In spite of all the horrible truths her mother spilled to her one night stand, Shannon was amazed at how Drew remained as calm as a sleepy possum while her crazy family went in all directions.
Her sister and fiancé climbed into their car, her cousin and brother huddled around theirs, watching Shannon's unfolding tragedy while her father stood a few feet away not sure what to do.
"Mama, you're not on a date, release his arm. And Drew is leaving."
"He already said he's coming to lunch," her helpful father interceded. "Come on, Donna, you can finish interrogating him at Friday's."
"Homosexual ex, huh?" Drew had to confirm her worst nightmare. They were in his truck, behind the others. Only in Longview did one drive three blocks to a restaurant. "You didn't get a cat yet, did you? I didn't notice a cat."
"He is a very manly gay man. And I'm more of a dog person." Shannon applied mascara and lip-gloss keeping her eyes on the visor mirror. "Sorry about all this, after lunch you can leave and in a couple days I'll announce our break-up."
"Am I going to be gay too?" He grinned at her and she had to smile back. The guy was a doll for not freaking out at her family overtaking her house.
"No. We will break up because my family drove you away."
"Can't do that?"
"Why not, it's not like you'll be the first who's run after meeting them. And you'll never have to be around them again. You live in Bozeman, right?"
"Yes, but I plan to move here." He pulled into the restaurant parking lot.
"What?" Her voice began normal and went to operatic in one syllable. "You can't. I mean you're like my boss's boss." Shannon threw her head back against the plush leather headrest and closed her eyes. "I will have to quit my job and move. I love my little house and without my mother's cooking I'll starve."
Her stomach sank when he didn't try to talk her out of it.
Shannon opened her eyes and screamed. Her mother's face was squished against the window. She narrowed her eyes at Drew. "Are you some kind of drug dealer? This is a very expensive truck."
Without waiting for his reply her mother turned to Shannon. "As the maid of honor, you should be one of the first ones in there and tell everyone what to do, where to sit and such."
Since when? Her mother always took over every family event.
"Uh. Okay." Shannon got out and realized too late her mother had already rounded the truck’s front.
What was her mother up to now?
"So as you see, Drew," Donna spoke in a gentle tone as if he were a timid child. "You should fill the spot. It would do my weak heart good to see both my daughters with their significant others up there at the front of the church."
"What spot, Mama?" Shannon attempted to smile at Drew while frowning at her mother. "Drew lives in Bozeman. He is leaving after lunch. He is not going to stand in front of any church."
"Actually, I'm not leaving until Wednesday and I could come back." Her idiotic fake boyfriend had to speak up now.
"Then it's settled. Oh look, Brad's family is here." Her mother patted his arm and hurried toward the front door of the restaurant.
If Shannon were to guess, her mother would immediately reassign everyone's seats and ensure the restaurant staff was properly overwhelmed by last minute demands.
"What are you thinking? You can't come to the wedding," Shannon hissed at Drew while attempting to keep a pleasant expression in case Brad's family looked their way.
"Your mom has a heart condition. She said it might be her last family event."
"Oh God. She used that one? Mama is as healthy as a horse. There is nothing wrong with her heart. Besides, I don't think there's a spot for you in the bridal party."
Drew helped Shannon with her chair and she had to admit it was great to see he was much better looking than any other man at the table. Maybe except for Trace, who was the all-American tall blond, blue-eyed handsome guy. But since he was her brother, he didn't count.
The family continued to watch them like hawks. "Where do you live, Drew?" Ashley, the new speaker for the group asked. "You look familiar."
Liar.
"In Bozeman," he replied without inflection. "I don't believe we've met."
Ha. Shannon was delighted in his seeing past Ashley's weak attempt at flirtation, which ended when her mother held up a glass.
"A toast to my beautiful children. Meagan, I'm so happy for you and Brad." Donna's voice cracked and Shannon blinked back her own tears at the show of emotion. "Shannon, I am so happy you met such a nice young man and that he agreed to be one of the groomsmen."
