Winning Over the Cowboy Read online

“Trust me, she’s not interested.” Kyle raised his hands in surrender. “And I’m not, either.”

  Chase hurried out. On autopilot, he stepped in the elevator, punched the ground-level button and inched his way down the skyscraper.

  * * *

  Eleven hours. What kind of meeting could take Chase so long?

  She lay across her bed, still fully dressed, her insides aching with missing him. He had to come back. He had to stay. He just had to. She longed to press her ear to the door, even though she couldn’t ever hear a thing from her soundproofed room.

  After dealing with his absence for a mere day, she was convinced. She loved Chase. Missing him for a day had been torture. She’d never missed anyone so much. Not even her family.

  A knock on her door had her bolting upright and clasping a hand to her heart. She stood, smoothed her hands over her rumpled blouse and skirt, hurried over and swung the door open.

  Chase. His hat pulled low, cowboy gear unruffled, spicy cologne intact. A sight for a sore heart.

  “You’re back.” Did the ache echo in her voice? It took everything she had to keep from hurling herself at him.

  “I know it’s late, but I saw your light. Are you up for a family meeting?”

  “Sure.” Family? Did he have news? Had he met with a potential manager?

  “Mom and Dad will be here in a few minutes.” He strolled into the great room, settled in a wingback by the fireplace. “Anything that needs my immediate attention?”

  Me. “Everything ran smoothly.” Great way to make him feel indispensable. “But you’re always needed around here.”

  For once, couldn’t he sit on the couch, so she could get closer to him without looking like an idiot? She perched in the other wingback. Twiddled her thumbs. Trying to keep her nerves from shooting off into orbit. She couldn’t imagine him selling his share of the ranch, but maybe he’d met with the lawyer to sell her his half once their year was up.

  In that case, how would she come up with the funds? But more importantly, would he leave? Go back to traveling? If so, there was more at stake. She couldn’t lose Chase. Even though she couldn’t have him. If he left, how would she function with half a heart?

  Janice bustled in, fluffing her hair, but the lines her food prep hat left were too stubborn to be rubbed away. “So, what’s this about, son?” Elliot wiped his brow with his sleeve. They settled on the couch.

  “Paxton called me today.”

  Had Paxton changed his mind? Decided to keep his share of the dude ranch. Could he do that?

  “Please tell me they don’t want to do the wedding here.” Janice linked her arm with her husband’s. “I love him, and Savannah is so sweet, but I just don’t think I’m up for that.”

  “That’s not why he called.” He let out a wobbly sigh. “The life insurance company concluded the investigation into Eden’s accident.”

  Landry’s heart tugged like it always did when she thought of Eden.

  “They concluded—” he closed his eyes “—that her air tank was faulty. The payout is a substantial amount.”

  Landry gasped at the number he quoted. “That’s a lot of money.” Her eyes grew teary. “But she was worth more.”

  “She was.” He cleared his throat. “He’s sending the full amount in two checks to our business accounts. Half to the restaurant, half to the dude ranch.”

  “What?” Janice’s hand flew to her heart. “Oh my goodness. Is he certain that’s what he wants to do?”

  “He says he doesn’t need it, and Eden would want the money to go to the businesses.”

  Landry knew she would.

  “It’s the perfect gesture to honor Eden.” Janice swiped under her eyes. “We’ll have to call and thank him.”

  “So, that’s where you went off to today?” Elliot handed Janice a tissue, put his arm around her.

  “No.” Chase ran a hand through his hair, set his hat in place and stood. “Think I’ll turn in. Traffic was crazy, and I’m exhausted.”

  Traffic where?

  “We’ll see you in the morning, Landry.” Janice stood. Holding hands, she and Elliot left the room.

  With the business account plumped up, they wouldn’t have to work so hard. The dude ranch was firmly in the black. The business didn’t need her as much. Didn’t need Chase as much.

  Had he known about Paxton’s donation before today? Was he weaning her? Seeing if she could stand on her own so he could move on without her?

  More importantly, how could she convince him they should both stay?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Landry stroked Pearl’s velvety neck. The palomino shuddered as if she was keyed up, too. The horses usually soothed her, but nervous hoof stamping and whinnies filled the barn. Like they knew something was up.

  This morning she’d gone to church. Tonight it was Chase’s turn. In between services, they’d barely seen each other. Barely spoken, both busy making final preparations for tomorrow evening’s open house. She missed him.

  Footfalls thudded across the barn galley. A cowboy approached, tall, burly. Nash Porter. A shiver crawled up her spine. Out of all the ranch hands, he was the only one who made her nervous. She pressed herself against the barn wall, hidden by shadows. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him. But there was something shady about the man.

  He passed without noticing her.

  “Hey, Nash.” Chase coming up the path, fifty yards away. “Have you seen Landry? Dad said he thought she came out here.”

  “No, sir. But I wouldn’t have mind...” Nash’s words stalled as if he remembered he was talking to his boss.

  “You were saying?” Chase’s tone hardened.

  “Let’s just say your little plan can’t be too hard with her being such a looker.”

  “What plan?”

  Landry peered through the shadows at the two men bathed in moonlight in front of the barn.

