That need worried her, because it would put him on a collision course with reality. She had to find a way to tell him about the money, the incredible wealth, but she wouldn’t come out looking very good during that confession. She wanted to keep his good opinion of her, and that seemed impossible.
So she put off the telling, and fed him shrimp and risotto, along with good strong coffee, and sent him back to the ranch with many lingering kisses. The sex and the food seemed to have distracted him from his surroundings, and she gave thanks for that.
When his truck pulled away, she watched from her second-story window as the red taillights disappeared. Then she crossed to her landline phone, speed-dialed her mother, and prepared to give a very edited version of her weekend.
Eight
Astrid had known from the minute she called Melanie to beg for some chauffeur service that she’d spill her guts about Fletch. Melanie Shaw was one of Astrid’s two best friends in the world, the other being Valerie Wolitzky. They’d joined the same sorority in college, and because they were all only children, they’d bonded like the true sisters they’d each always wished for.
Their personalities complimented one another and they became inseparable. Big-hearted Melanie, with wide gray eyes and hair she described as plain brown, was the nurturer in the group. Astrid was the driven one, out to prove that she was more than a rich socialite, while red-headed Val was the brain who’d gone on to law school.
After graduation they’d all remained in the Dallas area, which meant they could continue to see each other often. Melanie had grown up on a small ranch and continued to work for her dad, but she’d recently become engaged to billionaire Drew Eldridge. Melanie was the perfect person to give advice about how to navigate financial inequality in a relationship.
“Maybe your rancher guy would be fine knowing you’re rich,” Melanie said as they waited their turn at the DMV.
“Maybe. But I wish I’d told him in the beginning.” Astrid sighed. “I didn’t, though. In fact, I took pains to disguise it. I’m afraid that if I tell him now, I’ll seem dishonest.”
“You have to tell him, though.” Melanie’s gray eyes filled with compassion. “I know it won’t be easy, but if you really like him . . .”
“I really like him.”
Melanie smiled. “You should see how you light up when you say that. In all the years I’ve known you, I haven’t seen that expression when you talked about a guy. I’m excited for you.”
“My parents won’t be. So let’s say I manage to admit I’m wealthy without driving him away. You know what comes next. I have to introduce him to my mom and dad.”
“But he’s a hero, right? He saved you! They must want to meet him.”
“Oh, they do. They want to give him money. He’d be so insulted. Before I take him over there, I have to convince them not to do that, or it will be a complete disaster.”
“I agree.” Melanie nodded. “Ix-nay on the oney-may.”
“As I said, they’re excited to meet him, but as my rescuer. If I introduce him as my boyfriend, they’ll roll up the red carpet immediately.”
“Okay, I know something about this scenario. Drew’s parents weren’t thrilled with our engagement, either. But here’s the bonus. Drew stood strong in the face of their disapproval. If I hadn’t been in love with him before, I would have fallen like a ton of bricks when he proudly told his mother and father that he was the luckiest guy in the world to have me as a fiancée. And because he really feels that way, his folks are coming around.”
Astrid thought about that. “It’s a good point. I guess they mostly want me to be happy.”
“That’s right, and when you demonstrate how happy Fletch makes you, and they get to know him and realize he’s not after your money, everything will be okay. Besides, he didn’t know about your money when he first became interested in you. You can tell them that, too.”
“I will, but I swear, if my father makes one snide remark—”
“Don’t let him get away with that. Be strong.” Her gaze was steady. “It’s your life.”
Astrid regarded her friend with new respect. “That trip to Paris stiffened your spine, didn’t it, girlfriend?”
“It did. I wish you and Val had gone like we’d planned, but—”
“Then you wouldn’t have discovered your own strength, or met Drew. It worked out the way it was meant to.”
“And this will, too.”
Astrid groaned. “I still don’t know how to tell him I’m wealthy. And after I do, even if he seems okay with it, will there be awkwardness?”
“Like what?”
