Rodeo (BBW Cowboy Romance) (BBW Western Romance) Page 5

  John hadn't been through the door five minutes when he disappeared into his study, I needed to go through the final guest list with him and as I followed him in he seemed to be needled by my presence. As I produced the list from my Filofax I saw that John's eyes were focusing on the list and there was a defined frown on his brow.

  “I've just this minute got through the door Eva, can't it wait?” he said through almost gritted teeth.

  I was dismayed slightly at his bluntness but agreed to go over it later on.

  “No, Eva, not later on! Not today and not tomorrow, I've told you to do a simple thing and if you can't handle it then forget it!”

  I placed the list calmly onto his desk in front of him. “Firstly, John Cain, you didn't tell me to do anything, you asked me and I kindly obliged. Secondly, I am your wife not some colleague at work who you can speak to in whatever manner you deem fit and thirdly, I am doing this for you so in your own time please go through this list and let me know if I have missed anyone important. Okay?”

  I then turned on my heel and exited his study. Fuming inside and expecting some further backlash from my comment I had so wanted to slam the door behind me but that would then make me no better than him.

  By the time I was ready to retire to bed I'd expected John to at least have shown his face but he still remained holed up in his study. I went to bed and the next thing I knew the weekend sun was peeping underneath the drapes. John had clearly not come to bed. Something was wrong.

  I found him in the kitchen making coffee, he smiled as I entered the room but it was only a smile from his mouth, his eyes were not smiling.

  “Morning, you want some?” he waved the coffee jug at me and I accepted. Sitting at the breakfast bar I watched as he methodically created the perfect cup of coffee, John never did things by halves, always the perfectionist, a cross to bear for all women living with a Virgo husband. Placing the cup on a mat in front of me his hand remained holding the handle.

  “I apologize for my mood last night, I was tired and it's going to be a long weekend, I appreciate you going to so much trouble but I really don't mind about the guest list, it's more your department than mine.”

  His hand released the cup. “That's ok John but the weekend is going to be much longer if you don't get some proper sleep and if you don't come to bed then that's not possible.”

  “I'm fine, honestly. I caught a couple of hours in the study and now I have to do a couple of hours work before our guests start to arrive, I assume everything is in order and that Little Miss Mary Poppins out there has bull-whipped everyone into shape?”

  An image of Miguel cracking his whip was probably not an unlikely site considering some of the stories he had told me but on this occasion John was slightly off the mark, if anyone had been cracking the whip this week, it had been me. I was tired myself and if allowed I'd have climbed back up the stairs and crawled back underneath the sheets. As it was, there was far too much to do so I took my coffee, kissed John on his stubbly cheek and went to get dressed.

  As I walked out into the hallway Miguel was just coming through the front door, “Morning sunshine!” he chirped, giving me his jazz hands.

  “Morning Mig', listen John is in the kitchen, do NOT wind him up, he's not in the mood, ok?”

  Miguel waved his arm across his face, “Oh, when is he ever in the mood?”

  Pointing seriously at him, I warned him, “Just don't!”

  Miguel skipped into the kitchen and I waited for John to come scurrying out, nothing happened. Could it be that today they would make amends and bury the hatchet or was that the wrong turn of phrase to use; it was more likely that John would want to bury a hatchet into Miguel's head. My two favorite men hated each other and I so wished it was different, sadly it was never to be.

  I had several appointments booked that morning, one for my hair and the other for my nails, it always paid to look good and I liked to make an effort, besides there was nothing better than visiting the salon and catching up on all the latest gossip. Jade, my hairdresser and Jodie my nail technician were partners in work and partners in the bedroom, they had been together forever and having nails and hair done at the same time was like watching and listening to a comedy act. From the minute you walked through the doors you were made to feel like a star and as you walked out you felt like you should have paid them, the entertainment factor was out of this world.

  Jade and Jodie ran a fabulously extravagant but relaxed salon, appropriately named JJ's in the middle of the city. Their style was elegant bohemian and with all the funky colors and interesting nick-knacks they had decorating the place it was a delightful environment to spend time in. Both of them had warm, genuine personalities and their talent for knowing exactly what a client wanted was exceptional, I always looked forward to my appointments, especially the gossip. Now some people gossip emptily, speculating instead of relaying news, these girls were at the helm of the newsflash bulletins, if it had just happened then they were the first to know. How this happened, no-one was sure but whatever they told you was one hundred per cent fact.

  As I was seated Jade began my consultation. Explaining that we were holding a garden party she was immediately choosing styles that would hold out in the wind, withstand body and head heat and didn't need too much fiddling with to touch up.

