Page 42 of Operation Wolf: Hunter
CHAPTER 21
Kia
I WAS COLLECTING EGGSfrom the chicken coop to sell at the weekly farmers market when I heard the sound of a car pulling up at the front of the house. A rooster tried to peck at my hand, and I swatted him away before collecting the three eggs from the nest in front of me. Gathering up my basket, I headed around the front to investigate.
I wonder who it could be.
Hunter had sold two of the horses and was out delivering them to a rancher who lived several hours away, so there was no way he was back already, and Mrs. Jones had gone to visit her sister and wasn’t due back for at least two hours. But my question was answered quickly enough when I spotted the black sedan out front, and my spine stiffened involuntarily as the dark-haired man got out of the car with briefcase in hand.
“Miss Nash!” Samuel Bradley called, flashing me a perfect smile.
He was wearing sunglasses today, so I couldn’t see his eyes, but I was sure they were just as icy and crafty-looking as they’d been the last time he was here.
“Mr. Bradley,” I responded coolly, planting myself between the car and the porch steps in a way that made it clear I wasn’t about to invite him inside. “I can’t imagine what possibly could have brought you here today.”
“I just wanted to come by and see if I could discuss some of the finer points with you in case you do decide to sell.”
“If I do decide to sell, it certainly won’t be to you,” I informed him coldly.
“And why exactly,” he said slowly, “is that?”
“I instinctively dislike you, and I don’t do business with people I don’t like.” That wasn’t entirely true. I worked with models and fashion reps all the time that I detested, but that was a different career, and besides, it sounded like a Texan thing to say. I was certain Hunter would be proud.
Stop that. I don’t care whether or not Hunter would be proud.
It had been three days since I last slept in the stables, and the two of us had maintained a respectful distance.
That is a good thing.
I was determined to ignore the constant ache in my heart, demanding I take him into my arms and never let him go. If I kept ignoring it, it would eventually go away.
Mr. Bradley flashed me a sharklike grin that sent a shiver up my spine. “Well, that’s a pretty silly way to do business, especially considering you’d be missing out on a hell of a deal without even knowing what it was.”
“And what deal would that be?” I asked, intrigued in spite of myself.
“Well, I’d really prefer to go inside and discuss it.” When I hesitated, he scoffed. “Please, I’m not going to bite. And it’s not as if you don’t have any means to defend yourself,” he said, eyeing the gun holstered at my hip.
I’d taken to carrying it ever since the last time he visited, not wanting to be caught defenseless again while I was alone on the ranch.
“Fine.” I stepped aside, giving him access to the porch steps. “You first.” No way was I giving this man my back.
He flashed me another smile and then moved past me, heading up the steps and letting himself into the house. I led him to the dining table and thought about offering him tea or coffee but then decided against it, not wanting to leave him alone for a moment.
Not that he looks like the type who needs to steal.I eyed his expensive suit and platinum cuff links.But one can never be too careful.
“So,” I said, clasping my hands together above the table, “tell me what it is you’re so desperate to offer.”
He arched a brow, acknowledging my jab. He’d taken off his glasses, and he observed me with his shrewd gaze for a moment before he spoke, “It occurred to me that you might be curious about my intentions toward the ranch.”
“That would be one way of putting it.” Suspicious was more like it, but I held my tongue, wanting to hear what he had to say. “I know that your company likes to buy up failing ranches and other properties and then turn them into housing developments.”
He nodded. “It’s true that we make the bulk of our profits that way,” he acknowledged, “but the truth is that I’m not here on behalf of Bradley and Radcliffe. I’m actually interested in this property on a personal level.”
“Is that so?” I found that hard to believe. “What would a man like you want with a working ranch?”
“Well, normally, I would never consider buying a property like this for my own personal use,” Samuel said, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “But the reason I’m so interested in this specific property is because a good source told me this place is sitting on a gold mine.”
“A gold mine?” I sat up straighter. “What kind of gold mine?” I couldn’t imagine there were actual gold deposits beneath the ground, though I supposed anything was possible.
