Recognizing the voice, but not quite believing it, I spun around.
“Oh my God.” The world seemed to spin in my periphery. My almost-ex-husband Freddy stood on the steps of the Round Room. He was here at the ranch.
CHAPTER16
LAUREN
Had someone asked me before that moment what was the worst surprise of my life, it would definitely have been standing amongst a hundred and fifty people as we all watched Freddy getting a hand job from a bartender. Didn’t think he could beat that, so to speak, but now he had. I pulled away from the warmth of Matthew’s embrace and walked over to Freddy, my limbs jangling like a marionette on strings.
“What are you doing here?” I was still hoping this was a bad dream.
“Hello, darling,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t seen me kissing someone a second earlier. “A very kind assistant at your company gave me your whereabouts. I told her I needed to get in touch with you immediately, and she was quite helpful.”
Sully, no doubt. I forgave her for sending me to the wrong ranch, but this mistake was unforgivable. Then again, maybe it wasn’t a mistake at all. Did he pay her for this information? I’d definitely be investigating later.
“We’re supposed to speak through our lawyers.” I glanced over my shoulder at Matthew, who was watching us with a dark expression on his face.
Freddy clicked his tongue. “Still an ice queen, I see.”
I hated it when he called me that, probably because there was a grain of truth to it. Instead of getting emotional with Freddy and showing him my anger and pain, I’d always resorted to freezing him out. Why should I show him how badly he was hurting me? Ice queens could at least keep their dignity.
“I’m being practical.” Unlike him, who flew all the way out here to have a conversation.
“Lawyers only want to take our money,” he said. “I think we can settle this between the two of us, don’t you? We’re both reasonable adults.”
Before I could ask Freddy how much he’d spent flying out here—first class, no doubt—Matthew was at my side, so close that our elbows were touching.
“Everything alright, Lauren?” he asked.
He had a few inches of height on Freddy and was brawnier, too. My ex didn’t seem worried, though. Freddy slid his manicured hands into the pockets of his linen blazer and gave Matthew a quick appraisal, no doubt making judgments about his clothing and haircut. I usually smiled every time I thought about Walt trimming Matthew’s hair in the barn, but nothing seemed funny at that moment.
“Matthew,” I said, “this is Frederic Arnaud Tremblay, my?—”
Freddy extended his hand toward Matthew. “Her husband.” I wanted to smack the smile right off his face. How did I ever find him charming?
Matthew reluctantly took Freddy’s hand in his and shook it. “Can someone tell me what’s going on here?”
I grabbed Matthew’s arm, desperate to make him understand I wasn’t a creepy cheater. “We’re only married in the legal sense of the word. We signed separation papers over three years ago, and we haven’t really had a marriage in much longer than that. Freddy doesn’t live with me, and I even had the locks changed so he can’t get into the apartment anymore.”
“You what?” Freddy had the nerve to be offended. “Why would you do that?”
I shot him a deadly look before continuing. “We’re nothing to each other except a problem to be solved. I’m sure he’s here because our lawyers haven’t been able to get us to come to an agreement about the divorce settlement.”
“I understand,” Matthew said. “It’s alright.” He sounded calm, but he didn’t look happy.
“Ahem, excuse me.” Freddy waved his hands to get our attention. “I don’t know who you are, but I need to speak privately with my wife.”
“I’m the owner of this property, and I can have you thrown off it if I want to.” Matthew crossed his arms over his chest. “That’s who I am.”
“And I’m about to be your ex-wife,” I reminded Freddy, “if you’d sign the damn papers instead of trying to get more money out of me.”
Matthew turned toward me and placed a protective hand on my shoulder. “Do you want me to make him leave?”
“That would be my preference, but, unfortunately, I need him to stay so we can come to an agreement. I want my marriage to be officially over.” I scowled at Freddy. “Go to your cabin, and I’ll see you at breakfast.”
“I want to talk tonight,” Freddy said petulantly. “I came all the way from Europe to sort this out with you. The least you could do is make time for me now.”
My eyes bugged out of my head. “The least I could do?” Realizing I’d raised my voice too loud, I grabbed Freddy’s arm. “Excuse us, please.”
