“I’m real happy you’re here, Crystal.”
“I’m real happy I’m here too. I’m loving every single minute.”
Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed it softly, then looked forward to the road. It had felt right standing with her in the corral, it felt right having her in his house, everything about her was right.
I don’t want you goin’ anywhere. I’ve gotta keep you here after Lucky is settled. I just have to find a way to do it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Buoyed by her experience in the corral, Crystal spent the afternoon as she had the morning, working on her book, and when Clay walked in the door a few minutes after six she was shocked by how much time had passed. Closing her laptop she rose from the couch and hurried to greet with him with warm hug.
“You’re in a good mood,” he smiled hugging her back.
“I got so much done. Being around those horses gave me such a lift, it’s amazing. I’ve never written so fast.”
“That’s great, babe. Aren’t you tired?”
“Kind of, not really. I mean, brain tired I guess.”
“We need to be down at the house by seven, so you’d best start gettin’ ready. I know it’ll take you more than five minutes.”
“It will,” she nodded, “but I think I need a cup of tea.”
“Then you go make your tea and I’ll jump in the shower, oh, and it’s fine to take Lucky with us. I knew it would be, but I double-checked to be sure.”
“He’s such a good dog,” she remarked.
“I think he’s a very grateful dog,” Clay said raising his eyebrows. “He knows he was saved.”
“Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m glad you’re home. I missed you.”
“You did?”
“I did, and now I’ll go and make that tea. I don’t want to keep you waiting,” she winked.
He kissed her lightly and headed off to the bedroom, and as she entered the kitchen and set the kettle to boil, she looked out the window. The setting sun was hidden behind an ominous slate grey sky.
“Please don’t rain,” she muttered. “I want to go back and visit the horses tomorrow.”
Making her tea she carried it with her to the guest suite, and with all her belongings in the room she decided she’d remain there to shower and get herself together. Forty-five minutes later she emerged dressed and ready for the dinner party. As she walked into the living room, Clay, sitting on the couch watching television, rose to his feet and let out a low whistle.
“Damn, girl, you look amazin’.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, trust me, you do.”
Wearing a silk powder blue dress that draped around her figure, she looked elegantly sensuous, and after curling her long flaxen mane into ringlets, she had pulled it up at the sides away from her face, holding it on top of her head with a rhinestone clip. The effect brought out her bright green eyes, and the small amount of makeup she’d applied highlighted her high cheekbones and full lips.
“Thank you. You look pretty darn good yourself,” she twinkled. “You should wear a suit more often, and I like it without the tie. That little bit of chest peeking through is really sexy.”
“No,” he said shaking his head. “Really sexy is standin’ right in front of me, and we’d better get outta here before I zip you back to the bedroom and have my way with you.”
“I don’t have a warm coat,” she said as they headed to the garage. “I’m going to go back to my house tomorrow and pick one up, along with that bathrobe. Oh, speaking of coats, is it going to rain? The sky looked kind of dark when I was making my tea.”
“Yep, it’s gonna rain,” he nodded. “Don’t worry though. I can pull into the garage at the house. We won’t be outside.”
In addition to his truck Clay owned a Lexus sedan, making it a quick, comfortable ride down to the family home, and when they entered they could hear voices coming from the front room.
“This house, it’s incredible,” she whispered, taking in the highly polished wood floors, the recessed lights and and fine artwork gracing the walls.
“Wait ’til you see the fireplace,” he said quietly. “Try not to gasp.”
Crystal was glad he’d warned her. Moments later she found herself standing in a room with soaring ceilings, at least two-stories high, and a fireplace with a huge hearth. It was made from large polished stones of blue, grey and amber, and the rock work continued above the fireplace against a glossy black granite wall, to an apex high above their heads.
“It’s a gigantic triangle,” she breathed.
“Yep, though we like to call it our pyramid,” Clay corrected her.
“My mother would go crazy if she saw this.”
