Page 2 of In a Bind

Chapter Two

Zane

Aidanand I had been shown to one of the guest cottages on the ranch to put down our things. Aidan had then headed straight to the buffet table which was set up in the patio area. From the glimpse I'd gotten of the spread and the bar set up, it seemed Aidan's first two wishes had already come true. And the longer glimpse I'd gotten of the pool area, which was filled with bikinis, the third thing on his list was just around the corner and through the pool gate.

I had decided to find Carter to wish him a happy birthday and thank him for inviting us. I headed up the stairs to the second floor sitting room where Carter was busy greeting a few guests. He looked up from a conversation as I walked in. "Zane, you made it."

He quickly introduced me to a few of his friends and then they headed off for the buffet. Carter had those kind of impressive eyebrows that took up half his forehead and let you know quickly if he was angry or happy. They were dancing with glee at the moment. He handed me a glass of scotch without asking if I wanted it. Who was I to turn down what was probably a thousand dollar scotch?

"Where are the others?"

"Aidan decided to get an early start on eating his way to oblivion, and Trey will be up later with his girlfriend. Still waiting to hear whether or not Chase will make it."

"Did you get settled into a cottage?"

"We did and thank you for inviting us. Happy birthday." I lifted my glass in a toast and took a drink.

"Daddy," a woman's voice said from behind. "The caterer—" Mindy stopped and smiled as I turned around. She had that princess look, blonde hair and blue eyes with rosy pink lips to top it off.

"Zane, you remember my daughter, Mindy."

"Of course, nice to see you again."

"And you," she said and then turned to her dad. "That caterer is such a simpleton. I specifically asked for sixty fondant flowers on the cake, one for each year. I counted them twice. He is off by two."

And there it was, the reason I knew she wasn't my type. I'd grown up thinking that birthday cakes were a day old, store bought cupcake, made special by having a candle shoved inside of it. Mindy was from old money. She would never understand the real world.

"Sweetheart, I'm sure he can add two more flowers." Carter used a placating tone that someone might use for a six-year-old but not for a twenty something woman. He elbowed me with a laugh. "Or I can just pretend I'm only fifty-eight. Never thought I'd long to be in my fifties."

"I'll go ask him to make more. It was very nice seeing you again, Zane." Mindy added in some extra eyelash fluttering. She hopped up and kissed her dad on the cheek. "You can't stay holed up here all day, Daddy. Your guests are waiting. Oh, and I've told Toby to get some of the horses ready. A few of the guests want to take a ride." She turned and walked out.

"Mindy has stepped into her mother's shoes so well. She takes care of all the social activities and runs the household." Carter's wife had died of cancer five years earlier. He'd always talked fondly of her.

Carter glanced toward the door to see that Mindy was gone and leaned closer. "She was looking forward to you being here, Zane. I think you two might hit it off. I noticed she made sure to put your place card next to hers on the dining room table."

I forced a smile. "Yes, about that, sir, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to mix business and pleasure. Not that kind of pleasure, of course. I mean the kind where—" My stupid ramblings were cut off by the loud rumble of a motorcycle. It drew Carter away from our conversation.

His extra big eyebrows clenched together in question. Without another word, he walked out onto the balcony. I followed him. We both stared down at the driveway where a motorcyclist, clad in black leather and a tinted black helmet had just pulled up to the front steps. Naturally, the cool motorcycle rider had a pretty girl clinging to him from behind, as if it was some kind of prerequisite for a guy on a fast bike to have a hot girl sitting behind him. The rider was covered in expensive protective gear, but the girl was wearing shorts and sandals. The asshole could have at least given her the helmet. He did, however, take it off to let her give him a long kiss. Double asshole.

"Do you see all this gray hair?" Carter's voice pulled my attention from the scene below.

"I imagine that comes with the territory on your sixtieth," I joked.

"Nope. Every gray hair on my head I owe to my youngest." He motioned with his head toward the scene below. I knew Carter had two sons, Brent who handled their investments in Europe and Garrett, who was just a mooch. Carter's words, not mine. And I knew about Mindy, but I had no idea there was a fourth kid.

I was about to ask about him when Carter leaned over the balcony and yelled down. "Rainsford, get up here."

The kiss ended, and the couple looked up toward the balcony. "I'll be right up, Dad."

I stared down at the scene below, slightly stunned. "Oh, your youngest is the girl." The words just sort of tumbled out.

"Of course. Rainsford. We call her Raini. She is my youngest. She's twenty-two, and she is, for lack of a better phrase, my wild child. She's attending college in the city. Taking fine arts," he said with an eye roll. He pointed up at his impressive mop of gray hair. "Every damn gray hair on my head. My eldest son was in the army and fought in the desert, but I never worried about him. He was always solid in his decision making skills. My other son never leaves his video games. It irritates the hell out of me but at least the only thing I have to worry about with him is that his sloth-like existence will give him diabetes. And Mindy, well, she is the perfect angel, the daughter every dad dreams of."

Just as he finished his narrative, light footsteps sounded inside the room. We walked in from the balcony. Carter's wild child, Rainsford, was standing in the center of the room, her dark brown hair in a tangled mess and her face pink from the motorcycle ride. Her blue eyes sparkled, and a two inch dimple creased her cheek as she crossed the room to Carter.

She gave him a hug and a kiss. "Happy birthday, Daddy. Twenty-nine, right?"

Seconds before, Carter had been complaining about her and had called her gruffly up to the house, but it seemed the big shot, cut-throat business tycoon was putty in his youngest daughter's hands.

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