Page 23 of In a Bind

Chapter Eighteen

Zane

Mindy had once again putdown her silly name cards on the long table. I was no longer sitting next to her, which worked out best for both of us. But it seemed she'd taken extra care to put her sister at the opposite end of the table. From my seat, I couldn't even catch a glimpse of Raini between the roses and towers of fruit. At least Trey and Georgie were seated next to me. And at least the food was delicious.

Trey made note of me sucking down my food like someone was going to take it away. "Someone worked up an appetite this morning."

"That's because it's not morning. It's almost noon, and unlike you partying lightweights, I was up early." I scooped up some hash browns with a slice of bacon.

"Doing what?"

"Stuff." I shoved the bacon potato combo into my mouth. Trey and Georgie were both waiting for me to elaborate. When I didn't, Trey figured out what stuff meant. Georgie was right behind in her conclusion.

"Never mind." She picked up her orange juice. "We don't need details."

Trey nodded. "That's right." He leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. "Later, I want every damn detail."

"I heard that," Georgie said over her sip of juice.

"It's all in the name of research for the company. You never know where a new box theme will come from." Trey threw out his reasoning, but Georgie just shook her head.

I plucked a strawberry from the tower. "Actually, I've got a new theme. Came to me just this morning."

Trey waited for me to finish my berry. "Well?"

"In a bind. I'm sure you can figure out what would go in the box without me elaborating." Both Trey and Georgie watched me as I reached for another berry.

"Now you are really going to have to fill me in on the details," Trey said. "And I now also know that you haven't been with Carter's daughter."

I looked at him. "Why would you say that?" My mind went straight to the possibility that he had seen Raini with someone else last night or even this morning when I'd gone in to shower. I couldn't remember the last time the cold hand of jealousy had gripped me, but all of a sudden, I was ready to hit someone.

Trey laughed. "Because Mindy doesn't seem like the type of woman who would like to be, as you so poetically put it, in a bind. But then maybe I'm wrong. Were you with her? You could do worse than marrying into the Bonneville family."

The relief I felt made me slouch back against the chair. "No, I wasn't with Mindy."

"Are you going to tell me who it was?"

"Nope."

The brunch lasted a good hour. Then slowly people began making their way to their cars to leave. I'd gone back to the cottage to pack. Aidan had already packed and gone off to say good-bye to Carolyn. In the mix of people and food and clutter, I hadn't gotten close to Raini once, but I had no plans to leave the ranch without talking to her first. I knew she lived near the art college, which was just thirty minutes from Plaything and another ten after that to my apartment. I wanted badly to continue seeing her, but I knew that there was every chance that she had no plans to see me again. I was very likely just an amusement, a distraction from the long weekend with her dad's friends. I had to be ready to face that grim prospect, but I wasn't going to leave without at least letting her know I how felt.

Carter was out in front of the house saying his good-byes. I needed to do the same.

He saw me walk out of the house with my bag. "Zane, did you have a good time?"

"I did. It was quite the celebration. Thank you for inviting me."

"Thank you for coming." He shook my hand. "Did you get a chance to say good-bye to Mindy? I think she's still inside."

"Yes, I saw her on my way through the house." I looked around the front yard that was busy with people packing cars. "Uh, I would like to say good-bye to Raini too. Do you happen to know where she is?"

"Rainsford? She took off right after brunch. I had to lend her a car. I only hope she brings it back in one piece," he said with a laugh.

I forced a smile, not wanting to let on that his news had just felt like a fist in my gut.

"But when I talk to her, I'll let her know you wanted to say good-bye."

I nodded. "Great. Yeah, that would be great. Well, I think Aidan is in the car already so I'll be on my way. Thank you again for having me."

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