Page 10 of The Rancher's Second-Choice Wife

Poppy bit her lip hard. The thought of Valerian Rossfield almost being killed hurt. But that was only more reason to leave this job.

"The incident scared the board so much they actually demanded that a new clause be inserted in his contract. Any personal service that Valerian required must only be provided by women and only in environments where we can fully guarantee his safety."

"Then maybe another woman—-"

"No other woman is like you."

Poppy looked at Heather in bewilderment, and Heather had to pause for several moments as she picked her words with care. "The public tends to paint black-or-white pictures of people like Mr. Rossfield. Because they see him skydiving and doing all those other crazy sports that he loves, they've assumed he's just as reckless all around. But he's not. Mr. Rossfield is a man of very rigid principles, and so he'll never be the type to stray. Most other women, however, refuse to accept this."

Heather looked at the younger woman meaningfully. "And that's how you aren't like other women, Ms. Cortez. You alone have done your very best to act accordingly—-"

"But that's exactly my problem." Poppy's face was already flaming at the thought of what she was about to confess. "I'm really trying my best to, um, act and even think accordingly, but I don't think...I don't think I can keep it up."

Heather had to fight back a smile at the way Poppy's voice kept getting smaller until it was barely audible by the end. This young woman was so adorably pure, she almost seemed too good to be true.

"Trying is the operative word here," Heather said gently. "You're the only one who tried. Everyone else didn't."

Poppy shook her head. "I just don't think..."

"May I ask you something personal, Ms. Cortez?"

Poppy nodded warily.

"You're earning a lot more than you usually do since you took Mr. Rossfield as a client, haven't you?"

Poppy nodded.

"And has this extra money been of great use?"

Poppy could only nod again since the "extra" money Heather spoke of had been life-changing. She had been able to pay off a huge chunk of her college loan, and she was likely to be debt-free before the year's end...if she kept the billionaire as her client. But at what cost?

"You're weighing your options," Heather observed, "and that's good enough for me. Your mind was clearly made up earlier, but now..."

"I want to keep Mr. Rossfield as a client," Poppy admitted, "and even my boss wouldn't hear of having me replaced. But..."

"But?"

"I don't think it's the right thing to do," Poppy said helplessly, "with how I feel about...things," she ended lamely.

Heather could only shake her head at just how pure Poppy was...but that was even more reason for her to prevent the younger woman from quitting.

"How about we make a deal?" Heather suggested at a whim. "You keep us a client, and I'll make sure you'll never cross the line with Mr. Rossfield. Shall we give it a try?"

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