Shannon choked on her margarita. Drew nodded in response to her mother and Ashley frowned. In spite of the dire circumstances, Shannon's inner bitch did a happy dance.
Ashley was going to be hard-pressed to find a cuter date than her Drew. Wait. He could not do it. They had to find a way to break up before the wedding. Everyone at work was invited and would find out she'd slept with the boss’s boss.
Worse than anything, she needed her job. She'd just bought her small but adorable house and would lose a ton of money if she had to sell it.
"I don't want to move," Shannon said and Drew patted her hand absently as her Uncle Milton explained how he'd once lived in Bozeman in the seventies and how much it had changed.
Meagan came over and hugged her and then Drew. "Thank you for agreeing to fill in as a groomsman at the last minute." Her beautiful face beamed with bridal joy, which made it impossible for Shannon to kick her. She also wanted to kick Drew for smiling in agreement.
"Meagan," Shannon started. "Why is there an open spot in the wedding party? Why didn't I know about it?”
"It’s one of Brad's friends from the firm, Mike. He fell and broke his leg in three places."
"My goodness. Did he fall off a building?"
"Actually, no," Meagan giggled. "He fell off the edge of a sidewalk."
"Oh. How high was this sidewalk?"
Meagan shrugged and flounced back to her seat.
"So, Drew, why are you in Longview?" her father asked.
Bang! The doorway was slammed with a cane and her grandmother with too bright red hair, from just leaving the salon, burst into the private room in the restaurant. "Did anyone think I might need a ride here?" Memaw directed a glare at Shannon's mother who blinked in return.
"I wondered where you were, Mama." Donna Aldean jumped from her seat and went to the older woman who held her hands up to keep her from coming closer.
"Memaw, why didn't you call when your hair was done?” Meagan asked. "Trace was supposed to get you."
The elderly woman visibly softened. "My poor Trace, you all put way too much on his shoulders." She allowed Shannon's brother to take her arm and guide her to the chair next to his. "Thank you, precious. Of course you forgot since your mother didn't remind you," she said, all the while glaring at her daughter.
"My mom's mother," Shannon explained to Drew and took a long drink of margarita. "Memaw is the devil."
Thankfully once Memaw arrived, all the focus went to her and soothing her feelings at being forgotten for the luncheon. So involved in her spot of the center of attention, Memaw didn't notice Drew's presence.
A couple of hours later, parked in front of her house, they stood beside Drew's truck. "We should talk. Need to find a way to get you out of doing the wedding," Shannon said.
"I don't mind." He shrugged in an easy way, which confused her. How could this carefree guy be the same rich man who purchased her company?
"Did spending a couple hours with my family not scare you off? Besides, what about our roles at work on Monday? I work for the company you bought. Complicated doesn't begin to describe this situation." Shannon wanted to shake him, but the thought of touching the man brought very different ideas to mind.
"We're friends, who happened to share a beer and a great night. I think your family is awesome." Drew looked at her with expectation. "Not a big deal."
"Friends, huh?" Shannon exhaled. "All right."
/>
"Good." He patted her upper arm, got in the truck, and drove off.
"Yeah, great." Shannon mumbled climbing the steps to her front door. Unfortunately there was a flaw in his plan. Her family knew they were more than “friends” and Trace also worked at the ranch supply company.
Chapter Seven
While Drew worked out in the hotel's fitness center, his mind went over the events of the day before.
Gary, his best friend, ran on the treadmill next to him, his glasses slipping down his nose once again. He pushed them back and jabbed at buttons on the machine. "So, Drew," Gary more gasped than said. "You ready for Monday?"
He'd see Shannon Aldean on Monday. "More than ready. I'm looking forward to getting the ball rolling on growing this little company. Production will have to increase. It's time to take it up a notch."
Gary slowed pushed at the buttons until the pace slowed and stumbled. He punched at the console once again and frowned at the display. "This damn thing is trying to kill me."
