Page 14 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
CHAPTER FOUR
“Josh, are you with me?” Sara snapped her fingers under his nose.
He blinked. Her brow was scrunched. “Sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was saying how awful that accident must have been for you.”
He turned to her as he tossed the key onto a worktable. “Not so bad; it only grazed my scalp, and the hair grew back.” He didn’t want to rehash the months of rehab he’d gone through because the bull had decided to use him for a floor mat.
“Do you still ride the circuit?” She wandered deeper into the cool gloom.
“No,” he said. “That bull came a little too close for comfort. I decided to retire.”
“You lost your nerve?” she asked as she approached his framed in wall.
“Careful, I haven’t finished toeing that in yet.”
She jumped. “Don’t surprise me like that.”
“Careful, I haven’t finished attaching that frame to the floor and ceiling.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
She shifted away from the wall and him.
“Sit down,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
He returned a few moments later with two cans of soda in one hand and a second chair in the other. He thought himself prepared for this meeting. After yesterday’s encounter, he’d spent half the night trying to bury all the old feelings. But why should one night be enough to erase the way he felt about Sara, when ten years hadn’t done the job? One whiff of her perfume, and he had to touch her, to know if her mouth tasted the same. He had to know if her body remembered his the way he remembered hers.
“Seating is at a premium right now. Give me a few weeks, and I’ll have more chairs than you’ll know what to do with.” He straddled his chair and handed her a can.
She stared at him. Those brows scrunched again.
“You said you wanted to see me,” he reminded.
“I want to discuss the warehouse,” Sara launched into her proposal.
When she finished, he kept silent. Then the crack of his can opening echoed loudly in the dim shadows. He wasn’t going to make it easy for her.
“Donny should have never leased you this warehouse.”
Josh cocked an eyebrow.
“We...” Her glance locked with his. She ducked her head and began again. “That is, Carson’s has plans for this warehouse, and it really isn’t available for lease.”
So she was having trouble staying on message. He’d wait for her to get it all out.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her head to meet his steady stare. “Carson’s is willing to cover your company’s out-of-pocket costs for the work that’s been done thus far and any other expenses incurred in finding another location. I can recommend a good realtor. I’ll even bring Carson’s influence to bear in your favor on whatever deal you make with another lessor.”
He waited, making sure she was finished.
She hid a sigh with a sip of soda. Over the can’s rim, she watched him. He kept his gaze focused on a point six inches below her chin. A line of tiny water spots marched across the curve of one silk-covered breast.
Suddenly very thirsty, he reached for his own soda and chugged most of it.
Her hand started to twist a corner of her suit jacket. He’d probably made her uncomfortable enough to put her off balance.
He turned his head and surveyed the huge room. If he took her offer, he’d suffer considerable inconvenience and the potential loss of clients. He’d have no excuse to see her again. That might be best all the way around. They might have been friends a long time ago, but too much history separated the Carsons and the McKinleys. No, a permanent relationship was out of the question, and Sara wasn’t made for short-term affairs. Maybe once, he might have wanted to please her enough to change his plans. Not now. Nothing in her offer was to his real advantage. Good business sense dictated he stay.
“I gather that you’d like Springboard Inc. to break its lease with Carson’s Cars.”
