Page 68 of Twins For The Alien Warrior

She blows out a breath. “I need one.” She takes a deep swallow. “Before I kill him.”

I groan. “Don’t kill him.” I push the glass back and forth between my hands. “I just feel like all sorts of a fool. But a couple of days or even a night away, and I’ll be fine.”

The way I say it, I can almost believe it. Almost.

“And that letter?” She points her glass at me. “The one poking from your bag?”

“Alpine. I was taking it to him.” I set my glass down and stand. “Fuck them. They’re assholes who won’t quit.”

“Amen to that,” she says, getting up too.

“I need to grab a bag and go, but . . .” I take a breath and look at her. “I’ll take it to Leland when I get back.” Dakota goes to speak, but I stop her. “When I can be nothing but business with him. I’m the manager, this is my job.”

“This sounds big.”

“I think it might be. But as much as I hate Leland, he’s a Harvard-educated lawyer, and I get the feeling he’s exceptional at his job.”

Her eyes narrow. “You think we need exceptional.”

“Maybe.” I do. I take a breath. “Alpine said that BNK—Billy’s company—on behalf of them, are petitioning for the rights of the land.”

Chapter Twenty

Leland

Jesus fucking Christ. I want to kill her for judging me. I know that’s what she’s doing. My phone’s in my hand and her phone keeps ringing out to voice mail. I don’t even bother with a message.

Fuck that.

I need to get to her.

There’s that slim chance she didn’t see, but I don’t think so.

Right now, I’m debating either going after her now or giving her even more time. I’ve been out here a while, so maybe I need to get after her and sort this shit.

Why I care so much is a question I’m not really wanting to answer. Except I do. I care. Way too much.

“Leland!”

I close my eyes. Willa. The last person I want. And she’s sobbing. She reaches for me, and I side step.

Getting to Sarah is going to be harder than it should be.

“You’ve done enough damage.”

“But . . .”

“I’m not suing your father.” I give her a look of pure disgust that makes her cry harder. The woman’s thirty if she’s a day and she can damn well work like everyone else. Which is why her rich father no doubt cut her off.

I don’t care and I don’t have time for it.

When the town’s cab pulls up I pour the woman into it and send her on her way.

Goddamned Willa. I’d expected Sarah, not her. I need to go to her, talk. She’s a reasonable woman. Mostly.

I reach my truck, right when fucking Lawson turns up.

“Conley.”

---