“Well, in your case, you just moved into Drew’s elegant home. If Fletch and I decide to be together, then how do we handle the fact that I’m used to pricier digs than he is?”
“I do like Drew’s home and I was happy to move there. But how do you want to handle it?”
Astrid thought about Fletch’s house—the simple lines, the rock fireplace, and especially his big bed. She smiled as the truth dawned. “I could be very happy in his house. Maybe he’d want some of my furniture and maybe not. I wouldn’t really care. I don’t need expensive furniture. Having it is more habit than anything.”
Melanie laughed. “I know. You’ve never been a snob. I can’t imagine why you’re worried about different lifestyles. You live way below your means. Your parents don’t, but who cares? It’s your—”
“It’s my life. I get it. I get it!”
“Yay! Problem solved! The two of you can have a blast shopping at big-box furniture stores.”
Astrid winced. “Maybe not.”
“Okay, estate sales, then.”
“That’s more like it. But there’s something else. He operates on a very slim profit margin. Sometimes he goes without one thing so he can afford another. I could change all that, and I’d want to help him prosper, but how would he feel about accepting money from me?”
“One way to find out.” Melanie chuckled. “Astrid, you can bat this around for as long as you want and look at it six ways to Sunday, but until you actually talk to him, you’ll have no idea how he’ll react. My advice is to just do it.”
“It’s good advice.”
“So when will you talk to him?”
Astrid took a shaky breath. “Once everything’s straightened out from the accident.”
Melanie looked as if she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue.
Astrid had known her long enough that she could guess what her friend wasn’t saying, though. Mel didn’t think putting off the conversation was a good idea. “I have to get this stuff under control, Mel. I don’t even have a phone yet. I couldn’t call him if I wanted to.”
“Do you know his number?”
“As it happens, I do.” She hadn’t memorized many phone numbers, but somehow his had stuck in her mind. Imagine that.
“I have a phone. You could arrange to meet him for lunch.”
Astrid’s stomach churned as she contemplated putting everything on the line right away. She wasn’t ready. “Twenty-four hours isn’t going to make that much difference. Then I’ll have my ducks in a row, at least mostly, and I can think more clearly about how I want to broach the subject.”
“All righty.” Melanie gave her a quick hug. “It’s your life.”
***
Janis and Buddy were in great shape. Herman and the other two hired hands had everything under control at the Rocking G. The insurance adjuster had evaluated the collapsed bridge and the paperwork on that was in process.
Although Fletch could always find something to do—a horse that needed exercising, a fence post that wobbled, some research online as he mapped out his breeding program in more detail—nothing seemed pressing enough to demand his immediate attention. He knew exactly why that was. He was still focused on Astrid and wondered how she was progressing with all her issues.
He’d thought about calling, but she might not have picked up a new cell phone yet. Besides, he didn’t want to appear needy, even though he was, a little bit. He told himself she’d contact him and set a time to see him, at least by next Sunday . . . but that seemed like forever. By Sunday he might be a raving lunatic.
Yesterday he’d been convinced they’d eliminated any obstacles to having a relationship. But today he wasn’t at all sure about that. Her manner told him obstacles still existed, and if he had to guess, he’d say her parents’ opinion constituted at least one of them.
He couldn’t imagine why, unless they were extremely conservative about sex before marriage. After giving the matter more thought, he decided that must be it. She hadn’t wanted to discuss her parents with him, possibly out of loyalty to their beliefs, and maybe because she wasn’t honoring those beliefs.
So he’d help her work around that issue, but in order to do that, they had to discuss it. In order to discuss it, he had to talk with her, preferably face-to-face. He hated to think that wouldn’t happen until Sunday.
Astrid was the only person he could talk to about their relationship, since he’d promised to keep it quiet. That promise had boxed him in more than he’d realized when he’d made it. He had a couple of close friends from high school, and either one of them would gladly listen to him rant about his frustration . . . but he’d told Astrid he wouldn’t do that.