Page 106 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Alan met her gaze. “Brandon will get a very small monthly stipend from his father’s estate under the condition that he never contact any of you again. If he breaks that rule, or interferes in your lives in anyway, he will lose all future income and at that time will be charged with every crime we can lay at his feet, which I promisewillinvolve jail time.”
Zach cleared his throat, his expression not so cool and collected as she’d come to expect from the man. He was as pissed as she was. “So he gets a reward for having tried to ruin us.”
“There are reasons,” Alan said blandly.
At that comment, Finn straightened slightly. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “That means we’ll get the real story soon. Stop sharpening your knives—I think Alan has a plan in our favour.”
Karen glanced at Zach. The man had leaned back in his chair and was now eyeing Brandon as if he were an interesting bug on a pin. No more fury. As if the strong prairie wind outside had wiped it clean.
“We need your approval before this is a done deal.” Alan met her gaze straight on. “Are you willing to trust me?”
Clearly Finn and Zach did, so as hard as it was to let her urge for more punishment go, she nodded.
“I’d suggest Mr. Travers avoid accidentally crossing paths with us. I’m sure your justice would be thorough.” She stared the man in his pasty white face and let her anger shine bright. “Mine would be quick.”
“Bloodthirsty woman,” Finn whispered again. He tightened the arm around her waist and eased back enough to let the heat of his body wrap around her.
“I’ll be back.” Alan escorted a limping Brandon to the door. Zach rose to his feet to accompany them.
The instant they left the room, Finn had her turned, hand controlling her nape as he stared into her eyes with amusement. “You are one seriously sexy hellion. I’m tempted to haul you into the bedroom right now and fuck you boneless.”
“Hehurtyou,” Karen said firmly. “He deserves to suffer.”
“Hmmm, there we go again. Bloodthirsty looks good on you.” Finn covered her mouth with his own before she could laugh, and then fire and heat rushed them.
Bedroom? If she didn’t know they’d have returning company in a few minutes, she’d have taken him right there in the kitchen.
The kiss would have to be enough for now. Possessive and wildly intimate, he stroked his tongue along hers and set her nerve endings tingling. She thrust her fingers into his hair and pressed their torsos together.
“Jeez, guys. Give me a break.” Zach said as he came back in, amusement in his teasing tone. “I’d tell you to get a room, but Alan is just sending off the Asshole Achievement Winner of the Decade and then he’ll be back.”
Finn separated them slowly. “We will finish this. Soon.”
“Definitely,” Karen agreed before sliding off his lap and retaking her own chair. Without a blush, she met Zach’s laughing eyes. What burned between her and Finn was undeniable. “So. This whole ‘operating outside the law’ is part and parcel for you guys?”
Finn shook his head even as he pulled her chair closer to tangle their fingers together more easily. As if willing to give her some distance, but only so much. “Usually we’re very legal-minded. Alan, you’ve got some explaining to do.” He turned to the door as Alan returned to the kitchen.
Lawyer man leaned back on the counter and folded his arms over his chest in a surprisingly relaxed pose considering everything that had just happened. He looked the three of them over before nodding firmly. “I suppose I do. And then we need to talk about you, young lady.”
His gaze settled on her.
Yeah. That’s what Karen had figured. At some point, the shit had to hit the fan.
Only Finn was smiling, and Zach’s eyes had widened, and the tension seemed to fade from everyone else, only to pool in her toes.
She lifted her chin and braced.
It had never been boring.The time spent with Bruce and the ensuing years of lessons had meant Finn was kept on his toes, but this night had been one bizarre twist after the other.
Still, when he glanced at Zach, his best friend waited patiently, a broad smile on his face and absolute chill in his body language. No concern from that quarter.
Of course, the man was hell at the poker table…
Taking charge of the room as if it were his office, Alan got their attention then dove in.
“I’ll put you out of your misery quickly and get this list out of the way. First, the challenge is off. You no longer have to have the ranch up and running by Thanksgiving, although I still plan to bring my family out to be your first guests, whenever you feel is a reasonable time-frame to open.” Alan held up a hand to stop Zach’s sputtering. “Whether you want to go double time or not is up to you. At this point, you’ve already satisfied the conditions of Bruce’s challenge. If I may?”
He pulled a long envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Karen. “Would you read this, please?”
