Page 94 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

Benjamin held up a finger. “Exactly. And yet, you told Lucas about the trust. Why?”

Magnolia’s face was beet red. Not having an adequate answer for his question, she merely shook her head and looked away.

“I’ll tell you why.” Benjamin’s words flew out like razor-tipped darts, not only finding the chink in Lucas and Magnolia’s armor, but decimating it. “Because you were desperate to find a husband, so you could get your inheritance.”

A white-hot anger seared through Lucas. Benjamin was twisting things around, attempting to drive a wedge between him and Magnolia. No wonder Magnolia had been so apprehensive about coming here. No wonder she kept reiterating that the two of them had to present a united force.

A single tear rolled down Magnolia’s cheek. She swiped it away with a jerky movement. “Do you not want me to get my inheritance?” she asked hoarsely. “Is that what this is all about?”

Benjamin laughed in surprise. “No, that’s not it at all.”

Magnolia threw him a heated glare. “Then what?” she snapped.

Benjamin’s tone became genial. “Look, I know I’ve hit a few nerves here. Contrary to what you must think, I only have your best interest at heart.”

A hard laugh rattled Magnolia’s throat. “Could have fooled me.”

“All I’m saying here is that there might be another solution to your dilemma.” A benevolent smile spread over Benjamin’s lips. “A way to have everything that you want.”

“What’s that?” Magnolia asked, her voice dripping with wariness.

“What if I told you that you could have your inheritance and the man who actually loves you?” He sighed. “Princess, I know I’ve been hard on you, but that’s only because I know the person you’re capable of becoming. Your grandmother felt the same way.” His voice quivered with fervor, like a preacher delivering the climax of his sermon. “There’s greatness in you, Magnolia. It only needs to be molded and formed.”

Lucas could no longer hold the words back. “You mean you want to slap a harness on her so you can have complete control.”

Benjamin shot him a look that could kill.

“I—I don’t understand what you’re getting at,” Magnolia uttered as she looked at her grandfather for an explanation.

Benjamin gave Lucas a malevolent look before continuing in the lofty, amiable tone of a noble benefactor. Lucas had no idea what the spider was up to, but it couldn’t be good. Benjamin zoomed in on Magnolia as if she were the only one in the room. “I had a visit … from someone who truly cares about you. Someone who came here to beg your forgiveness. Someone who had no idea what he stood to gain by reconciling with you.”

Magnolia frowned. “What’re you talking about?”

Benjamin looked past them and asked with a glib, “Kathleen, would you please go and get our guest?”

Lucas and Magnolia glanced at each other before turning simultaneously to look at the maid. Lucas hadn’t realized that she’d remained in the study.

“Yes, sir,” Kathleen said with a perfunctory nod as she scurried out of the room.

“What’re you up to?” Magnolia questioned, giving her grandfather a steely look. She caught hold of Lucas’s hand. “We’ll be okay,” she assured him, but he could hear the underlying tremor of concern in her voice. It cut him to the center, making him fear that he would lose her.

“Come in,” Benjamin said with more warmth in his voice than Lucas would’ve thought the man was capable of.

A dark-haired man with matching eyes stepped into the room. He was handsome in a showy movie-star way.

Magnolia gasped, her hand going over her chest. “Roman? What’re you doing here?”

Chapter Eleven

“Magnolia,” Roman uttered as he strode briskly to her side.

She rose to her feet as he embraced her in a hug. She stood with her hands close to her sides, her body stiff. As Roman released her, she looked at Lucas who wore a stony expression. Now that the shock had run its course, a scalding anger was taking its place. “What’re you doing here?” she hissed. The nerve of Roman, showing up unannounced at her grandfather’s house on Christmas Eve. And worse, was the knowledge that her grandfather had given him such a warm reception. Then again, she’d known that it would be effortless for Roman to gain her grandfather’s favor. The two of them were cut from the same cloth.

“Pull up a chair,” her grandfather said to Roman. Roman did so, scooting his chair annoyingly close to hers. She reached for Lucas’s hand and clasped her fingers through his. “I’m with Lucas now,” she said, shooting Roman a dark look.

Roman let out an agonized sigh. “I’m so sorry about what happened.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You mean because you cheated on me? Don’t try to deny it. I saw you with her at the restaurant. Youtouched her face, gazed into her eyes with that disgusting moon-eyed expression.”

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