  “Tell me the outfit you've chosen and tell me from head to toe, color and style,” she closed her eyes and snapped her fingers together.

  “Sixties style retro, blue and white polka dot, fitted top half and full, knee length skirt, blue wedge heels,” I described, hoping that with that simple explanation she could envisage me correctly.

  “Ok, smooth as silk with a side knot bun,” it was as quick as that.

  Jodie on the other hand wasn't so pleased, “Blue? Oh … such a hard color to match up, especially with white, it's going to have to be French Manicure?”

  I never stressed too much, if not at all when I came to JJ's, they knew exactly what they were doing and I always left feeling, and looking a million's dollars. An obligatory glass of wine was poured, placed on my table and the girls went to work and as usual, when their talented magic was done, I left feeling like I was the most beautiful girl in the world.

  Returning home it had taken me a near fifteen minutes to get up my own driveway, there were vehicles parked all over the place; caterers, musicians, parking attendants, although by the looks of the chaos I was met with, the parking attendants perhaps needed to get their acts together. In the midst of a certain crowd of disorder I could make out Miguel and when he saw my car come into sight, the look of relief on his face was quite apparent, even from several yards away.

  “Oh darling, thank God you're here, you have no idea how stressful this has been, no-one will do as they're told and John is threatening to call the whole thing off if something isn't done about it!”

  As I locked up my car one of the parking attendants was immediately by my side, “Shall I take your keys and park it in valet Madam?”

  He was no older than 18 and I really didn't want to burn his character with the fire that was bubbling inside me,

  “There is nowhere to park right now and as it's my house, this car will be staying exactly where it is, this needs to be sorted and it needs to be sorted now so I suggest you find your supervisor and between you all, get things in order.”

  This was as kind and calm as I could possibly be in the circumstances, he was lucky I was in a good mood and probably even luckier that he was dealing with me and not John. In the house the atmosphere wasn't much calmer, caterers were bustling around, they seemed to know what they were doing unlike the parking attendants but it felt like I'd just entered the circus.

  “Miguel, you know what to do, this is your job. I'm going to get dressed and when I come down I expect to be ready for guests, otherwise I will send John to deal with it all.”

  There was no need to say any more, sometimes all it took were a few stern words for people to snap back into their rol
es and realize that what they were supposed to be doing was far simpler than worrying about what everyone else was supposed to be doing. Within minutes the atmosphere changed and order was resumed.

  Having previously showered and buffed up, it was only necessary for me to put on make-up and clothes, I could hear the shower running from the en-suite bathroom which meant John wasn't far off being ready himself. I knew as soon as the first guest had arrived, things would fall into place and John would have something to distract him from the pandemonium, he hated all the preparation and I couldn't blame him, I wasn't too fond of it myself. I knew I'd been a little harsh on Miguel as I'd returned home previously but I wasn't being unfair either, he was being hired to organize and it was a far cry from being organized when I'd driven up, all it took was a little assertiveness and people and decisions were suddenly taking shape.

  Standing in front of the mirror my reflection looked radiant and comfortable, all other finishing touches in place and I was very happy with the end result, as I was taking one last twirl, John came out of the bathroom. He was startled at my presence but not one word passed his lips, there was no, 'you look nice' or 'pretty dress' … nothing. I was genuinely shocked. He merely walked to his wardrobe, pulled out a shirt and put it on with his back to me.

  I wasn't to be deterred. “What do you think?” I asked, hoping that it was a slight oversight on his behalf.

  Half-heartedly looking over his shoulder he acknowledged at least that my dress was new. “Not your usual color? Trying something new?”

  Smoothing down the pleats and placing one of my shoes on I realized with a heavy heart that John wasn't in the slightest bit impressed or mindful of my choice of clothes, I could have easily dressed up in a potato sack and his reaction would have been no different. Considering I was about to entertain nearly a hundred people I wasn't prepared to question him at that moment in time, John had always been moody, it was part and parcel of marrying a successful businessman but recently his temperament had gone into decline and I didn't seem to be able to do right from wrong. Clearly I was going to get more sense and consideration from our guests that afternoon so I left him to his sulking.

  Everything was pretty much taken care of by the time I got into the kitchen and upon Miguel's instructions I was to 'leave right away, take care of my social skills and smile'. Miguel wasn't stupid when it came to feelings, he knew something was wrong but as usual he papered over it as best he could and scurried me off into the direction of the garden. Our guests began to arrive and I painted on my best expression.

