Page 99 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

Tony flinched, whether from pain or the conversation, I couldn’t tell.

Tony cleared his throat. “We—”

“You,” Nora interrupted. “You looked.”

“I …” Tony shot his wife a crooked grin. “… took a gander in your briefcase when you went to the bathroom on the plane.”

“What?” My briefcase. I usually wasn’t so careless. But at that point, I hadn’t known Tony and Nora were my targets.

“Okay. I may have encouraged him.” Nora patted the back of Tony’s hand. “You’re so kind, handsome, and appeared to be quite wealthy with that Italian leather bag. You were perfect for our baby girl. I just had to know a bit more about you …” She let her voice trail off.

They’d known since the beginning, and yet … “Why didn’t you chase me off like you did the other representatives we’ve sent?” I pressed my hands against my thighs, not quite comfortable being outplayed at my own game.

“I’d already been toying with the idea of selling. Nora isn’t too happy about it, but she’s come around. We didn’t know what company would give me the best offer.”

Nora gestured to me with her outstretched hand. “And we figured if you could handle the workload Angie shelled out, your company might be worth a second chance.”

“We both thought you wouldn’t last a week.” A raspy chuckle escaped Tony’s parched lips.

“But I stayed … and suffered.” I almost laughed.

“Payback’s a bitch.” Tony’s soft voice cracked.

I couldn’t help but laugh. The conversation I’d overheard, the one I’d fretted over for weeks, came to mind … They weren’t talking about Smoot. They’d been talking about accepting CDC’s offer to buy the land. All those days picking rock, taking on the devil rooster, hoeing beets, fearing for my life feeding the pigs … had all been part oftheirgame. I’d met my match.

“Watching that horse take a chunk out of your ass was the most we’d laughed in years,” Nora said through her own laughter.

“You saw that?” I cringed. Mae and I were on better terms now, but I still didn’t trust the beast enough to turn my back on her.

“Yep. I thought you’d leave when you saw how hard it is to work this land. Instead, you stayed and became a pretty good farmer. I don’t know what we’d do without you right now. Muffin, and my sweet Nora.” Tony regarded Nora with nothing short of true love.

How could I be envious of a dying man?

Tears shuddered down his cheeks. “They’ll both need you to help them through this.”

“Don’t you worry, none.” Nora wiped at her own shining cheeks. “As long as you find us a nice spot in heaven and wait for me there. We’ll meet again. Someday.”

My heart ached like it was bruised. If I had the power, I’d give up all the money in the world to save this man. They communicated without words, then Tony angled his head back to me.

“We want you to buy the farm. First thing tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I leaned away from Tony and rubbed the back of my neck. This was what I wanted. What I’d been planning for. Then why did it feel like someone had dropped an anvil down my gullet?

“Yes. This ticker of mine won’t last much longer.”

“Does Angie know?”

“I’ve tried, but she changes the subject and won’t listen. I was going to today, but Lili and her babies …” Tony jerked his head toward the pile on his nightstand. “I don’t want her drowning in all my debt. I won’t let this place sink her. You saw what she was like a few months ago. This place will kill her, even if she can’t see it.”

“But I want to marry her,” I blurted.

“I knew it!” Nora pumped her fist in the air. “Told you, Tony. We didn’t have to worry none about the Smoot boy. Remi loves her.”

Tony’s eyes widened, and his lips curved upward. He looked straight at me. “Doyou love her?”

“Yes, sir.” Warmth, emanating from my center, trickled to my fingertips and into my toes. Heat burned my cheeks. I’d never been more sure of anything in my life. “I promise I will do my damnedest to make her happier than a hog at an all-you-can-eat buffet.”

“Good. I couldn’t stand Daniel.” Tony let go of Nora’s hand and eased higher onto his pillows. “Nice enough kid, just—”

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