See you later." Royce walked out to his BMW, climbed inside, turned the key and backed out of the driveway.
"You don't have to stand in the doorway staring after him," Garrett muttered.
Katy blinked in surprise at the harsh tone. "I wasn't staring after him."
"I hope not. I wouldn't want you getting any ideas about Hut ton. And I sure as hell don't want him getting any ideas about you."
Katy's eyes widened. "That's not likely," she retorted.
"Think not? The man's only been divorced a few months. He's out to prove he's still got what it takes. Lately he's been chasing anything shaped like a female."
"Garrett, you're being ridiculous."
"I'm being careful."
"I don't know what you're so upset about," Katy said through her teeth. She was suddenly furious. "After all, Royce knew all about my father's farm. He knew I was Harry Randall's daughter, and I'm certain he'll make sure everyone at the cocktail party tonight also knows who I am. That's one of the reasons you married me, wasn't it? So that you could get some mileage out of my family connections? You wanted to prove to yourself and everyone else that you were rich enough and successful enough now to marry the daughter of the man whose stables you had once cleaned. Thanks to Royce's invitation you'll be able to show off your new acquisition this evening."
Something sharp and violent flared in Garrett's eyes. "You don't know what the hell you're saying."
"I'm only saying what several other people were saying at the wedding."
He stared at her. "And you believed it?"
"Not then. I didn't believe it until later when I realized you didn't love me. Then I had to look for other reasons why you married me. The fact that I was Harry Randall's daughter explained a lot of your interest in me. I was too stupid to look for the real reasons for our marriage before I found myself walking down the aisle."
"Dammit, Katy, the only thing you've been looking for lately is trouble, and if you're not careful, you're going to find it. I did not marry you just to prove to the world that I was now in the position to marry my former employer's daughter. For God's sake, use your head. Do you honestly think I'd tie myself to a woman I didn't want just to prove I could marry her? I'm not a masochist."
The sound of a truck engine out in the driveway halted Garrett. Grateful for the diversion, Katy glanced through the open door. A truck pulling a horse trailer was approaching.
"I think Red Dazzle is here," Katy said stiffly.
Garrett shoved his hat down low over his eyes and stepped outside. "About time." He walked away with long, impatient strides, heading toward the truck and trailer.
Katy stood in the doorway wishing she had kept her mouth shut. She didn't move until a faint tingle down her spine told her she was not alone. She swung around a little nervously and saw Nadine Bracken standing in the arched doorway that opened onto the dining room. The woman was just standing there, staring. Katy wondered how much she had overheard.
"You gave me a start," Katy said, summoning a smile.
"I just wondered if you wanted me to change the beds."
Katy winced at the realization that Nadine Bracken knew her new employers were not sleeping together.
"No, that can wait until tomorrow. You can go now. I think everything's under control for today. Garrett and I are going out this evening."
"All right." Nadine moved soundlessly out of sight.
Katy turned back to watch the scene outside the door. Garrett was deep in conversation with the young driver of the truck. Katy walked outside and slowly strolled toward the horse trailer. She was curious about Red Dazzle. Memories of a stolen day at the county fair rodeo when she was fifteen drifted through her head. She'd had eyes only for Garrett that day, but she did have a vague recollection of a sleepy-looking chestnut quarter horse built like a bulldog. She also remembered the way that same lethargic-looking creature had exploded out of a chute in hot pursuit
"You don't have to stand in the doorway staring after him," Garrett muttered.
Katy blinked in surprise at the harsh tone. "I wasn't staring after him."
"I hope not. I wouldn't want you getting any ideas about Hut ton. And I sure as hell don't want him getting any ideas about you."
Katy's eyes widened. "That's not likely," she retorted.
"Think not? The man's only been divorced a few months. He's out to prove he's still got what it takes. Lately he's been chasing anything shaped like a female."
"Garrett, you're being ridiculous."
"I'm being careful."
"I don't know what you're so upset about," Katy said through her teeth. She was suddenly furious. "After all, Royce knew all about my father's farm. He knew I was Harry Randall's daughter, and I'm certain he'll make sure everyone at the cocktail party tonight also knows who I am. That's one of the reasons you married me, wasn't it? So that you could get some mileage out of my family connections? You wanted to prove to yourself and everyone else that you were rich enough and successful enough now to marry the daughter of the man whose stables you had once cleaned. Thanks to Royce's invitation you'll be able to show off your new acquisition this evening."
Something sharp and violent flared in Garrett's eyes. "You don't know what the hell you're saying."
"I'm only saying what several other people were saying at the wedding."
He stared at her. "And you believed it?"
"Not then. I didn't believe it until later when I realized you didn't love me. Then I had to look for other reasons why you married me. The fact that I was Harry Randall's daughter explained a lot of your interest in me. I was too stupid to look for the real reasons for our marriage before I found myself walking down the aisle."
"Dammit, Katy, the only thing you've been looking for lately is trouble, and if you're not careful, you're going to find it. I did not marry you just to prove to the world that I was now in the position to marry my former employer's daughter. For God's sake, use your head. Do you honestly think I'd tie myself to a woman I didn't want just to prove I could marry her? I'm not a masochist."
The sound of a truck engine out in the driveway halted Garrett. Grateful for the diversion, Katy glanced through the open door. A truck pulling a horse trailer was approaching.
"I think Red Dazzle is here," Katy said stiffly.
Garrett shoved his hat down low over his eyes and stepped outside. "About time." He walked away with long, impatient strides, heading toward the truck and trailer.
Katy stood in the doorway wishing she had kept her mouth shut. She didn't move until a faint tingle down her spine told her she was not alone. She swung around a little nervously and saw Nadine Bracken standing in the arched doorway that opened onto the dining room. The woman was just standing there, staring. Katy wondered how much she had overheard.
"You gave me a start," Katy said, summoning a smile.
"I just wondered if you wanted me to change the beds."
Katy winced at the realization that Nadine Bracken knew her new employers were not sleeping together.
"No, that can wait until tomorrow. You can go now. I think everything's under control for today. Garrett and I are going out this evening."
"All right." Nadine moved soundlessly out of sight.
Katy turned back to watch the scene outside the door. Garrett was deep in conversation with the young driver of the truck. Katy walked outside and slowly strolled toward the horse trailer. She was curious about Red Dazzle. Memories of a stolen day at the county fair rodeo when she was fifteen drifted through her head. She'd had eyes only for Garrett that day, but she did have a vague recollection of a sleepy-looking chestnut quarter horse built like a bulldog. She also remembered the way that same lethargic-looking creature had exploded out of a chute in hot pursuit
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