Page 42 of Love, Hate, Love

“What is it?” This wasn’t anything to do with me, and I was already getting to my feet, tensing, and I didn’t even know why. If he was going to tell me, he needed to spit it out already.

“Leah’s mortgage company is pulling the loan on her apartment in New York.”

I paced the length of the office as I waited for that to sink in.Not now.She didn’t need this on top of everything else. “Are you kidding me? Has she been making the payments?”

“Everything is up to date. It’s nothing financial. They’re using some morality clause or something. I don’t know exactly how they can do this, but my lawyer is saying it’s legal.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. As long as she’s paying the loan, they don’t typically pay attention to anything else. Someone has to be stepping in and making a fuss for this to happen.” This situation stank worse than a bucket of rotting fish.

“Maybe, but they won’t tell me. I’ve been on the phone for hours, getting the runaround from about ten different people, and no one can give me a straight answer or tell me how I can stop this. They’re all just saying she’ll have to pay the balance due or lose her apartment. If I could pay it off for her I would, but even if I had that kind of cash lying around, it’s not just my finances, but my wife’s. I can’t ask her to do that.”

I knew where Leah lived. I had an idea what kind of money it would take. There weren’t many people who could bail her out.

“No, I understand. It’s a tough spot to be in. Look, it’ll work out somehow. I’ll tell her to call you and I’m sure something will get figured out.”

It would have to be, one way or another. I wasn’t sure I could watch her lose her home, no matter how much I wanted to strangle her at times.

Monroe groaned. “I don’t know, Kade. This is going to be bad.”

“I might know a banker or two that can help out. I’ll check around and call you tomorrow with some names.”

He was silent for a few seconds. “I’m already neck deep into favors with you, but I can’t turn this one down. But…”

He didn’t say anything else.

“What?” I asked.

“Maybe it’s best not to mention this to Leah. I’m not sure she’d accept that kind of help from you. She’s got a lot of pride.”

“I completely agree.”

I walked into the stable,slowing as I approached the stall. Some people might’ve called it sneaking up, but it was my damned ranch. When I owned the place, I was allowed to walk any way I wanted, as slowly and silently as I chose.

There was a soft singing coming from a stall as I neared.

As I peered inside, Leah had one arm around the mare’s neck, gently rubbing Princess as she softly sang what sounded like a lullaby.

She turned, as if she’d felt my eyes on her. Neither of us spoke for a minute, but Princess whinnied, as if she could sense Leah’s sudden unease.

Leah moved her hand along Princess’s neck. “It’s all right. It’s all good.” The pregnant mare seemed to calm under Leah’s attention.

She finally glanced over at me. “She was seeming out of sorts again. I’ll stop visiting her so much if it bothers you.”

How bad had our relationship crumbled if she thought I wouldn’t want her to touch my horse?

“No. Not at all. Visit with her as much as you want. She likes it.”

Leah looked at me and nodded, not saying anything.

She continued to comfort Princess while I stalled, knowing I was going to be delivering yet another blow.

She kept glancing over at me, as if she sensed something was out of sorts.

“I did come find you for a reason. Your brother needs you to call him,” I said.

Her hands stopped moving. “It’s not Sunday.”

“It’s a legal matter that has to be handled.” I cleared my throat, those words feeling like they were choking me.

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