"You're out of shape," Drew told him and added, "Now I'm here, you won't have to work as many hours so you can work out regularly." He waited for his friend to look toward him. "Thank you, I couldn't have done it without you."
"Not a big deal," Gary jumped up and put his feet on both sides of the conveyor belt. "I am out of shape."
Gary O'Neil was his closest, most trusted friend and he was also a millionaire. They made a bet in college they'd make a million dollars based on personal hard work with no help from their wealthy families. Gary reached the goal first with a gaming program. By the time Drew made his first million, Gary was worth five times more. And still his friend worked twelve-hour days at the Longview offices for two years to help Drew.
"Can you look up something for me, Gary?" Drew asked as they made their way out an hour later. "I need to know which of our employees are most worthy of promotions."
"Sure," Gary replied his mind already on the task. "Based on?"
"Attendance, good reviews, work ethic."
"I don't have to search to tell you those names."
Drew threw his gym bag in the trunk of his car and waited for Gary's answer. He rattled off a list of six names, the first was Trace Aldean followed by Havers, another guy from the plant and last Shannon. "She's a real go getter, her work is meticulous. The only reason she's not a manager is because there aren't any positions." Gary shook his head. "I'm not sure this town is ready for the growth you have in mind."
"We'll see." Drew considered what to do about the situation with Shannon. Thankfully, she'd alluded to the fact their one night stand would remain as such, which was favorable.
Gary continued, "Yeah, the foreman in the production area, Trace Aldean, he's Shannon's brother. Smart guy. Already taking control of things without prompting. He should be promoted."
"Hmmm." Drew wondered how to get around what happened between him and Shannon. If he promoted her and word got out they'd slept together, it would get messy.
"Something wrong?" Gary glanced at his watch. "I have to head home, have a telecom in a bit."
"No, it's good. I'm good." Drew placed his hand on Gary's shoulder. "I still don't understand how you lived here for two years, covering for me, and growing your own business too."
His curly hair stuck out in all directions, but still Gary managed to look put-together. His friend gave him the usual droll look. "I'm a superhero, don't try to figure it out."
An hour later, Drew drove up to his parent's large ranch home on the outskirts of Billings. He drove past paddocks where horses grazed. The drive curved and Drew searched for the familiar horse he'd often ridden as a teenager, but did not spot it.
Finally, he pulled into the circular driveway in front of the stately Emerson family home.
His mother was in the side yard with a basket on her arm and pruning sheers in her opposite hand. She wore a large hat to protect her skin as she cut roses from her prized plants. Her wave was more an acknowledgement than a welcome.
"Hello, Mother." Drew neared and kissed her jaw. "Your roses are beautiful this year." They were indeed. A colorful expanse of reds and pinks with yellow blooms scattered here and there, their light fragrance mixed in the air inviting a passerby to bend and sniff the blossoms.
Jacqueline Emerson's icy blue eyes made a quick assessment of his face before looking to the roses. "Yes, they are." She nipped a fat bloom and placed it in her basket. "What brings you to Billings?"
Of course he should have a reason or motive for visiting. The Emerson's did not spend time together for no reason. "I came to speak to father about my company in Longview. I need advice about purchasing cattle. Perhaps from him."
"Cattle, what on earth for?" Her disapproval evident, she shook her head. "Where are you taking these cows?"
"I bought additional land next to my new company."
"Longview," his mother countered. "It's a quaint speck of a town. I don't understand your reason for wanting to do business there. You'll be hard-pressed to find qualified workers."
"And you know this because?"
He waited not speaking while she cut several more. His mother lifted a brow at him. "I can't imagine an educated person deciding to live there, that's all." She turned and moved to plants a few feet away.
He was dismissed.
The interior of the house was cool, not just from the temperature. Every meticulous inch, shadowed by the thick plush window coverings. His shoes sounded on the burnished wooden floors, the echoes announcing his presence.
In the entry hall on the right a large luxurious glass door cherry wood cabinet held his mother's collection of Faberge eggs.
