The Bull Rider’s Keeper Read Free Page A

her daughter. “How are the preparations coming for Monday’s show? Is John excited?”
    Now Taylor knew something had to be wrong. No way would her mom miss an opportunity to correct her on even the slightest error in good manners. “The guy is over the moon. He’s been in the gallery this week more than I have. He keeps changing his mind about the placement of the paintings. Today, I had to give him a deadline and told Brit to kick him out at noon.”
    “Tortured artists are a handful.” Her mom smiled, her gaze distant. “I remember my first show when your grandfather ran the gallery. He made all the placement decisions. I knew I was going to fall flat and not sell a single item.”
    Taylor pulled the sports car into a slot in front of the restaurant. She looked at her mom as she turned off the car, hoping her face would give away a clue to the real purpose of this impromptu family meeting. “And yet, you sold out.”
    All she got was her mom’s bright smile in response. “Which caused your grandfather to send me on a trip to Paris to study at the Musée du Louvre. Your grandfather didn’t want me to be successful too quickly.” She dropped her voice in an imitation of the man. “Fast success creates lazy work.”
    Susan laughed, then slipped out of the car and headed into the restaurant. She appeared to be in a hurry, or didn’t want to be alone with Taylor any longer than the short drive. Taylor scurried after her mom into Maria’s.
    The smell of grilled onions and peppers hit her as soon as she opened the yellow door, causing her mouth to water. She smiled at the hostess who was dressed in a white peasant blouse and a colored, tiered skirt. The satin shimmered as the girl walked them to the booth where Taylor’s dad was seated. The lunch crowd had thinned. They were the only customers except for a young couple seated near the door.
    Her dad stood to let her mom slide into the upholstered booth. Married thirty years, and he still treated her mother like a princess, delicate to the touch. His blue eyes sparkled as he watched his wife settle, then he turned his gaze on Taylor. He was still striking at his age, with salt and pepper hair, and laugh lines etched near his eyes. After all these years, her parents were still deeply in love.
    “Hi, Dad.” She reached up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “What brings you out with family on a weekday? No one else to schmooze?”
    He put his hands on her arms and pulled her into a hug. When he released her, he pointed to the other bench. “Have a seat. Your mother and I want to talk to you.”
    Taylor widened her eyes and tried for a shocked expression. “I can’t believe it. I thought my parents just wanted to have lunch with me. If this is about me moving out, you know I’m starting to look at places. I just want to make sure I don’t buy in haste and then regret the purchase. It’s a big step.”
    Her father waved away the notion with a large, gnarled hand. He’d worked as a mechanic when he had met her mom, and he still loved tinkering with the old classics in the garage. Her mom hated his hobby, but he’d restored Taylor’s MGB for her high school graduation gift. “You can stay in the house as long as you need. We barely see you, anyway.”
    “Then why the clandestine lunch meeting?” Taylor leaned back as the waitress delivered her shrimp fajitas and her mom’s three-cheese taco salad. Her dad had ordered for them. She would normally argue about that, but they both knew she would have ordered the same thing. She pulled out a warmed tortilla and started to layer the veggies, toppings, and shrimp on top.
    “We just wanted to touch base with you.” His gaze darted back to her mom. “How are things at the gallery?”
    Not the question she expected. “Besides being crazy busy getting ready for Monday’s opening? Fine, I guess. Brit’s been a lifesaver during the last month. I swear that girl could sell a toddler’s crayon drawing.” Taylor