Page 48 of A Rogue Cowboy's Kiss

Piper sighed. “Bella, it’s amazing to have a business you really care about. Hold out for it.”

“I don’t have any other skills,” Bella blurted out. “I don’t know how to do anything but cook, ride horses, and be a sister. This is what I can do. I’m doing it.” She felt like crying right now, she was so desperate. She wanted to feel excitement, but all she felt was absolute desperation. “Where’s Diana, Kitty? Can you introduce us? I want to get it done tonight.”

Piper shook her head. “You can’t just sign a contract. You need a lawyer to look at it?—”

“I know.” This was one area Bella knew what she was doing. The Harts had come from so little, that they’d all been very vigilant about educating themselves about money and contracts. “The Harts don’t sign any contract without having it vetted. We'll get the letter of intent tonight, then hammer out the details.” She looked at Kitty. “Ready?”

“Yep.” Kitty shot Piper a look and then took Bella’s arm. “She’s in the kitchen. Let’s go, honey. Owning a business feels amazing. You’ll love it.”

Bella nodded, nerves gripping her belly as she let Kitty lead her toward the kitchen. She knew she wasn’t ready to own a business, to decide she wanted to be in food, but she also knew if she waited until she was ready, she’d never change anything about her life.

Falcon raised his brows, and she pointed toward the swinging doors. “We’re going to the kitchen to make a deal.”

He fell in beside them, accompanying them. “You’re buying it?”

“Yes.”

“You sure about that?”

“No.”

To her surprise, her answer made him smile. “Good. Take a risk you can afford. It always pays off, even when it fails.”

That reaction, that belief, made something inside her settle. On some level at least, maybe recklessly buying a small business she didn’t even want made sense, even if she didn’t know how at this time.

As she thought it, she realized he was right.

She was going to own her own business. Not her family’s. Hers.

It felt good. Empowering. Liberating. Scary, but also…freaking awesome.

Then she looked over at Falcon, and saw a grim expression flit across his face. He saw her looking and replaced the grimness with a smile that almost went to his eyes.

Almost.

TWENTY-TWO

Several hours later,at the end of the evening, Falcon leaned against the doorframe to the little office that Bella and Diana were meeting in. Bella had her lawyer on speakerphone, and she was handling the negotiations like a woman who knew what she was doing.

She was strong, confident, and impressive as hell.

He didn’t understand why she felt she was living small. She was a powerful force in every moment.

Vulnerable with him as well, but that vulnerability didn’t make her weak. Maybe it added to her power.

Why couldn’t she see herself the way he saw her? The way she was?

“All right, then,” Bella said, hanging up the phone. “We have ourselves a deal. My lawyer will email the letter of intent shortly, and I’ll send it on to you after I read it. We’ll sign in the morning.”

Diana clapped her hands. “This is fantastic. I created this business with my daughter. She got married and moved to Chicago to open a gourmet ice cream truck there. It’s going so well that she wants to add three more trucks. She’s been askingme to move out there and help with the business, but I couldn’t leave unless I got the right offer, which is you. I’m using this money to invest in her business and move out there to help her with it.” She hugged Bella. “Thank you for making our dreams come true!” She grabbed her phone. “I’m going to call her now. She’ll be so excited!”

Diana hugged Falcon, and then headed off down the hall. “Sweetie? It’s Mom! We have the money!”

Falcon grinned as Diana shrieked into the phone. “Damn, they’re happy. That’s so cool you made her dreams come true.”

Bella was smiling, too. “She’s so happy. That’s so amazing.” She looked at Falcon. “It’s amazing what a difference money can make. I could have just given her daughter the money and invested in the business if I’d known.”

“It’s more fun to earn it. They’ll have a great time. Did you see their bond? It’s about family for them.”

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