Through a wide archway, an impressive stone fireplace with a marble mantle. Centered over the hearth an oil family portrait of his parents, him and Adam. He met his brother's eyes for a beat before moving past.
"Andrew." Matilda, his parent's housekeeper and his favorite person who resided at the house dashed to him, her walk closer to a waddle. "Well, look who's here." She beamed, took his face and pulled him down to kiss his cheek.
Drew hugged the woman and kissed her, nuzzling the side of her face until she giggled.
"You are still a bad boy." Her eyes sparkled with mirth. "Come keep me company for a bit." With brisk steps Matilda walked with him toward the kitchen. "I was just thinking about you. Cooling a pecan pie. Your favorite."
Time instantly slipped back to when he was a sullen teenager. Matilda would always serve him a slice of warm pecan pie piled high with whipped cream and tell him everything would be fine. She'd been the person he talked to after his first kiss and his first broken heart. It was the older woman who sat beside him at the hospital for hours after the car accident and not asked any questions. She'd just sat there in quiet assurance knitting while he mourned his brother's death.
"Your father won't be home for a couple hours. Your mother is going out this evening for a friend's birthday celebration," Matilda informed him while moving around the kitchen. She poured a glass of milk and sat opposite him. "How are you doing, Andrew? Tell me everything."
Drew proceeded to tell her about his upcoming venture in Longview and then went on to describe his panic attack the day before. While he talked, Matilda drank her tea and listened interrupting only to ask a simple question or with an uh-huh. Her warm eyes met his and she covered his hand with her caramel veined one. "You're a good boy, Andrew. I am so proud of you."
"And you are the most sweetest and beautiful woman," he countered and laughed when she rolled her dark brown eyes, but preened at his compliment.
"Matilda." His mother entered an hour later She'd changed into a flowing blouse and loose matching pants. Her only acknowledgement of Drew was to glance at the empty plate in front of him.
Matilda smiled at his mother, the warmness of her countenance not changing. "You look great. Here, let me straighten your necklace." She proceeded to adjust the string of pearls. "There you go."
His mother's lips curved only a bit. "T
hank you, Matilda. I don't know what I'd do without you." Then to Drew's astonishment, his mother hugged the woman. She turned to him. "Will you be staying the night son?"
“Yes.”
"I will see you at breakfast then."
"She must be staying out late," Drew pulled the pie pan closer and dug for another slice.
"You won't be hungry for dinner," Matilda admonished but didn't make to move the pie away. "I'm making meatloaf."
Dong. Dong. Dong. The grandfather clock in the hallway sounded seven times. With the heavy curtains drawn, the room lit only by a chandelier was too dark for Drew's taste. With palm tree wallpaper over a waist high walnut wainscoting and two large monkeys that held up lampshades on both ends of the long sideboard the space screamed "interior decorator." Dinner was a quiet event, his father and Drew sitting across from each other at a long table that easily sat twelve.
It was ridiculous in his opinion; they would be more at ease in the smaller table in the kitchen. Matilda's meatloaf was excellent, making the meal worth the silent company.
"How was work today?" Drew asked.
Instead of a reply his father lifted one shoulder.
In contrast, he imagined dinnertime at the Aldean's was probably chaotic and not at all boring like here. Drew frowned at the direction of his thoughts. Why would the Aldean's come to mind at this moment?
Elliott Emerson lifted his wine glass and cleared his throat. "Why are you expending so much effort on a small supply company in Longview?"
"I plan to grow it, double the size of the workforce this year. I have a second product to manufacture. I've decided to live there."
"What about Emerson Ranching? When the time comes for you to take the helm, the board will have a hard time accepting someone who never took interest." His sharp gaze snapped to him. "You can't expect them to accept someone who ran a forty person shop to take the helm of a company of hundreds."
Shop. Drew inhaled to keep from snapping at his father. "It's only a couple years. I don't think it's too much to ask. You're not planning to retire anytime soon are you?"
Montana Boss: Montana Cowboys Page 3