  “I’ve been on to you awhile.” Nash spit a stream of tobacco in the dust. “It’s been fun to watch.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

  “I know what you’re up to. She’s sweet on you, and you’re working it so you can keep the ranch in the family. I gotta hand it to you. Marry her, trick her into to signing anything you want her to.”

  A horse whinnied and Landry edged along the wall to the back door, then shot to the cover of trees. Farther into the woods, she stayed hidden and bolted past them toward the ranch house. They’d probably hear her, but figure it was only a deer.

  Why hadn’t she seen it? All the mixed signals. The stolen kisses. It all made sense now. Chase was playing her. Her stomach twisted. And with the suddenly large business account, he had even more at stake. Maybe he’d known all along that the large sum was coming.

  He didn’t feel a thing for her and had only been charming her in order to get her half of the dude ranch. And she’d fallen for it.

  Her vision clouded. How could she be so stupid? How could he be so heartless?

  She couldn’t stay here. She had to pack her bags and get away. First thing in the morning, she’d slip out, drive to town to see the lawyer, arrange to sell her share to Chase and go home. The place she’d never expected to return to. Heartbroken and betrayed all over again.

  Thanks to Chase’s performance at Ally’s wedding, everyone in Aubrey thought she had a new boyfriend. Once she arrived home single, she’d be labeled a failure again. This time, though, she’d make sure everyone knew she was the one who’d broken things off. Technically true, since she was the one bailing on his plan.

  If only she didn’t have to face his parents—but she had to let them know she wouldn’t be around.

  She stepped up on the back porch, straightened her spine, tried for casual as she entered. Elliot and Janice were bent over
the counters, deep in food preparation as usual.

  “Did Chase find you?” Janice’s paring knife made quick work of a potato.

  “No. Can y’all manage without me tomorrow?” And from now on. But she’d break the news after she’d seen the lawyer.

  Janice gasped. “Tomorrow’s our open house.”

  How could she have forgotten? “Sorry. I meant the day after tomorrow.”

  “Oh.” Janice relaxed.

  “Sure.” Elliot shot her a wink. “Not that we don’t need you around here. But if you have something else you need to do, we’ll be fine.”

  Always so kind to her. Both of them.

  “I have to run some errands. I probably won’t be back until late afternoon.”

  Janice never looked up. “Need Chase to go with you?”

  The air went out of her lungs. “No. I’ll be fine.”

  She’d miss them. Miss talking and working with them. She sucked in a shuddery breath and headed for the foyer.

  The back door opened. Chase. “There you are.”

  Why hadn’t she kept moving? Made it to her quarters before he returned.

  He held her gaze for excruciating moments, then turned to his dad. “I need you to back me up in the office. I’m firing Nash Porter.”

  To keep him quiet?

  “I’m so relieved.” Mom wiped her brow with the back of her wrist. “I don’t like the way he leers at our guests, or our staff, for that matter.”

  Landry inched toward the exit.

  “Wait.” Chase eased up next to her as if she were a skittish colt. “When I get finished with this, can we talk?”

  “Another time.” Did he suspect she’d overheard? “I’m turning in early, resting up for our open house tomorrow. And I have errands to run the next day.”

  “We seem to be going in different directions lately.” Was that regret in his tone? Did he at least like her? Regret manipulating her? Or was it an act?

  Her mouth tightened. “I have to go.” She headed for the door while her legs would still carry her. Leaving him standing there with a puzzled look on his face. He obviously had no clue she was on to him.

  But she knew he didn’t really care. And he wouldn’t play her. No man would, ever again.

  * * *

  Their open house was underway, but Chase wasn’t so sure he could pull off Landry’s vision for the event. They had tons of finger foods and plenty of brochures with a good fifty guests milling about. But he had one very beautiful distraction to contend with.

  “Ready?” Chase raised his eyebrows.

  “I hope so.” Landry stepped away from him. Why was she so stiff today? Just nervous?

  He clinked a large spoon against a glass. Conversations faded, and their guests faced them.

  “Hello.” Landry cleared her throat. “We’re so glad y’all decided to visit with us today. Our goal is to make you feel at home.”

  “As you’ll notice—” Chase adjusted his hat “—the trough is overflowing. Feel free to go back for seconds and we’ll split up into groups. If you’re interested in the horses, Earl and Levi will take you out to the barn,” he said, pointing toward the two ranch hands. “If you’re interested in wild boar hunts, Ron, Troy and I will take you to the back eighty.”

  Landry put on her best smile, but somehow it didn’t reach her eyes. “For a tour of the rooms, Becca and Janice will show you around. Or if you’d like to have a wedding here, my sister, Devree, and I will walk you through our facilities.”

  “If you’re interested in more than one tour—” Chase shoved his hands in his pockets “—no worries. We’ll swap around when we all return.”

  The guests broke up, then regathered in groups around the respective leaders. An equal number seemed interested in weddings and hunts. Proving both their ideas were spot on. That they were a great team.

  “This was such a brilliant idea,” he murmured against her ear.

  Her cheeks turned pink.

  And her nearness went right to his head—clouding his common sense.