“Good evening,” Martha said walking up to greet them, “and you, too Lucky. I’m so glad you could make it Crystal. Please, come in and I’ll introduce you.”
Kenny was standing facing the fire talking with another couple, and as they turned around Crystal broke into a broad smile.
“Jeremy?”
“Crystal? What a small world.”
“You two know each other?” Clay asked, completely taken aback.
“Not exactly,” Crystal replied. “We bumped into each other when I was walking Lucky yesterday.”
He shot her a bewildered look, surprised she’d not mentioned running across anyone when he’d returned home the day before, but then he remembered how he’d consumed her body the moment he’d walked in the door, and he could understand how it had slipped her mind.
“This is my wife, Katy,” Jeremy said putting a hand on his wife’s elbow and guiding her forward.
Crystal studied the tall, beautiful woman as she extended her hand. Katy was sophisticated and polished, with salon perfect red nails and coiffed black hair, the epitome of a wealthy man’s society wife. Her eyes crinkled as she smiled a shockingly white smile.
“Delighted, and he must be the famous Lucky,” Katy said, nodding towards the dog sitting quietly next to Clay.
“You’ve heard about him?” Clay grinned.
“Not very much. You must tell me the whole story.”
A young man dressed in black trousers, a white shirt and a turquoise bolero around his neck, approached them carrying a tray holding champagne flutes. Katy put her empty glass on the tray and picked up a fresh one, and Clay took two, giving one to Crystal.
“If I may make a toast,” Kenny said stepping forward. “To the three loveliest ladies in Montana, and three very fortunate men.”
“Kenny, always such a charmer,” Martha said with a twinkle.
“He’s right, though,” Clay nodded.
“Yes, he is,” Jeremy agreed.
As Crystal took a sip of the bubbling wine, Kenny took over the conversation and started discussing the expectation of an early winter. It was the art of small talk at its finest. A few minutes later the same young waiter returned and announced that dinner was ready to be served, and Martha, looking resplendent in a long black, beautifully tailored dress, led the way into the dining room. In contrast to the towering lounge where they’d enjoyed their pre-dinner drinks, the room was cozy, with a gentle fire crackling in a corner. The table was covered in a caramel tablecloth with caramel and white striped napkins, sported an autumn themed centerpiece, and a low-hanging, country styled wrought iron candelabra offered a splash of western casualness. Martha and Kenny took their chairs at each end, while Clay and Crystal sat next to each other, opposite Jeremy and Katy. Seeing the fire, Lucky immediately ambled across and laid down, stretching out in front of its warmth.
“I understand you’re from San Francisco,” Katy remarked. “What brings you to this part of the world.”
Crystal explained how she’d wanted to take a tour of the country after leaving college, and when she’d arrived in Whitefish she had been captivated by the majestic mountains, the lake, and the warmth of the people.
“I’ve never been through a white winter, and this seemed like the perfect place, es
pecially after I ran into Clay here,” she said with happy smile.
That set into motion a conversation about how they had met, and then the story of how Crystal had found Lucky. As the red wine flowed and the salads and appetizers were served, there was laughter and an easy banter, and when the King Steak was placed in front of them, Clay made an announcement.
“I believe, in all modesty,” he began, “you will find this meat will melt in your mouth like ice cream on a hot day, and will have a completely unique flavor.”
“That’s quite a promise,” Jeremy smiled, picking up his steak knife and fork.
All eyes were on him as he cut into the thick beef. He placed it in his mouth, chewed for a moment, then a look of surprise crossed his face.
“My God, Clay, how did you create this?”
Though he showed no outward emotion, Crystal could feel the relief emanate from her handsome cowboy, and glancing across at Kenny she saw the same look in his eye.
“Katy, try it. You won’t believe it,” Jeremy declared.
Delicately cutting into her steak, the perfectly poised woman took a small mouthful, then nodded.
