Susan Mallery - Straight From The Hip

“Oh, joy.”

She knew there was more at stake here than just her character. There was the possibility the surgery wouldn’t work. That she would be lost in the darkness forever. Not a thought to perk up her mood, she reminded herself.

“I can’t ride,” she told the other woman. “But I can still do the grooming and help out in other ways.”

“Then that’s what I’ll use you for.”

“I like working with the horses. Flower sure made a difference with Heidi.”

“They usually do. Riding is an act of mutual trust. Kids who have been betrayed by someone who is supposed to love them aren’t big on trust. We start with a horse. It builds confidence.”

“Did you study this?”

Rita laughed. “I have a lot of common sense. Sometimes that’s better than any fancy education, if you ask me.”

Izzy was less sure about her common-sense profile. “I’ve done a lot of dumb things in my life.”

“Who hasn’t?”

“I went swimming with sharks.”

“Then you are an idiot.”

Izzy laughed. “So college would help me?”

“It’s a must.”

“I never went. I hated school and couldn’t wait to be out. I bummed around Europe for a few months, then came back here and joined a ski patrol in Colorado. From there it was an easy downhill slide…no pun intended.”

“I’ve never been skiing. I know they have programs for the blind, but I really hate the cold. So what do you want to study?”

Izzy hesitated. Not because she didn’t know but because the idea was so new, so tender, it could easily be crushed.

“Psychology,” she said at last. “Child psychology. Specifically childhood traumas. I want to help children like Heidi. But going back to school? I don’t know if I can do it. School was never my thing.”

“You were never motivated before. You are now. They say that returning women are the most successful students in college.”

“Seriously?”

“Sure. Start small. Go to community college, then transfer. It’s the same classes at a slower pace.”

Community college? Izzy hadn’t thought of that. “It makes the process seem more manageable,” she admitted.

“Or you could just stay here and marry Nick.”

Izzy was glad she was sitting down, but hated that she couldn’t see Rita’s expression. “What?”

“You heard me. I may be blind, but I can see what’s going on between the two of you.”

“But we…I…What?”

There was something going on, but it was just that they liked each other and were going through something intense. He had helped her last night, which she appreciated. But married?

“I don’t do commitments. Never have.” That would require trusting someone to be there, to take care of her. Not her strong suit. “And Nick isn’t looking for anything permanent.” Until he could at least start on the road to forgiving himself, he wasn’t in a position to care about anyone.

“He’s a good guy. I’ve known him a while now. And he’s supposed to be decent eye candy.”

Izzy tried to laugh and choked instead. “Less of an issue for me today,” she said, touching the bandages. “We’re just friends.”

Rita snorted. “Sure. Like anyone believes that.” She stood. “The horses aren’t going to take care of themselves. Come on. We have work to do.”

Work Izzy could handle. “You have some really strange ideas.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But if I’m right, I’ll be the first one to say I told you so.”

“JED TITAN’S HERE to see you. He doesn’t have an appointment.”

Garth raised his eyebrows. Jed coming to see him? That could only be good. The winner in a war never bothered with personal visits.

He pushed the intercom button on his phone. “Send him in.”

He’d barely had time to walk around his desk when the door opened and Jed strolled in.

His father was a tall man, fit, with only a hint of gray in his dark hair. Garth knew he looked a whole lot more like Jed than Kathy. He’d also inherited his father’s ruthless nature, quest for dominance and business savvy. He had a feeling that any softer characteristics his mother might claim had long been burned out of him.

“Jed,” he said, crossing the space between them and offering his hand.

“Garth.”

They shook. Jed eyed him, as if assessing him.

“Nice office,” the older man said. “You own the building?”

“Sure. Why pay rent when you can collect it?”

Jed nodded. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.” He crossed to the leather sofas and chairs in the corner and took a seat. “It’s a little early for bourbon so I’ll take coffee. Black.”

Garth used the intercom to give his assistant the order, then settled in a club chair opposite Jed.

“Cowboys have a fair chance this year,” Jed said. “You follow football?”

“Not especially. Work keeps me busy.”

“It’s the Cowboys. They’re America’s team.”

“I’m not sure the rest of the country would agree with that.”

“Screw ’em.”

The coffee was delivered. When the door closed and they were alone again, Jed leaned toward him.

“Garth, I have a proposition for you.”

