Page 2 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
“Because you have no right. No McKinley has the right to treat a Carson with anything but healthy respect and wide distance.”
“You think so?”
“Absolutely. You would too, if you had any sense.”
“What harm did the McKinleys ever do to you?”
Sara gasped. “Your uncle was my father’s best friend and lawyer. My mother went to Sampson McKinley for advice, and he manipulated her. He betrayed my father’s trust. He broke up my parents’ marriage just to get his hands on that cursed Cadillac you men love so much.”
Josh gave a short, dry laugh. He crossed work-hardened arms, thick with ropy muscles, over his chest. “My uncle never betrayed a friend or a client in his entire life.”
“Go ahead, keep your delusions. Because of your damned uncle, I lost my mother. If I hadn’t been stupid enough to imagine you were different, I never would have cuddled up to a McKinley snake like you.” She widened her stance and placed a fist on each hip.
His smile broadened. “Yeah, you did cuddle up to me, didn’t you, Pipsqueak?” He straightened and walked toward her.
“I was young and ignorant. I know better now.” Sara stood her ground until she could smell the scent of sawdust mixed with male musk.
“Really? Maybe we should find out for sure.”
She danced backward, out of reach. “Oh no, you don’t. You aren’t laying a hand on me.”
“Chicken, Pipsqueak?” He remained in place, his face shadowed in the meager light.
“No, just wiser, and I told you not to call me that.” Keeping her eyes on him, she fished in her purse for her cell phone. “I also told you to leave.”
“That you did.” He crossed his arms.
“So why aren’t you leaving?” Sara backed toward the wall. He wasn’t pursuing her, so why feel she should run down the hallway to her left?
“’Cause I still have work to do.” He dropped his arms, ambled past her, and sauntered down the corridor she might have used for escape. Had she really thought she needed to escape? Why? Josh hadn’t done anything save disagree with her. He was insolent, even arrogant. Yes, but he wasn’t a threat. Not physically. No if anything was a threat it was the memories of a different time, a different Josh, and if she was honest, a different Sara. But that was then, this was now, and she wouldn’t let the past change anything.
“That tears it.” She followed him..
He rummaged in a toolbox.
“You’ve got thirty seconds to clear out, McKinley, or I call the sheriff.” She punched the numbers in from memory, certain that they hadn’t changed. Nothing important in Luville ever changed.
“Go ahead, Pipsqueak. If anyone gets hauled in, it’ll be you.”
She jerked her head up. “That’s even funnier than you working for my dad. I suppose you want me to think that Dad sold the warehouse.”
“No, he didn’t sell it.”
“That’s right. He wouldn’t sell it. Donny wrote me that Dad plans to put in a new RV showroom that’ll go right here. The warehouse is the only building we own that’s big enough.”
“When your daddy recovers, he’ll have to set up his RV showroom somewhere else. I hold an iron-clad, five-year lease on this warehouse, with an option for another five.”
Her hand closed convulsively. The phone shut off, sending the room from dim to dark. Josh was a mere shadow, as hard to see as he was to understand. “I don’t believe it. What could a champion bull rider like you want with a warehouse in downtown Luville?”
Josh walked past her, close enough for her to see him shrug. Her attention strayed to his broad shoulders and the smooth skin she’d briefly touched.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I need the warehouse to keep a promise to Uncle Sampson.”
Had Josh’s shoulders been that broad ten years ago? Sara gave herself a mental shake.Don’t get distracted.“Some plot you hatched with your uncle to take advantage of hard-working citizens, I suppose.”
He switched on a work light. His eyes gleamed, diamond hard. “I’ll ignore that bit of prejudice. You can’t be blamed for what your father’s bitterness did to you. I assure you I intend to use the warehouse to benefit the citizens and the economy of Luville.”
“So you say.” Sara rolled her eyes. “Regardless of the project’s merits, Dad would never do business with a McKinley, especially if it gave Sampson McKinley something he wanted.”
