Page 65 of Scorch

She pulled out her phone.

“What are you doing?”I asked.

“Googling him.If he’s wealthy and he races horses, his name will pop up.”

Rolling my eyes, I walked over and took her phone and tossed it onto the sofa.“You will meet him tomorrow.There is no need to google him.Now, come see these dresses.I think the pink one with the short, fluffy skirt will be perfect for you at the derby.You’ll be a real, live Barbie.”

“Mom,” Gypsi sighed, “are you sure about this?”

I nodded.“Yes, Gypsi Lu.We are going on an adventure.One unlike any we have ever been on.Stop worrying, and let’s play dress-up.”

I could see when she finally caved and gave in.I wanted to hug her for being so agreeable.She had every right to be mad and demand to stay here.She wasn’t just my daughter.She was my best friend.Our bond was one that I cherished above all else.

Twenty-Nine

Garrett

The flight to Louisville, I realized two things.One, Fawn was a superior parent.Gypsi was a much better kid than Trev, my youngest son who was only a year older than her.She was mature, polite, respectful, and she didn’t trust me at all.I could tell from the way she watched me with that warning look in her eyes, as if saying if I did anything to upset her mother, I’d have her to deal with.I liked this kid.Fawn had raised her without any help, and she had managed to produce an impressive product.

Me?Not so much.Trev was difficult.Nothing like the girl sitting across from us.

The second thing I realized was that there could possibly be an issue with Trev.He liked beautiful females.He used his charm and playboy ways to go through them like most men did their underwear.Gypsi was a replica of her mother in looks.Not so much in personality though.That was the only thing I felt that could save me from Trev causing a problem.I knew my son.Once he got a look at Gypsi, he was going to be like a dog after a damn steak.I had to prepare for that.

Gypsi would be an excellent match for Saxon Houston.She’d be close, within the family so that I could keep her protected, and Saxon had a good head on his shoulders.A hard worker.A little too soft in the ways of our world, but I was going to remedy that.Gypsi seemed like the kind of girl who would sniff out Trev’s bullshit and appreciate Saxon’s responsible side.I would make sure to put them into contact on this trip.See if something came of that.If not, there were other young men in my circle who I could place in her path.Find her someone that was worthy of her.That Fawn would be pleased with.

“You’ve had a horse win the derby nine times in the past twenty years,” Gypsi said, surprising me.

Had she done some research on me?The girl continued to impress me.

I felt Fawn stiffen beside me, and I began to run my fingertips in a circular motion over her bare arm, where my hand rested.I liked putting my arm around her and having her move in close to me when we were seated.The closer, the better.

“Yes, I have.I’m hoping to make that ten this weekend,” I told her.

She gave me a tight smile, then shifted her gaze back toward the window.

“Gypsi, did you google Garrett after I told you not to?”Fawn asked, sounding exasperated.

Those eyes—so similar to her mother’s, but less golden—swung back to Fawn.“Yes.We are traveling to another state with a man you recently met.I was just doing some checking,” the girl admitted.

Damn smart.

Fawn turned her gaze to mine and looked up at me apologetically.“She’s a touch stubborn.”

I grinned and pressed a soft, quick kiss to her lips.“She’s intelligent.It’s admirable.Good job,” I told her.

She laughed softly and glanced over at Gypsi.“Sometimes, I think she raised me.”

“Don’t start that, Mom,” Gypsi replied.“You know that’s not true.”

The kid was special.I needed to find out what she was interested in and get her a job working for me.Fawn would like that, and it would give me more excuses to have Fawn with me.

But first, I had to make sure Trev understood that Gypsi was off-limits.

Thirty

Fawn

The cheers from the crowd, Garrett’s hand squeezing my waist, and the energy in the air while we watched his horse, Shakespeare, hold the lead in the Churchill Downs race—it was intoxicating.I found myself bouncing on the balls of my feet as I clapped, feeling utterly delighted as the roar went up around us the moment Shakespeare crossed the finish line.

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