A Merger by Marriage (Las Vegas Nights 2)

“Unfortunately I don’t have a month.”

When they arrived at the farm, they were met by his mother’s cousin, Phyllis, Samantha’s mother. His grandmother and Phyllis’s mother, Adele, had been sisters. When JT’s grandmother had married and moved to Miami, Adele had stayed and taken over the running of the farm. They’d owned stock in Stone Properties, given to them by JT’s grandfather in exchange for startup capital. Tiberius had bought their shares of Stone Properties stock from them months earlier.

JT hugged his aunt and introduced her to Violet. “The farm looks great,” he remarked as they entered the large Greek revival house. “Samantha tells me you had a bumper crop of foals this year.”

“She’s dying to show them off to you.” Phyllis led them into the large living room where a maid had just finished setting a pitcher of sweet tea on the sideboard. “Lunch will be served in half an hour. Would you like something to drink?”

Violet accepted a glass of tea and perched on a damask chair. The house had been built in the late 1850s and had all its original furniture. It was a vastly different from Violet’s two-year-old, ultramodern hotel and she looked overwhelmed by the history embedded in every inch of the home.

“I see you’re wearing my aunt’s wedding ring,” Phyllis remarked, her expression friendly, but slightly curious. “When JT called to tell us he was coming and bringing his new bride, we were very excited to meet you.” She was too well-bred to admit her curiosity, but JT could see her eyes were bright with it.

“I was excited to meet you as well,” Violet said. “I know JT spent a lot of time here as a kid.”

“Where did you grow up?” Phyllis asked.

“In Las Vegas.”

“What do you do there?”

“I manage a hotel and casino on the strip. Fontaine Chic. My grandfather is CEO of Fontaine Resorts and Hotels.”

JT could tell Phyllis was surprised at his choice in wife. Before Violet, he’d gone for style over substance. It made it easier to remain unattached. With Violet, he had the best of both worlds. And he was in way over his head.

“That must keep you very busy,” Phyllis remarked, glancing in JT’s direction. “This one here has a very difficult time tearing himself away for a visit.”

“Between Titanium and the ranch, he has way more on his plate than I do.” Violet covered his hand with hers. “Most days I’m lucky if see him at all.”

“I’m sure he understands that a wife should never be neglected,” Phyllis remarked dryly.

No one in the room could have missed what Phyllis referred to. For several seconds there was complete silence. At last Violet spoke.

“It’s fortunate that our work schedules are similar,” she murmured.

“I’m sure.” Phyllis then took pity on her and changed the subject to what was happening with JT’s cousins since they’d last spoken.

After lunch, Samantha took them on a tour of the barns. There were three altogether, housing horses owned by JT’s family as well as their clients. They began in the mare’s barn. Violet lost track of how many horses she’d petted and how many foals she’d seen either peering out from behind their mother or boldly stepping forward to greet the newcomers. She was completely charmed by the time they headed to the training barn.

“Do you ride?” Samantha asked.

In addition to being a breeding farm, Briton Green had an outstanding reputation as a training facility.

“I’m learning.” Violet glanced at JT. “He’s given me a few lessons.”

“She has a good seat for a beginner.”

“We should all take a ride later.”

JT glanced at his watch. “I don’t think we’ll have time. I have a four o’clock appointment with Cal to see what he’s offering to Husna.”

Samantha looked disappointed. “How about you, Violet?”

“I don’t mind going alone to my appointment,” JT said.

As much as she’d love to see more of the farm by horseback, she’d come on this trip to spend time with JT. “Maybe tomorrow before we leave?”

With that settled, they quickly toured the training barn and then JT and Violet headed out.

“It’s easy to see why horses got into your blood,” she remarked as they raced along the country highway in the SUV they’d borrowed from Samantha. “There’s something so grounding about them.”