“Sounds like Mom.”
He hums in response, and we both go inside. “So, tell me about this unexpected trip to see Lana Robinson?”
Chapter 15
Lana
Iwant a shower and bed. Red-eye flights are the worst. I’m lucky that Eloise sprung for a first-class flight, so I was able to have a bed for a while, even if it was uncomfortable. I stand in front of the mirror in the bathroom, giving myself a once over to make sure I look presentable.I’d better be able to find some good coffee around this place.I drag my small bag behind me so I can locate some caffeine and a bagel or something.
When I make it down to the luggage area, I stop dead in my tracks.Why?Russ is standing there, waiting for me. The last man I ever wanted to see again is the one I’m stuck with. I glance at the time on my phone; it’s eight in the morning here, which means it’s really early still in Wyoming. I want to call Tristan and complain, but I know he’s had a tough day and probably needs sleep.
Maybe I can sneak back up the stairs before he sees me. Our eyes lock, and Russ smiles wide before closing the gap between us.
“Lana, welcome to England. Mum and Dad are thrilled you’re doing the design. They said they met up with you at the ranch, and you said you’d be delighted to help.” He tries to take my bag from me, but I hold on tight to it. He frowns and looks at me.
“I told you I never wanted to see you again and told you to never contact me. I didn’t want to take this job because of our past, but my boss said they didn’t want anyone else to do it.” I lower my voice so no one overhears us. “I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I am here for your parents. Not. You. Stay out of my way these next few days, and we’ll be just fine.”
He smiles. “Whatever you say, Lana.”
Why don’t I believe a word coming out of his mouth?He takes my bag, and when I try to protest, he walks in front of me. I have to practically run in my heels to keep up with him. I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that, though, so I huff behind him. My calves are killing me by the time we make it to his car. I climb into the passenger seat and wait for him to join me.
He slides in, starts his car, and we’re off. He keeps the conversation moving, telling me all the things his mom wants replaced in the house as I try my best to ignore him. I remember visiting, and while I stayed at his flat, we did have dinner at his parents’ house once. It was a massive house. I’m not even sure you could call it that. It was more like a mansion.
“Did you get the flowers I sent you?” He glances between me and the road.
I cross my arms over my chest and stare out the window. “I got them.”
He smirks, and I want to smack it off his stupid face. “I really am sorry, Lana. It was childish of me. I was a stupid kid when I told him that. I didn’t think he would believe me.”
I finally turn to look at him, disbelief settling across my face.
“You didn’t think he would believe you? What about all those years when your family would go back to the ranch, and you tortured him by talking about me? Or how about how you told him we slept together?” I almost yell. I need to rein in my emotions.Breathe, girl.
“I never told him we slept together. I used to give him updates because I thought he would want to know how you were doing. He also seemed so sad, and I thought I could cheer him up a bit. Never worked though. He used to ignore me or avoid me, sending his lackey to do his work.”
“His name is Holden.”
He waves his hand, dismissing my statement. “Whatever. He’s always tried to make me look bad in your eyes. He tried anything to keep you away from me that week. I just wanted someone else to hang out with, and you were pretty.” He smiles. “Arepretty. Listen, no hard feelings. Let’s try to put this behind us and be friends again.”
He pulls into the driveway of his parents’ home, and we get out. Can I be friends with him? After my last trip, I basically stopped talking to him because he gave me the creeps. Besides that and the thing with Tristan, he was always a decent friend to me.
He gathers my belongings from his car, and Simone opens the door, waving at us from the house.
“Hi, Mrs. Carrington. It’s nice to see you again,” I say as I walk up the three steps into her home. She pulls me into a hug and holds me at arm’s length, examining me.
“Lana, dear, I didn’t know you were coming.”
What. The. Fuck.
My smile fades, and my eyes widen as I stare at her. “I-I’m here because you wanted to redo your house. You hired my company and insistedIdo the design. That’s what my boss told me.”
She shakes her head. “I told them I wanted to hire the company and for them to send whoever they had available.”
I turn to look at Russ, who has the good grace to turn red and look at his shoes. Strike one against forgiving him.
“I’m thrilled it’s you, dear. You’ll do a wonderful job. Please, come in. Let’s discuss what I want and what room I want you to redo,” she says as she pulls me into the house and leads me around.
The house looks the same as it did when I visited last time. Nothing has changed except for a few pictures of the kids. Russ and Regina are grown in these ones. They are pictures of their graduations from college and even pictures of Regina with an unknown man, whom I assume is her boyfriend.
