GRAY HADN’T COUNTED ON HIS FATHER’S PRIVATE JET picking them up at the airport and whisking them to Oklahoma, but it shouldn’t have surprised him. He figured Evelyn had booked them a commercial flight, but she said it was easier for them to use the senator’s plane.
Gray had long ago stopped making use of Preston money for anything, other than the money his grandfather had left specifically for his use. Otherwise, he’d made it on his own by working hard and earning his own money.
He hadn’t flown in the Preston jet in years. Then again, he hadn’t been to the ranch in a long time, either, so as one of his father’s cars took them from the airport to the ranch, he wondered how much, if anything, had changed.
He and his mother usually met on neutral ground, which didn’t sit well with her, but it was what it was and that’s how things had to be these days. He didn’t come home for holidays anymore because he knew his father would be there. His younger sister, Carolina, didn’t appreciate that, either, but she’d always been Daddy’s girl. She worshipped their father, and Gray would never get in the way of their relationship. He missed his sister, but there were other ways of seeing her, too, though she was busy with her own life. At least she’d show up at a few of his races every year and the two of them would catch up on each other’s lives.
“Do you know my sister?” he asked Evelyn as they rode in the backseat of the private car.
Evelyn smiled. “Yes. I see Carolina a lot when she visits your father in Washington.
We’ve become friends. I can’t wait to see her today and catch up.”
There was an interesting dynamic. Evelyn and his sister—friends. He hadn’t expected that. “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep what’s going on between us, just between us.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Of course, Gray. I’m very discreet.” She gave a quick glance to the private screen between them and the driver before shifting her gaze back to his. “I’d also appreciate your discretion. Though you don’t think much of your father’s politics, my job is very important to me. If your father senses any impropriety, or thinks I’m not giving this campaign my all, it could put my position with him in jeopardy.”
He’d never thought about it from her position, only how everything having to do with his father—with his family—affected him. Sometimes he really was an insensitive ass. He picked up her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Despite how hard it’s going to be to keep my hands off you today, Miss Hill, I’ll do my best to pretend we’re just working together. I’ll even let my father know how much I resent your interference in my everyday life.”
She beamed a smile. “That would be perfect. And speaking of my interference in your life—” She pulled out her laptop. “This is the agenda for today, including media opportunities and what I plan to post to your social media accounts. I’d like your approval before you get too busy with family things.”
He looked it over. True to her word, she kept it all pretty benign, the information she’d put together saying only that he’d be spending the holiday with his family, including his father, the senator, and his mother. No campaign stuff, at least not yet, though she had mentioned they’d be taking photos throughout the day. They could go over those later.
“This looks fine,” he said, swiping his knuckles across her cheek. “Thanks for checking with me.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for letting me post something about today.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her gaze lingered on his. It was going to be difficult not touching her today.
Yesterday had been great, because he’d been free to be with her, to spend time with her, and to put his hands on her whenever he felt like it.
Today they’d go back to being professional strangers again.
“Have you been to the ranch before?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m excited to see it. Your father talks about it a lot, and your mother loves this place. She tells me she can’t wait for your father to retire so they can spend more time here.”
He couldn’t imagine his father ever retiring from politics. “Which could be a while, especially if he gets the VP nomination and they win.”
“That’s true.”
The car pulled down a dirt road. Gray had to admit he was looking forward to visiting the ranch, and when they pulled up to the main gates and he saw Preston Ranch scrolled in iron, he took a deep breath.
His issues with his father aside, this was home. Thousands and thousands of acres of home.
“Wow,” Evelyn said, leaning closer to the window to look out as they drove past a herd of cattle. She dragged her gaze away from the window. “I’ve read the books about your father and studied his bio extensively, so I know the ranch has been in your family for generations, but seeing it in person is a sight to behold.”
He smiled. “Yeah, it was a privilege to grow up here. I learned a lot from my grandfather.”