“Griffin, really. Why you insist on being so disrespectful toward your father…” At his arched eyebrow, she didn’t continue but her pursed lips relayed her displeasure. “Still, bringing,” a pause, “your assistantto a social event isn’t appropriate. She belongs in the office, not the ballroom.”
Beside him, Hayden stiffened. He didn’t glance down, knowing if he glimpsed a hint of hurt on her features, he would say something that might cause his mother embarrassment and pain. More importantly, he didn’t want to draw even more of Audrey’s apparent but confusing disdain toward Hayden. Griffin would leave once more in a couple of weeks; she had to remain behind, working for his father and still dealing with his mother.
“Careful, Mother,” he drawled, not bothering to blunt the edge to his words. “Your claws are showing.” Trusting himself to peer down at Hayden, he gently squeezed her waist, ignoring the further tensing of her curvaceous frame. “Hayden, would you mind hunting down Edward Grey for me? I wanted to speak with him earlier.”
To her credit, she didn’t bat an eye at the blatant lie. She just nodded, murmured a soft “excuse me” and several moments later, disappeared in the crowd.
“You want to explain to me what that was about, Mother?” he growled. “You’ve known Hayden since she was seven years old, yet you treated her like the help right now. It was uncalled for and mean-spirited.” He longed to add, her mother was also the only maid who hasn’t fucked your husband. But that, too, would’ve been mean-spirited.
She ignored his demand for an explanation, instead waving at an older couple and a younger woman who neared them. “Henry and Michelle, please come meet my long-lost son.” Her perfect hostess smile firmly fixed into place, she placed a hand on Griffin’s arm. “Griffin, these are my dear friends Henry and Michelle Granger, and their daughter Candace. Henry, Michelle, Candace, this is my youngest son, Griffin Sutherland.”
“Dear friends” was relative for his mother. That could mean she’d known the handsome couple and their lovely daughter for five years or five minutes. In their world, everyone was a “dear friend”—even when you wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire.
“Nice to meet you.” Henry pumped his hand, both his and his wife’s gazes avidly curious. They probably couldn’t wait to go share that they’d met the infamous Sutherland black sheep.
“Honey, you and Candace are both University of Texas alumni. She just graduated last year.” Audrey beamed fondly at the younger woman.
And Griffin barely restrained his eye roll. The police had a name for his mother’s actions. Entrapment.
“Congratulations,” he said, nodding at Candace. “What was your major?”
“Business management,” Henry bragged, replying before his daughter could.
“You two already have something in common,” Audrey pointed out. “Why don’t you become better acquainted? Henry, Michelle? There are some friends I would like to introduce you to.” With that, his mother departed, the older Grangers following in her wake like she was the Pied Piper.
“Subtle as a Mack truck, isn’t she?” he drawled.
Candace’s smiled, her green eyes alight with laughter. “I have the tire tracks on my back to prove it.”
He chuckled, surprised by the woman’s dry wit. Candace Granger was a classic Texas Rose—perfectly coiffed blonde hair, porcelain skin, lovely emerald eyes and a slender body encased in a dress that was probably straight off a Parisian runway. He understood why his mother had decided to play matchmaker. Yet, as undeniable as her beauty was, he appreciated it like a beautiful painting or a stunning sunset. Admired it but didn’t want to own it. Claim it.
Because she didn’t have wild, chocolate curls or hazel, almond-shaped eyes that a man could willingly drown in. She didn’t possess a mouth that called to mind all things sinful or skin that was caramel dusted with vanilla. She didn’t boast a body full of sexy curves and dips.
She wasn’t Hayden.
Fuck. When would he stop comparing other women to her? He might have left her all those years ago, butshe’dnever lefthim.
Resisting the urge to search her out among the guests, he forced another smile for Candace. “Since I’m sure there are at least three pairs of eyes focused on us at the moment, can I escort you to your table?”
“Far be it for me to disappoint them,” she said, slipping her hand into the crook of his proffered arm. “I’d hate for them to think all their hard work was wasted.”
He caught the flirtatious invitation as well as the interest in her gaze. Any other time, he would’ve jumped on both. But becoming involved with a woman who was the daughter of his parents’ friends? Why not go grab a noose and loop it around his own neck? He was here for two weeks, and starting a relationship wasn’t on the carefully planned agenda his father had set out. Although, Joshua would probably amend the itinerary if he thought Griffin hooking up with Candace was advantageous to him.
Still his life was in Florida. And after he served his time in Houston, he would return there, with the deed to the property that should’ve been his in the first place. And somehow he couldn’t picture Candace Granger living in Blackpool, Florida.
But Hayden…
Quickly, he shook the insidious thought free. She’d made it abundantly clear where her loyalties lay. Here. With his father here in Houston. And if the thought gripped his stomach in a vicious twist, well…tough shit.
* * *
The two made a striking couple.
Hayden studied Griffin and the tall, model-thin, gorgeous blonde standing beside him. The one Audrey hadn’t wasted anytime introducing him to as soon as she’d sent Hayden on her way—away from her son. To be fair, it’d been Griffin who’d asked her to run the fictitious errand, but Hayden had leaped at the chance to escape his mother’s condescending, haughty gaze. And though, Hayden had sat beside Griffin at the table, she’d maintained the distance even through dinner. Because in that instant, Hayden had gone from multi-degreed, professional businesswoman to “the help”, and she hated herself for allowing Audrey to make her feel small, not good enough.
“It’s not what they call you but what you answer to.”Her mother’s advice drifted across her mind. True, but the problem was sometimes a person answered out of habit.
When Hayden had finally risen from the abyss of grief she’d tumbled head-first into after Griffin walked out, she’d refused to let anyone make her feel unworthy again. Never permit the greasy oil of shame to slide through her belly or permeate her skin. But all it’d required for that five year resolution to quiver and threaten to shatter was Griffin reentering her life.