  John had appeared shortly after I was in the midst of greeting his Japanese business investors, because we'd had no time to talk, mainly due to John being away from home and not answering the phone, I wasn't up to speed as to what investment they were going to make into his company. In business I had learned the golden rule very quickly; never give anything away and in this instance it was more important to live by this rule than any other time. John was savage in business and any offers placed on the table, be it his or anyone else's, he wore clients down until they wished they'd never even heard of him. His reclaim was notorious and whenever he came into contact with business investors they usually knew to keep him at arm's length for as long as possible until they could work him out, however they never could. He was a genius, very focused and triumphant in getting what he wanted.

  I beckoned one of the drinks waiters over to take their order and John was instantaneously by my side. “Don't fill this lot with drinks, they're important investors and I don't want them getting pissed and demanding Karaoke at midnight.”

  Looking side wards at John I was amused by his colorful choice of demand. “If you want your cash cows babysat then you need to make sure they're abstaining from the booze John, I don't know what's come over you recently but please remember I am not the hired help.”

  I left his side and returned to the house. How dare he speak to me like that, it was bad enough that John barely acknowledged me but to treat me further like some kind of skivvy, personal assistant was over the top in my opinion. There was always a way of saying things, it wasn't what you said it was the way in which you said it and John clearly needed to attend a course in diplomacy. I was mad and I needed to calm down, thankfully our next guests were mutual friends who were only too aware of John's clinical behavior. Welcoming them with extended arms and an air of relief I directed them into the garden where I intended to sit and spend some time with them.

  As I walked out onto the patio John was beckoning me over, I tried to pretend I hadn't seen him but he was now making a beeline for me. “Eva, come and meet Harold Carter, I've been telling him all about you.”

  This was a slight turn up for the books, John was usually so dismissive of her presence and so, seemingly a change in his attitude was one I welcomed rather than rebuffed, it would be interesting at least to discover the capacity in which he spoke about me. Unfortunately, my optimistic aspirations were blowing in the wind.

  Harold Carter was a little like Santa Claus. Harold was large in build but immediately welcoming in personality, he greeted me with a warm smile and a friendly, firm handshake. It felt instantly that we clicked, almost like we'd known each other for years.

  “I've heard so much about you Eva, lovely to meet you at last,” his hand was still resting upon mine as well as his eyes remaining in contact.

  I wish I could have said the same back to Harold, I'd neither heard about him nor seen him before, ever the diplomat though, I refrained from explaining my absence of knowledge.

  “Nice to meet you too Harold and I'm presuming your pleasure in meeting me is as a result of good things being said about me ...” it wasn't really a question, more of an off the cuff remark but then Harold didn't stop there.

  “John has told me all the good and all the bad and to be fair, I think he's a very lucky man, contrary to what he has other people believe. I'd be hard pushed to find a woman who stands by her man the way you do, and you find the time to work as well?”

  The word 'working' jolted me, “I wouldn't call running a business just 'working', Harold, but I agree, John is very lucky indeed to have a woman like me in his life.”

  Inwardly I was seething, it was quite clear that John had played down my career and Harold had the impression that I was some kind of employee who worked for pocket money on the side whilst at the beck and call of her husband. I decided on impulse that it was probably better for myself, the other guests and more importantly John for me to leave the scene temporarily.

  Down at the very bottom of the garden we had a summer house, casually I retreated to its secluded sanctuary. For the first time in my short marriage, I wanted, needed to be alone. As pragmatic as I was in business I felt the need for solitude, to work things out; I never allowed my heart to rule business decisions and rarely felt the need to treat my personal relationship with a business attitude but right then, learning how John spoke about me, the way he had recently been treating me, and my basic instincts, were screaming out for me to think hard.

  I closed the door to the summer house and sat myself down on the cold, hard bench. It hit me, I was alone; I felt it and I was it. No stranger to having to fight for things I realized that every resource of survival, necessity and ambition was dripping away from my persona and if I wasn't careful I would become a former shadow of myself, I doubted all kinds of things, including myself. Furthermore I was allowing this to happen and I was permitting a man to do so, I was used to functioning in a man's world and I hit back with hardest of punches, this time, and perhaps for longer than I cared to admit, my punch was waning.

  It was time for change.

  I'd reached a turning point.

  CHAPTER 3 – TURNING POINT

  I waited for the final guests to leave; I wasn't prepared to make any kind of scene whilst they were at the party and certainly had no intention of making a scene after they'd left so I had to pick my moment carefully. Unfortunately Miguel was full of beans once the party was o
ver because, despite my inner feelings and conclusive decision, I'd remained in control of myself and provided the perfect environment for our unsuspecting visitors. I was also very aware that John was completely oblivious to how I felt and until we had time to talk, where both of us were happy to communicate, we needed to continue as the perfect hosts.