Page 20 of Christmas at the Ranch
“My father and Beatrix are quite close.” Drew reached for the pepper. “They both love books and fine wines and beautiful houses,” he sighed. “She’d be the perfect daughter-in-law.”
“Your father isn’t the one getting married,” Samantha reminded him.
“It’s not my father’s fault that he and I don’t want the same things,” Drew reflected. “I love books but I have as much interest in the production of them as I do in how this sausage got to the plate.” He waved at Samantha’s sausage. “What excites me is giving the books to children to read. But you can’t buy a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan with the kind of money I earn. And heisn’t likely to see his grandchildren if I’m working halfway around the world.” He put down his fork. “When I tell him about Beatrix’s ultimatum, I’m putting an end to his dreams too.”
“Maybe Beatrix will see your point of view,” Samantha said hopefully. “Lots of women leave a life of luxury for love. Look at the heroine inLady Chatterley’s Lover. Lady Chatterley gives up being the lady of a grand estate to live with a gamekeeper.”
Samantha suddenly felt awkward. Drew probably had never heard ofLady Chatterley’s Lover.It had been one of her favorite books in college. She loved it so much, she included it in a Sloane Parker book.
Sloane goes to bed with Stavros, the young Greek fisherman she falls madly in love with. Stavros begs her to quit British Intelligence and work with him on his fishing boat. Sloane imagines their lives together—fishing all day and growing bronze from the sun, making love in secluded inlets and drinking ouzo at night—and is about to agree. Then she finds a copy ofLady Chatterley’s Loverin Stavros’s suitcase. All the paragraphs where Mellors seduces Lady Chatterley are underlined. Sloane realizes that Stavros is only trying to seduce her to gather information about British Intelligence. She tells Stavros she can’t come and she takes the book with her when she leaves. Phineas is a big fan of D. H. Lawrence and she’s going to give it to him as a birthday present.
“I haven’t read that since high school,” Drew said with a grin. “And to be honest, I never agreed with it. The only reason Lady Chatterley fell in love with Mellors was because her husband wouldn’t talk to her. I tell Beatrix everything.” His shoulders sagged. “She just doesn’t want to hear it.”
Samantha felt a pinprick of warmth toward Drew. Roger never read fiction. His stack of books only included the latest bestsellersthat had similar titles:The New York Times Guide to Being a Successful Entrepreneur. How to Become CEO of a Fortune 500 Company by the Age of Forty.
“Maybe you and Beatrix could talk to your father together,” Samantha suggested.
“I tried calling but her phone goes straight to voice mail.” He shook his head. “I should have told my father sooner. I feel like Santa Claus delivering coal to his stocking.”
“Drew, Samantha,” a male voice called.
Samantha looked up. Arthur had appeared in the hallway. He held a coffee cup in one hand and a plate of muffins in the other.
“I’m glad to see you at breakfast, Samantha,” Arthur said, joining them. “Martha isn’t happy unless all the guests try her pumpkin spice muffins.” He set the plate on the table.
“I don’t have room on my plate! And I think I’m still full from last night’s dinner.” Samantha smiled at Arthur. “It was a wonderful evening. Thank you for my present.”
“Our star author needs a gold pen to sign her books. You must take some time to explore my library. Feel free to take any books you want to read,” Arthur said, beaming. He turned to Drew. “I was disappointed that Beatrix didn’t arrive in time for dinner.” He glanced around the dining room. “Where is she? She must be here by now.”
Drew busied himself cutting his omelet.
“Her plane must have been delayed,” Drew said, looking up from his plate. “You know what it’s like traveling on Christmas Eve. You leave New York and find yourself in Boston instead of Philadelphia. Then the airline reroutes you through Chicago and you don’t arrive at your destination until midnight.”
Arthur stirred his coffee. His brow wrinkled.
“I didn’t know Beatrix was in New York. You said she was spending the week before Christmas with her parents in Atlanta.”
“Atlanta is even worse,” Drew said hastily. “The last time I flew from Atlanta, my luggage went to California and I ended up in Detroit.”
“Well, I hope she makes it by this evening.” Arthur bit in to his muffin. His eyes twinkled. “I have a surprise for the two of you after Christmas dinner. I’ve been working on it for weeks, even Martha is sworn to secrecy.”
Arthur drifted off and Drew pushed the hair from his forehead.
“My father shows up and I act like a seven-year-old with his first speaking part in the school play,” Drew groaned. “Don’t even repeat to me what I said. I don’t want to remember.”
Samantha tried to stop from smiling. Drew had resembled a child. His blue eyes seemed even larger and there was a sweet innocence about him.
“It’s not your fault that Beatrix isn’t here.”
“It’s my fault that I didn’t warn him,” he countered. “You’d think that someone who has no problem cutting through red tape to get a school finished before the monsoon season can mention to his father that his fiancée is skipping Christmas. I’ve never been a good liar and I hate to hurt people.”
“Anyone would consider those to be good qualities,” Samantha said, laughing.
Drew ate another bite of omelet.
“There’s nothing I can do about it now.” He shrugged. “Everyone is going snowmobiling at Togwotee Pass after breakfast. Would you like to ride together?”
Samantha was about to make up some excuse. But Arthur wouldn’t approve if she stayed at the ranch.
