Page 333 of Under Her Skin

“I’ll buy them brand new cars,” I say, then shake my head, as that’s too small. “A new house too! Anywhere they want one. I’ll get them anything they want and even give them a great settlement for their company—one that will last them for the rest of their lives! How aboutthat?”

“Dad’s not one to accept bribes. But something along the settlement lines is a good idea. We can brainstorm when I get home. Speaking of home, I get off in an hour. Are you going to be here to pick meup?”

“I am. I got your present this morning. I hope you like it,” I say and feel a little better now that it doesn’t seem like she’s going to leave me because of herparents.

“I have to pick yours up. It’s being gift wrapped. We’ll have to stop off at the studio to pick it up on our way home,” she says, intriguingme.

“Want to give me any hints, baby?” I ask withcuriosity.

“Here’s one,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her sweet voice. “You can find out tonight when we open the presents we’re giving each other,brat!”

“I knew you would be that kind of woman,” I tease her. “The kind who makes you wait for it. See you in anhour.”

“I can’t wait. I’m so tired. I’m going to need a nap when I get backhome.”

“Okay, I’ll take a naked nap with you. And just to further entice you, the chef has made all kinds of delicious-looking cookies and snacks, so get ready to pig outlater.”

She groans, which I didn’t expect would be her response to such good news. “See you in anhour.”

Just as her call ends, I find my phone ringing and see it’s from her parents. I steady myself to get yelled out and answer with a timid voice, “Hello.”

“This is Delaney’smother.”

I sigh, relieved it’s not her father. “Yes,ma’am?”

“My husband ran to the store, so I took the time alone to call you. I hope you don’t mind,” she says with a very nice attitude, so this should go better than the last phone callwent.

“Look, my husband is very upset with this news. So upset, he headed out to get himself something hard to drink. I don’t like what this is doing to him. Now, I’m calling you to beg. You took our business. And I’m afraid you taking our daughter is too much for the poor man. Please think about ending things with her. I’m afraid for my husband’s health if youdon’t.”

“Okay, look, here’s the thing. I love your daughter. I love her more than I knew was possible. What you’re asking me to do isn’t something I can do. But listen to me. I’m going to make you and your husband a settlement for the business you lost because of me. A great settlement that will take care of you both very well for the rest of yourlives.”

“What about all the other businesses you shut down? What about those people?” she asks, and I find myself shocked she wasn’t happy about what I justoffered.

“Well, I’ll deal with each case on an individualbasis.”

“But you will rectify things to the best of your ability with the others as well?” she asks me, making me feel like she’s a pretty greatnegotiator.

“I will. Since you and your husband are people I want to make happy because I love your daughter, I’d like to start with you guys. If you two would come to our estate for Christmas, I’d be glad to discuss things with you both. If you could keep your husband from killing me, thatis.”

She laughs, then stops abruptly. “Wait. Did you say our estate? Whose house are you inviting us to? Yourparents?”

“No, this place belongs to me, and since Delaney is such a huge part of me, I always incorporate her when I talk about this place. I think of it as ours. She’s taken over running it since she moved in, and it’s never felt more like a home than it does with herhere.”

“That’s sweet,” she says, and I hear it in her voice that I might be able to win her over, at the veryleast.

“I can send a car to get you two in the morning and take you to the little airport in Lockhart, where a private jet will bring you to Houston. I’ll have my driver pick you guys up and bring you out here. I had lunch planned around noon, but I can push it back. It’s not a problem at all. My brother and sister will be heretoo.”

“Where’re your parents? Won’t they be theretoo?”

“They’ve both passed on. So, what do you say? Talk it over with your husband and let me or Delaneyknow.”

“Passed on? Already? How terrible!” She sounds very sincere as she adds, “I’ll let my husband know that. It might help soften him up some. Bye,now.”

As I put the phone down, I have to wonder if I’ll be in trouble with Delaney for what I’ve just done. But I can’t let that stop me from extending the olive branch to her parents. I want us to be one, big, happy family, afterall.

Roxy comes into the den, wiping her hands on a towel. “Mr. Vanderbilt, I’m off with the rest of the staff. We wanted to let you know that we’ve volunteered to help prepare and serve the food at the homeless shelter where you made the food donations. We thought that having your entire staff, both personal and company-wide, helping the homeless have a nice Christmas might help your reputation a bit this year. That’s our present to you and MissRichards.”

“She will be very happy to hear that. We both want you all to enjoy this next week off, so you all can have a break from work. That’s Delaney’s gift to you all. She felt terribly that she had very little money to buy you guysgifts.”