Read Online All That I Need (Grayson Friends) by Francis Ray - Free Book Online
Authors: Francis Ray
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eyes, aware he hadn’t fooled Richard.
“Yep. That’s the reason I called. Seems we—the men—were calling our women all day. The last time Naomi and I talked before the plane took off to return, she said only Fallon hadn’t received a call.”
Something twisted in Lance’s chest. He knew what it was to be an outsider.
“At first the women made a game out of trying to decide who would call next—me, Daddy, Blade, or Luke—until Catherine noticed that Fallon wasn’t as bubbly as she had been when Blade called next. It was only for a moment, but Catherine is good at reading people. Afterward, I was the only one allowed to call.”
“Wait. Ruth Grayson is a widow, and from the way she almost teared up at the luncheon over her deceased husband I can’t believe she’s dating.” He hoped not, at least. He wanted one woman to love her husband even after he was gone.
“No, just work. The president of the Board of Regents at St. John’s, where she teaches. Blade’s event director needed more information on a project scheduled at their castle in September. One of her students about the merits of a doctorate program he’s interested in registering for.”
Lance muttered beneath his breath. Learning what Mrs. Grayson’s calls were about had probably made Fallon feel even more like the odd man out.
“I can give you Fallon’s cell phone number or you can get your behind out here and meet her.”
“She’s leaving on Sunday.” He mustn’t forget that, no matter how much he wanted to.
“She’s here now, and you have the financial means to go wherever she’s traveling.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t? Seventeen minutes.”
In spite of himself, Lance glanced at the crystal clock on his desk. “You know better than anyone why I don’t want to become involved.”
“I hurt and cried and cursed with you. I’ll always remember the rainy night you called, the long plane ride to get to you,” Richard said, his voice tight. “Don’t punish yourself because of Ashley’s selfishness. You deserve a life with a loving woman.”
“Whoa.” Lance stood. “We’re just talking and getting to know each other.” He raked his hand over his head. “I’ve barely kissed the woman.”
“Sometimes one kiss is all it takes,” Richard said with conviction. “If you didn’t think it could progress further, you wouldn’t be so afraid of continuing to see her. Now get your butt out here. You don’t want Fallon feeling as if no man cares about her.”
Lord help him, he didn’t. It was that he could never give her what she needed and deserved. “Maybe Catherine read Fallon wrong. You said it was only for a moment. She could have blown this whole thing out of proportion.”
“Catherine Stewart Grayson has two Ph.D.’s and was up for the department chair of psychology at UCLA before deciding she’d much rather be married to Luke.”
No help there, but Lance wasn’t giving up. “People make mistakes. Things will even out once they land. You might be starry-eyed in love, but Luke’s probably not coming and I’m sure Blade isn’t.”
“I saw Luke go into the terminal with Blade and Rio while we were talking, and before you ask, Daddy rode out here with me. Don’t worry; he left to catch up with Luke and the others. Neither he nor Mama knows about Ashley. You gonna let her ruin your life or be the badass everyone thinks you are and go after what you want and are so afraid to have?”
“You’re pushing it, Rich.”
“’Cause I love you. So get out here or I’ll be forced to introduce Fallon to a man who’ll appreciate her.”
“No!” Lance snapped. There was a click and he saw “end” on the screen. His fingers tightened, his anger escalated. Richard had hung up on him. If Richard thought he could manipulate Lance into going to the airport, he was wrong.
Placing the phone aside instead of flinging it against the wall, Lance went back to the catalog, but this time he couldn’t
“Yep. That’s the reason I called. Seems we—the men—were calling our women all day. The last time Naomi and I talked before the plane took off to return, she said only Fallon hadn’t received a call.”
Something twisted in Lance’s chest. He knew what it was to be an outsider.
“At first the women made a game out of trying to decide who would call next—me, Daddy, Blade, or Luke—until Catherine noticed that Fallon wasn’t as bubbly as she had been when Blade called next. It was only for a moment, but Catherine is good at reading people. Afterward, I was the only one allowed to call.”
“Wait. Ruth Grayson is a widow, and from the way she almost teared up at the luncheon over her deceased husband I can’t believe she’s dating.” He hoped not, at least. He wanted one woman to love her husband even after he was gone.
“No, just work. The president of the Board of Regents at St. John’s, where she teaches. Blade’s event director needed more information on a project scheduled at their castle in September. One of her students about the merits of a doctorate program he’s interested in registering for.”
Lance muttered beneath his breath. Learning what Mrs. Grayson’s calls were about had probably made Fallon feel even more like the odd man out.
“I can give you Fallon’s cell phone number or you can get your behind out here and meet her.”
“She’s leaving on Sunday.” He mustn’t forget that, no matter how much he wanted to.
“She’s here now, and you have the financial means to go wherever she’s traveling.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t? Seventeen minutes.”
In spite of himself, Lance glanced at the crystal clock on his desk. “You know better than anyone why I don’t want to become involved.”
“I hurt and cried and cursed with you. I’ll always remember the rainy night you called, the long plane ride to get to you,” Richard said, his voice tight. “Don’t punish yourself because of Ashley’s selfishness. You deserve a life with a loving woman.”
“Whoa.” Lance stood. “We’re just talking and getting to know each other.” He raked his hand over his head. “I’ve barely kissed the woman.”
“Sometimes one kiss is all it takes,” Richard said with conviction. “If you didn’t think it could progress further, you wouldn’t be so afraid of continuing to see her. Now get your butt out here. You don’t want Fallon feeling as if no man cares about her.”
Lord help him, he didn’t. It was that he could never give her what she needed and deserved. “Maybe Catherine read Fallon wrong. You said it was only for a moment. She could have blown this whole thing out of proportion.”
“Catherine Stewart Grayson has two Ph.D.’s and was up for the department chair of psychology at UCLA before deciding she’d much rather be married to Luke.”
No help there, but Lance wasn’t giving up. “People make mistakes. Things will even out once they land. You might be starry-eyed in love, but Luke’s probably not coming and I’m sure Blade isn’t.”
“I saw Luke go into the terminal with Blade and Rio while we were talking, and before you ask, Daddy rode out here with me. Don’t worry; he left to catch up with Luke and the others. Neither he nor Mama knows about Ashley. You gonna let her ruin your life or be the badass everyone thinks you are and go after what you want and are so afraid to have?”
“You’re pushing it, Rich.”
“’Cause I love you. So get out here or I’ll be forced to introduce Fallon to a man who’ll appreciate her.”
“No!” Lance snapped. There was a click and he saw “end” on the screen. His fingers tightened, his anger escalated. Richard had hung up on him. If Richard thought he could manipulate Lance into going to the airport, he was wrong.
Placing the phone aside instead of flinging it against the wall, Lance went back to the catalog, but this time he couldn’t
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