“Remarkable. Truly remarkable.”
Intrigued, Crystal sliced off a piece and slipped it into her mouth. She didn’t eat a great deal of meat, mostly because her mother was a vegetarian so she hadn’t grown up with beef dishes on the table, but just as Clay had described, the steak had a rich, full flavor that offered a hint of spice, and seemed to dissolve as she chewed.
“Oh, my gosh, Clay, that’s unbelievable,” she exclaimed, her sincerity obvious.
“I am obligated to visit the other farms,” Jeremy said, “but I think you’re right, Clay. I don’t think I’ll find anything that compares to this. We need to talk.”
“This will probably sound a bit odd,” Crystal said, “but it reminds me of one of my mother’s paintings.”
“Your mother is an artist?” Katy asked.
Crystal looked across at her and realized the woman’s eyes were full of interest. The bland, yet another dinner party, look was gone.
“Yes, she is,” Crystal replied. “She works on large canvases, like, really large.”
“What did you mean, the steak reminds you of her paintings?”
“She can take a well-known subject matter, like the Golden Gate Bridge for example, that’s her best known work, and while it might bear a similarity to other paintings, there’s something about it that draws you in, and it becomes so much more than just another rendition of the famous landmark, like this steak is so much more than just another excellent steak.”
As she’d spoken, Crystal had seen Katy shift in her seat, and a slight frown cross her brow.
“Your mother painted the Golden Gate Bridge on a large canvas?”
“Huge canvas actually. It’s what first got her noticed in the art world. I suppose you could call it her claim to fame.”
Katy had put down her knife and fork, and was staring at Crystal intently, and everyone at the table suddenly felt that something significant was about to happen.
“What is your mother’s name?” Katy asked, her voice almost breathless.
“Janet Morrison.”
“Your mother is Janet Morrison? The artist, Janet Morrison?”
“Yes.”
“My goodness,” Katy muttered.
“You know her?” Crystal asked, then realized it was a foolish question. The woman looked as if she was about to pass out from shock.
“My wife and I have been trying to persuade your mother to sell us that painting for almost two years,” Jeremy explained. “She is an extraordinary artist. I’m almost speechless that I’m sitting here in front of her daughter.”
“I’m not sure what to say,” Crystal said. “I think she’s incredible too, but she’s my mother! If it makes you feel any better, Katy, she receives phone calls from buyers for that painting all the time.”
“Why won’t she sell it?” Jeremy asked, knowing Katy needed more time to gather her wits.
“I think it’s because, as I said, it was the painting that made her famous. It’s her baby. Sometimes I think she loves it more than she loves me,” Crystal laughed.
“We have this wall in our Newport Beach home,” Katy began, talking slowly, “and I have envisioned that painting there since we bought the house. That painting, it’s breathtaking. I have refused to put anything on that wall because nothing else will be good enough. Is there anything that will sway your mother?”
“She’s talked about donating it to a museum at some point, so I don’t think so,” Crystal replied, “but there is one thing I can suggest. I’m not sure if it would be of interest to you, and I’m not even sure if it’s doable.”
“I don’t understand,” Katy said, leaning across the table.
“Isn’t this interesting,” Martha suddenly piped up. “Who would have guessed we’d end up talking about something so fascinating.”
“Please, don’t keep us in suspense,” Kenny said, “tell us your idea.”
“Sometimes, for a special occasion, my mother will make a giclee.”
“Really?” Katy said, her eyes growing wide.
“She won’t make them for galleries, and that makes my dad crazy because there’s money in them, but she says the lack of giclee prints makes her art more collectible. Personally I think it’s because she sees herself like a couture designer, not an off the rack manufacturer, except she’s a painter. Does that makes sense?”
“It does make sense,” Katy said earnestly, “and I think your mother is right, but tell me, is there any chance that she might do that for me? Make a Giclee? Can one that large be made.”
