My heart was beating like crazy in my chest as I followed Scott to his office. Opening the door, we stepped in and I looked around. Pictures covered the walls. They were a mixture of Scott’s prized horses, pictures of Jessie and Lauren and pictures of all of us on trips we had taken together. Walking up to one picture, I smiled. The moment I saw her smile a warmth rushed through my body.
“You really love her don’t you, Colt?”
Smiling, I nodded my head. “Yes, sir, I love her very much.”
Turning, I looked at Scott. He had always been like a second father to me. Really, all of my father’s friends were like second fathers. Each of them had taught us boys lessons that I would cherish forever. Letting out a quick breath, I got ready to talk. My hands began to sweat so I rubbed them against my pants. “Take a seat, Colt and tell me what’s on your mind.”
Worrying my lower lip, I sat down. Clearing my throat, I looked Scott right in the eyes. “I want to start off by saying I hope you know how much it means to me that you have faith in me. I’ve always dreamed of helping you with your business for as long as I can remember. I feel like I have some fresh ideas to add to the smooth operation of the breeding business as well as the racing side of your business.”
Leaning back in his chair, Scott gave me a slight grin and nodded his head. “Why do I feel like there is a but in there somewhere, Colt?”
“Sir, this is a bit awkward to talk about it since this has to do with Lauren.”
Scott moved a little in his seat. “Go on.”
“Lauren loves this ranch sir. She dreams of running it one day alongside of you and the last thing I want to do is stand in the way of that.”
Scott’s eyebrows raised and I wished like hell I could read his mind. Was he angry with me for speaking about this? Was he going to tell me to get out of his office? I couldn’t read his eyes at all.
“Lauren has expressed some concerns with me, sir.”
Clearing his throat, Scott moved about in his chair again. “Concerns?”
Nodding my head, I kept talking. I was in too deep now to turn around and drop it. “She feels like you don’t think she can run this ranch without um . . . well, without help from . . . ah.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, Scott leaned forward. “Spit it the hell out, Colt.”
“Well, um, she said you told her she needed a man to help her run the ranch and she fears you’re going to stick her in the office with her mother and that is the last thing she wants. If you take me on these trips and keep Lauren out, she’s gonna think I’m pushing her out of what she considers her position within Reynolds Breeding. Sir, the last thing I want to do is have Lauren feel like I’m taking something from her. I love her too much to do that to her.”
Leaning forward, Scott placed his elbows on the desk. His eyes were burning with something. Anger? Yep. That sure looked like anger to me. Fuck. He’s going to give it to me. Good-bye trips to Kentucky and New York.
“She told you I said she needed a man to help her run the ranch?”
“Um . . . yes, sir, she did.”
Something passed over Scott’s eyes. It was gone before I could really tell what it was.
“Tell me, Colt. Where do you think Lauren’s position is in my business?”
Ah hell. He stressed my. Swallowing hard, I thought about how I wanted to answer this question. “Scott, it’s not my place to say where Lauren belongs, or even where I belong. I do know that she loves this ranch. She loves every single one of these horses and I’ve witnessed her first hand with some of them. They love her just as much as she loves them. She has a gift that I don’t really know how to explain. She can calm them with a single touch. She seems to know things about them before she even works with them.” Letting out a chuckle I shook my head. “I’ve even seen her talking to them, and I swear they understand her.”
Looking back to Scott, he was smiling as he listened to me. “Scott, let Lauren help me train the stallion.”
Dropping back in his seat he shook his head. “No. No way do I want her near that horse. No.”
Looking down, I thought about the first time Lauren told me her fears about me and why she pushed me away from her. I would not stand in the way of her dreams, but I knew if Scott didn’t give Lauren the chance to prove herself, it would always be someone in her way regardless of if it was me or some other guy Scott hired.
“Scott, please forgive me if I’m speaking out of line, but you’re making a terrible mistake holding Lauren back from what she was clearly meant to do.”
Scott narrowed his eyes and if looks could kill, I’d have been dead on the floor right now. “That’s my daughter, Colt. My everything. Do you understand that?”
His fists were balled-up as he glared at me. “I understand, sir, but I still think you’re making a mistake and it will ultimately lead to you pushing Lauren away.” Standing, Scott’s chair flew back and hit the set of cabinets behind him. “Do you think because you’re dating my daughter that gives you the right to tell me what she should and shouldn’t do with this business? Son, you are more than stepping over the lines here. You’re just her boyfriend. I’m her father and I have nothing but her best interests at heart. There is no way I’m putting her in harm’s way.”
It was my turn to stand up and ball my fists. “Just her boyfriend?” Shaking my head, I felt the heat move across my body. “I’m sorry, sir, but I love Lauren with my whole life. She is my everything, and if that means standing up to you on this and arguing for her, I’ll do it. Even if it means you ask me to leave. I have faith in Lauren. I believe in her and I know she would do better at taking over this ranch and running it over any guy you bring in here.”
Pointing to me, Scott asked, “Does that include you? Can she run this business better than you?”
Staring into Scott’s eyes, I felt the frog forming in the back of my throat. Clearing my throat, I said, “If given the chance to prove what she can do, and I don’t mean organizing files—”