Page 141 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

Instead of answering my question, William asked one of his own. “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted the ranch?” His tone was cold.

I had plenty of answers for that, but they got stuck in my throat. My reasons had gotten lost in my feelings for this man, and all I could do was shake my head.

William shifted, then asked another question. “Was the never-ending list of chores and how you always drew my attention to the problems of the ranch your way of trying to get rid of me?”

I hated Todd more right now than I ever had before. Those emotions spilled over my walls and out through my mouth. “What if they were?”

William frowned. “You could have just told me.”

For a split second, his tone matched Todd’s, and my ire rose like the waves in a hurricane. “And what would you have done?”

“Cancelled the sale.” Now he reached for my hand, but I pulled away.

“No,” I shook my head.

“No what?” William asked.

I blinked, aware that tears had begun spilling down my cheeks. “You’re not giving up the ranch.”

“Why?”

“Because, the only reason you’re doing it is for me.”

“That is correct.”

I shook my head in exasperation. “Remember when I told you I didn’t want you to do me any favors?”

William nodded.

I shoved a finger at his chest. “This is a favor.”

“Giving you what you want is doing you a favor?”

My words from the conversation with Todd came spilling out. “If I’d wanted you to know that I wanted the ranch, I would have told you.”

“But you didn’t.” Now William’s expression hardened. “Were you ever going to?”

This is something I hadn’t decided on, and having him call me out on it sent my blood boiling. “I don’t know!”

William shook his head. “Women usually pay attention to me because of my money.” He looked into my eyes. “I thought you were different.”

“I don’t care about your money,” I said.

“But you weren’t honest with me.” Now his voice wavered. “You’ve been lying to me from the beginning. You wanted to get rid of me.”

I opened my mouth to protest but had to shut it.

He was right, and now I hated myself just as much as I hated Todd and Adam Fowler.

“I asked you to tell me if I’d done something to upset you.” William’s voice softened ever so slightly.

I shook my head. “I didn’t know where to start.”

“And now you say that me not buying your father’s property would be doing you a favor?”

I nodded, knowing how horrible all of this sounded.

William straightened his jacket. “In that case, I think the two of us should spend some time apart.”

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