  She sidestepped away from him.

  Huh? Maybe she was keeping her distance for their guests. To keep any notions of impropriety at bay. He had to pull it together. Had to stay focused.

  “You ready?” Devree whispered, turned a smile on their guests.

  “Sure.” But Landry didn’t sound like her heart was in it. What was with her? The open house was her idea.

  “Okay, let’s talk weddings.” Devree led the group of a dozen or so into the great room, with Landry trailing behind.

  Chase wanted to follow, but the thought was quickly dashed.

  “We’ve got a dozen interested in hunts.” Ron shot him a what’s-your-hold-up look. “You ready?”

  What could he say? “Um, nah, I’d rather go on the wedding tour”?

  “Of course.” Chase turned to the guests. “Follow me for wild boar hunts.” He led the gathering out the exit. “We’ve got three trucks, so let’s split up.”

  The tour guides each went to one of the vehicles. Chase climbed in his truck and waited for his passengers.

  Why was Landry giving him the cold shoulder? Somehow he knew it had to do with something more than their guests.

  * * *

  The aged rockwork on the outside of the lawyer’s office went right along with the interior. It was a whitewashed farmhouse with plank floors and walls. There were aged barn wood door facings and trim work, with vintage furnishings.

  Trying not to think about Chase, Landry flipped through a magazine while waiting. Yesterday’s open house had been a roaring success. Even more so since she’d been able to avoid Chase all day, then slip away to her room after helping his parents clean the kitchen.

  “Mr. Abbott can see you now.”

  “Thank you.” Landry set the magazine down, and the middle-aged secretary, slim and fashionable, ushered her to a paneled door.

  “Ms. Malone, how nice to see you.” Mr. Abbott gestured to the wingback across from his massive cherry desk.

  “I’m sorry to show up without calling, but I’ve come to a decision about the dude ranch.” Her heels clicked across the polished hardwood.

  The lawyer removed his reading glasses, peered at her. “And?”

  “I don’t want my share.” She sank into the chair, set her purse in the floor at her feet.

  “You’re certain?”

  “Yes. It should belong to the Donovan family. And I’m not one of them.” Her eyes burned, but she blinked the tears away.

  “Very well. If you’re certain, I’ll contact Chase and see if he’d like to buy you out. But we can’t do anything officially, until your year is up.”

  “But he shouldn’t have to purchase his family legacy. Isn’t there any way I could sign my share over to him?”

  “I’m afraid not.” He stood, opened the top drawer of a file cabinet. “Eden’s will is very clear. If you don’t want your share, you have to sell it. You can’t leave until September fifteenth. And you can’t sell until July of next year.”

  “I don’t understand why she even left me a share. I’m not family. She should have left it to her brother.”

  “She must have thought a lot of you—for her to leave half of her birthright to you.” He pulled a file out, set it on his desk, reclaimed his chair and opened it. He set his glasses back on his nose as he scanned and flipped pages.

  Landry felt like she was letting Eden down. But she couldn’t stay. Not with Chase trying to snake his way into her heart just to get her share. And to think, she’d assumed he was so much like Eden. She would have never pulled anything like this.

  And he’d thought Landry was a scam artist.

  “It’s not right for them to have to buy their family legacy from me. It’s theirs a
nd never should have been mine.”

  “There is one thing you might consider.”

  “What?”

  “Eden’s will states that if either party decides to sell their share, the seller sets the price.” He looked up at her. “As long as the amount doesn’t exceed fair market value.”

  Her distraught brain couldn’t follow. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, you set the price as low as you’d like. No matter what the property is worth.”

  “So I could sell it for...a penny?”

  “Yes. If you’re certain that’s what you want.” Mr. Abbott closed the file, took his glasses off. “But I encourage you to think this through. You stand to lose a lot of money.” He scribbled a figure on a piece of paper, pushed it across the desk for her to see. “This is what the dude ranch appraised for.”

  The zeroes boggled her mind. What had she been thinking? There was no way she could ever have bought Chase’s share.

  “Does this change anything?” Mr. Abbott asked.

  “No.” She looked up. “It’s not about the money. It’s about what’s right. Can you draw the papers up for me?”

  “As I said, you can’t make the decision to sell until your year is up, but I can draw up a letter of intent to sell. I’ll have them ready for you tomorrow. And come July fifteenth of next year, they won’t be legally binding if you change your mind.”

  “I won’t.”

  “You’re a rare breed, Ms. Malone. Most people wouldn’t walk away from this kind of money.”

  “Thank you for your time.” She retrieved her purse and stood. “I’m leaving tomorrow, but I’d like to sign the papers before I go.”

  “First thing in the morning. But you still can’t leave until September fifteenth.”

  “What have I got to lose by leaving early? What can Chase do, sue me? I’m giving him the property.”

  Mr. Abbott pursed his lips. “I wish more people lived by what’s right instead of money. I’ll contact Chase, let him know your decision.”

  “I’ll tell him. Thank you for your help.” She hurried out of the office.

  Chase had told her back in the beginning that he’d do whatever it took to keep his legacy in his family. Somehow she’d never imagined he’d stoop so low.