“Fuck me to Sunday.Repeat that.”
Without flinching, she did.If he wanted to hire her, he’d have to pay for it.
“You realize how many bulls I could purchase for that price?Hell, I could buy another fucking ranch.”
“Do you know much advertising you’ll be buying?”
He frowned.
Undeterred by his reaction, she opened her checklist as a spreadsheet to show him each item and a price estimate, high to low, of each.Then she saved it as a PDF and emailed it to him.“You’re welcome to find your own people for each of those things.But be sure your quotes also include tax and gratuities.”
“There’s at least a hundred things on there.”
“More, if you count the signage, parking and shuttle buses,” she said with a cheery smile.
“Has anyone ever had a heart attack at this point in your presentation?”
“Calls to nine-one-one are extra.And I don’t give mouth-to-mouth.”
He raked a hand through his hair, dislodging a piece, making him look younger, more rakish, momentarily less frightening.
“Over the years, I’ve dealt with the shrewdest business people.I’ve never met anyone like you.”
“What’s worse is I don’t negotiate.”
“Take it or leave it?”
“Green or red, Mr.Donovan.”
“Your pretty little butt cheeks will pay for that comment,” he promised.
Suddenly the air between them pulsed.It had gone from all business to part sensual.The man was a master at changing her focus.And she was taken aback at how much she wanted just that.
“Let’s talk to the Colonel.When will you be in Houston again?”
“Thursday night.”
“I’ll set up an appointment for you on Friday if that will work.
“Morning to midafternoon is fine.”Her phone rang and she plucked it from her back pocket.From the ringtone, she knew it was her mother.“If you’ll excuse me?Mom doesn’t usually call if she knows I’m in a business meeting.”
“Go ahead,” he said.
She slid off the chair and crossed into the dining room, aware that Cade could hear every bit of the conversation.
“Where are you?”her mother demanded without saying hello.
“The Donovan ranch.”
Cynthia let out a heavy exhalation.“Gracias a Dios.”
“What’s up?”
“Flooding.And a ten-car accident on the highway.”
She paced the length of the room, captivated by the sight of the rain and the way the trees leaned and the bushes thrashed.“It’s no better here,” she said.“It would be insane for me to try to leave anytime soon.Everyone safe there?”
“Waiting for your sister to get back.”