“She just might. I’ll ask her for you, and yes, I seem to remember her doing others that size.”
“You will? You’ll ask her?”
“Sure. I’ll be happy to. I’ll call her tomorrow. I haven’t spoken to her since I found Lucky, and I’ve been dying to tell her all about him.”
“Crystal, thank you,” Katy exclaimed breathlessly. “I can’t believe this. Jeremy, did you hear that?”
“I did,” he grinned, “and perhaps I should explain why we would both be so thrilled if your mother would be willing to do it. I met my lovely wife here, on the Golden Gate Bridge.”
“What do you mean, on the bridge?” Kenny asked.
“I’d accepted a dare to walk across it,” Katy explained, “and I didn’t realize what that meant. It was terrifying.”
“She was paralyzed with fear when I found her,” Jeremy smiled, “and I helped her across.”
“He was my knight in shining armor,” she sighed.
“And, Crystal, almost a year later, when I proposed, it was in front of your mother’s painting.”
“Oh, my gosh, how romantic is that?” she exclaimed.
“We were talking about how beautiful it was, and I looked at Katy, and realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. It wasn’t planned, it just happened.”
“That is a wonderful story,” Crystal smiled, “and my mother loves romance. When I tell her, I think she’ll be as taken with it as I am.”
“You mean, there’s really a chance?” Katy asked anxiously.
“I do, I think there is, a good one,” Crystal said happily.
Glancing across the table she saw Kenny staring at her with a peculiar look in his eye. It was gone in a flash, but she hadn’t imagined it, and she wasn’t sure if it had been particularly positive. As they finished their steaks, Crystal was peppered with questions about her family, and Clay sat back and watched her handle the attention with grace and aplomb. A few minutes after their plates were cleared, the lights dimmed, and two waiters arrived, one rolling a tray, the other carrying a flaming dessert.
“I hope you all enjoy this. It’s called a brandy pudding,” Martha said proudly. “It’s an English dessert often served during the Christmas holidays.”
“What an evening you’ve given us, Martha,” Katy said gratefully
.
When the lights were turned back on, the pudding was dished into deep bowls, and two jugs of hot English custard were sent on the table.
“This is almost as good as your steak,” Jeremy remarked as he took a mouthful of the pudding.
“It’s fabulous,” Crystal declared, still not sure whether to call Clay’s mother Martha or Mrs. Parker.
“No-one can cook like my wife,” Kenny said cheerily.
“Amen to that,” Clay agreed. “This is great mom, but your peach cobbler is still my favorite. The apple-pie at Duke’s isn’t bad either.”
As he’d said the words he’d pressed his leg against Crystal’s, and the memory of their salacious interlude flashed through her mind.
“Your peach cobbler is indescribable,” she murmured. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
“You’re too kind, my dear,” Martha said modestly.
As they finished their dessert and coffee, and the evening came to a close, Jeremy managed to guide Crystal a short distance away from the group.
“I’ll pay whatever fee your mother wants,” he said, lowering his voice, “and I own restaurants all over the country. She can have free dinners for life. Whatever it takes.”
“I’ll certainly do my best,” Crystal promised.
“When you get an answer I want you to call me, not Katy. Here’s my card,” he said handing it to her. “Call me any time. If it works out I want to have it mounted for her as a surprise.”
“How wonderful, sure no problem.”
“Crystal?” Clay said walking toward them.
“Just thanking Crystal again for her offer of help,” Jeremy smiled. “I really hope the illustrious Mrs. Morrison will be open to the idea.”
“I have a feelin’ her mother doesn’t deny her much,” Clay chuckled.
“You’re right,” Crystal replied, “and I’ll beg. I’m good at begging.”
“I’m sure you are,” Clay said suppressing a wry grin.
“I’ll call you tomorrow morning,” Jeremy said, completely oblivious to Clay’s salacious innuendo. “It’s been a great night, just great, and everything you said about your steak was true. Amazing.”
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