Texas Heir. Linda Warren

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      “I know I’ve been busy, Mama, but I won’t miss Daddy’s special day.”

      “Good. That would make him happy.”

      Cari hung up resolving not to miss the birthday. She’d missed too many.

      

      REED WENT OVER last-minute details with his personal assistant, Monica Welsby. Monica was the most organized, structured person he knew. Between her and his secretary, Adele, they kept him on top of everything. And if they just happened to miss something, he could depend on Cari to catch it. She was his safety net.

      Twisting his pen, he studied his initials engraved on its gold surface, a gift from his father. Monica rattled on about the flight and visit in El Paso and her words sailed over his head. He couldn’t get Cari’s expression out of his mind. She was good at hiding her emotions, but he sensed she was upset about his engagement.

      Why? Maybe he should have told her before the meeting, but the only people they had told were their families. With Cari’s ties to Marisa she did seem like family, though.

      He threw the pen onto the papers Monica had placed in front of him. He wasn’t second-guessing himself over Cari. For two people who worked so well together, she had a way of getting under his skin even when she wasn’t in the room.

      “Is something wrong?” Monica pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

      “No,” Reed replied and rose to his feet, feeling restless.

      “Well.” Monica glanced from his face to the Palm Pilot in her hand. “The limo will arrive at twelve-fifteen.”

      “Be sure and let Cari know.”

      “I’ve already informed Heather. Would you like me to personally call Cari?”

      “No. That’s fine. I just don’t want any delays.”

      “I’m in charge, so there won’t be,” Monica said with an arched eyebrow, and then headed for the door.

      Before Reed could gather his thoughts, Richard Preston strolled in. “Morning, son.”

      “Morning, Father?” he replied, taken aback by his dad’s sudden appearance. His father was still chairman of the board, but he stayed out of the daily business of running Dalton’s. That was the only way Reed had agreed to come on board as CEO. When Reed turned forty in four years, he’d take over as chairman as well. Another deal Reed had made with the controlling and manipulative Richard.

      After what his parents had done to Marisa’s life, Reed couldn’t see himself ever working in the family business. But he’d learned forgiveness from his sister and today he had a decent relationship with his parents. It worked as long as Richard stayed away and gave Reed free rein. So it made him a little nervous when his father showed up for no reason.

      “I have a golf date at the club in an hour,” Richard said, as if reading Reed’s mind. “I wanted to stop by and tell you again how pleased your mother and I are about your engagement. Daphne is a lovely young woman and she will be a great asset to you.”

      Reed picked up the gold pen and studied it again, something in his father’s voice stinging in a way he hadn’t expected. “I’m not looking for an asset. We fell in love and we want to be together to build a home and a family.”

      Richard nodded. “That’s what I meant. Your mother and I worried you’d be a bachelor forever.”

      Reed’s father and mother had been estranged for years. Vanessa Dalton had been the only child of Harold Dalton, whose father had started the store in the early 1900s. Richard had worked for Harold and had gone after the beautiful Vanessa. Within months they were married and Richard secured his place in Dalton’s and with Harold.

      It wasn’t a love match and soon after Marisa was born, Vanessa and Marisa moved to New York while Richard and Reed stayed in Dallas. That all changed when Marisa returned to Texas and found out about her daughter. Their mother soon followed and she and Richard were now sharing the home in Highland Park. Their marriage seemed strange to Reed, but he didn’t question it. Who knew what their arrangement was?

      “You can stop worrying.”

      Richard walked around the desk and patted Reed’s shoulder. At six feet, Reed stood a little taller than his father, and Richard’s hair was now a silver gray. Other than that, Reed knew they favored each other a great deal. Same color eyes and lean, sharp lines of the face and body. But Reed knew he hadn’t inherited his father’s cutthroat instincts or the do-anything attitude he used to get his way, uncaring of other people’s feelings or lives.

      “I’m proud of you, son. You’ve exceeded all my expectations.”

      Expectations! The word shot through him like a poison arrow. Something was always expected of him—to excel, to stay a step ahead of the competition, to make profits, to marry, to reproduce. He often wondered what it would feel like to be a man without everyone wanting something from him. What was it like to be free and unencumbered? Sometimes the yoke of responsibility weighed him down.

      “Thank you,” was all he could say. It wasn’t easy living in his father’s shadow, or as he liked to call it—living under his father’s thumb.

      “Your mother would like to have a dinner party for both families so Marisa and the kids can meet your soon-to-be in-laws.”

      It didn’t escape Reed that his father hadn’t mentioned Colter. “What about Colter?” No way was he letting him get away with that slight. Colter was wealthy in his own right, capitalizing on his winning name in the rodeo circuit. He now owned a boot company and supplied a lot of western stores. Dalton’s carried his boots and other leather products and they were popular items.

      Colter had character ingrained into his bones and he deserved Richard’s respect. He’d devoted his life to Ellie when he’d thought Marisa hadn’t wanted her. There wasn’t a better father on this earth.

      Richard frowned. “What?”

      “You didn’t mention Colter.”

      “Just an oversight,” Richard said nonchalantly. “Colter is part of our family.”

      “Good. Just remember that.”

      “Son—”

      “I’ll talk to Mother when I get back.” He cut off his father because he didn’t want to rehash an old issue. He just wanted Richard to know he wouldn’t tolerate leaving Colter out of anything. Neither would Marisa.

      “Okay.” Richard inclined his head. “Who’s going with you on this trip?”

      Reed knew his father was aware of everything he did. Richard had his sources—or spies—and Reed hadn’t ferreted out the informant who told his father of his every move. He didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about it because he had nothing to hide, but it irked him that Richard still had his finger on the pulse of this company. That implied Richard didn’t trust him.

      “Cari,” he replied, watching his father’s face, “I told Fletcher we’d take the small Learjet just in case you needed the bigger plane.”

      “Thanks, СКАЧАТЬ