ‘And what exactly is that old cliché supposed to mean?’

He tipped his hat back so that she could see his slate-blue eyes. ‘I didn’t mention my connection to Prairie Dawg Boots because it would just have confused things between us.’

‘You don’t think things are confused enough anyway?’

‘Well, hell, yes, but how would you have reacted if I’d told you about Prairie Dawg last weekend? You might have had the same rule of no fraternisation that I used to have. I had to make a choice.’

Lauren stared at him. ‘You didn’t want me to see you as a business client. You wanted me to see you as a lover, is that it?’

Grayson gave a slow nod. ‘Yeah, that about sums it up. At the ranch it was more important that you saw me as a man rather than as a potential customer.’

Lauren started walking again. Her instinct was to deny what Grayson said but something stopped her from saying it out loud. Even though his explanation sounded a little contrived, the expression in his eyes was sincere.

‘Perhaps I should’ve told you who we were meeting for lunch,’ she reluctantly conceded. ‘It would’ve given you an opportunity to tell me the truth before it got embarrassing for both of us.’

‘At least you’ll have to agree that I didn’t go behind your back and talk to them about you,’ Grayson remarked. ‘I hadn’t spoken to Jay since before I met you in Las Vegas. I was as surprised to see him as you were.’ Grayson draped his arm over her shoulders.

Lauren decided it was time to move on. She wasn’t quite sure that the matter was resolved to her complete satisfaction, but she’d worry about that later.

‘Don’t you and your brother get along?’

‘Sometimes,’ Grayson said, ‘when we’re not fighting.’ He half-smiled. ‘We don’t have the same mother but we’re still too much alike. Our father brought us up to compete against each other. Jay still can’t get it out of his system.’

And you can?
Lauren didn’t make the mistake of making the comment out loud. ‘I noticed that.’ She expertly negotiated a pedestrian walkway crowded with dawdling tourists. ‘He seems to resent you enormously.’

‘While simultaneously borrowing money from me.’ Grayson smiled. ‘Not that I begrudge him the money. He’s a very talented guy. He still feels second rate because he didn’t follow Dad’s orders and go into the oil business. He used to be a rodeo cowboy before he smashed up his leg. I still think his true talent lies in design though, which is why I persuaded him to start the business.’

Lauren repressed a shiver. ‘I don’t like the sound of your father.’ She glanced back at the city. ‘Does he live here?’

‘No, he spends most of his time in Texas. Although I believe he owns an apartment in San Francisco.’ Grayson gave her an amused sideways glance. ‘Are you disappointed? Would you like to meet him?’