Victory, Garth thought, feeling a bone-deep sense of satisfaction. If not today, then soon. Jed was running scared. His visit here was proof of that. The plan was working.

“Which is?”

“A partnership. This has been a good game. You’ve given me a run for my money and I respect that, but we’re talking business. Why waste the resources?”

“Because I have money to burn.”

Jed’s gaze sharpened. “So do I, but it’s not necessary. Here’s what I’m offering. I’ll bring you in as president of Titan World with a generous salary. I’ll gift you a truckload of shares. The rest you’ll vest over time so that when I’m gone you’ll have controlling interest in the company. I mean the whole company. Not just a piece here or there. I’ll also cut my daughters out of my will. You’ll get it all. You’ll win.”

It was an offer made of desperation, Garth thought, pleased and a little disappointed. He hadn’t thought Jed would cave so easily and he sure wasn’t ready for the game to be over.

“What makes you think I don’t want your daughters to get anything?”

“You’ve gone after them plenty. Look, Garth. I’m impressed and proud as hell. This is a onetime offer. What do you say?”

“That I’m not interested in working for you. I’ve built my own business.”

Jed glared at him. “It’s nothing compared to Titan World.”

“It’s getting there. Give me another year. As for the stock, I already own nearly ten percent. I plan to take you down the old-fashioned way.”

Jed visibly relaxed. He leaned back against the sofa. “You want to play rough.”

“Absolutely.”

“I respect you coming after me. You have a bone to pick and maybe I earned it. But my girls are different. What you did to Izzy is just plain wrong. It’s also against the law.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with the explosion. I might be interested in having a little fun with my sisters, but I’ve done nothing to hurt them. I don’t know what happened on that rig, but it wasn’t me.”

Jed shook his head. “At least admit you did it.”

“If I had, I would. But I didn’t.”

Which left the same question on the table. Who else was after Jed? Who else had so much on the line that he would blow up an oil rig?

His gaze returned to his father. Had he been set up by Jed? Would Jed do that to his own kid, just to make Garth the bad guy? Why not? Jed was ruthless.

Garth stood. “I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. I don’t need to work for you to control Titan World.”

Jed came to his feet. “You won’t win, boy. I’ll crush you.”

“You’ll try. There’s a difference. But in the end, I’ll have it all.”

“Then I’ll see you in hell.”

Garth shrugged. “You first.”

IZZY SAT IN THE SUN, taking in the chaos around her. She could smell the meat on the barbecue and the sweet scent of lemonade, hear the multiple conversations, the clink of ice in glasses and hum of insects. It was a perfect September Saturday and most everyone she cared about in the world was around her.

Lexi was there with Cruz and his daughter, Kendra. Skye had brought Mitch and Erin. Rita and her husband had come, as had Norma, whose “date” was an Australian Shepherd who kept trying to herd everyone into a central spot. Aaron had brought his boyfriend, Steve. Izzy felt the love and support all around her but the one person she was most interested in hadn’t come out of the house yet.

She was annoyed both by his tardiness and by her desire to have him next to her. Being totally blind was hard and having Nick nearby made it easier.

Familiarity, she told herself. It had nothing to do with how she felt. It couldn’t. Talk about a disaster.

“How are you doing?” Dana asked as she came and sat next to Izzy.

“Okay. Still blind.”

“I can see that. The bandages are a nice reminder.”

“You like them? I think they’re going to be on all the spring runways.”

“Like I’d know what that means,” Dana grumbled.

“It’s a fashion thing.”

“I don’t do fashion.”

Izzy grinned. “Or the whole mani-pedi experience. Do you even own mascara?”

“I did. Once. Maybe.”

Dana was a wonderful friend and a lot of fun, but she was the opposite of girly.

“It’s probably best you didn’t go into retail,” Izzy teased.

“You think?” Dana sighed. “Everyone here has someone but me. Even Norma brought a dog.”

“Do you want a dog?”

“No. I’m just saying.”

“You want a guy.”

“Maybe.” Dana sounded almost angry. “Let’s change the subject.”

“Why? You could date.”

“Thanks. I was waiting for your permission.”

Izzy laughed. “At least now you have it. Look. You’re great and pretty and sexy and guys love that. But you’ve always picked safe, boring men who don’t challenge you. Then you dump them because they’re safe and boring. You need to try a different type.”