“Mr.Sinclair, as you know, I would like to lease this building from you.I don’t want to wait any longer.If we can’t come to an agreement today, I’ll have to look for another site for the feed store.”It was a complete bluff.There didn’t seem to be other appropriate or available spots in town big enough to house her dream.She’d have to buy land and build it, and she wasn’t sure her bank account would support that.
While working as a fashion model, she’d made big money, yet most of it had disappeared into the ether, spent on poor investments and high living.She’d managed to hang onto some of it, and with residuals continuing to come in from her make-up contracts and commercial work, she had a nice nest egg.Yet with no new contracts, the income had a lifespan, and each month the checks were diminishing.
“Call me Donovan, Sarah,” he said with a flourish.“We’re friends!And of course we’ll find common ground.I want you to have your feed store.I’m all for it!”Instead of taking his seat behind the desk, he pulled up another close to hers, so their knees were almost touching.
She wondered if scooting hers back would appear rude.She decided to take charge.“Just tell me how much you want, and I’ll tell you if I can afford it.”
“Why not tell me what you can afford, and we’ll see if we can come to a mutually satisfying agreement?”Surprising her, he reached out and took a long strand of her hair between his thumb and fingers and rubbed the silky texture.“So pretty,” he murmured.“I love your hair.It’s the color of sunshine.And your face, so gorgeous.And,” he said, running his gaze over her legs, waist and chest, “just everything.It’s no wonder you commanded attention as a top fashion model.Tell me, do you ever miss that world?”
Tugging her hair free, she pushed it to her back.“Not even a little.Now, about the lease—”
He named a ridiculously low price.“Of course you’ll want to do some renovations.”Waving a hand, he said blithely, “Walls will need to be moved, this office absorbed into a bigger area for storing your feed.”
Now they were getting somewhere.Excitement gripped her at all the possibilities.She’d be able to provide a solid service for the townspeople she loved, and finally, she’d begin to make money again instead of seeing it drain from her account day-by-day.
She was suspicious of his low price, but ideas bubbled up irrepressibly.“We will need to make changes, put in a loading dock in back for deliveries where the building opens to an alley.Widen the storefront.Hang a sign.”
“We can do all those things.I’ll even pay for them to help you out.It’s admirable, your plan to provide the locals a place to shop for their farm and ranch needs.Naturally, as property owner, I’ll be working closely with you.We’ll spend a lot of time together.”
Despite her new excitement, in seconds she felt matters were getting out of hand.Allowing her gaze to roam the room, she saw his leather coat hanging on the back of the chair.His desktop was uncluttered, with only a few items left in view.“Donovan, that won’t be necessary.If you agree to lease the building, we’ll spell everything out in a legal agreement.I’ll be in charge of the renovation.There’s no need—”
Abruptly, she stilled.On the big desk her eye caught on a blotter, neatly lined up pens, a stack of paperwork and ...a long-bladed dagger.
With a sudden closing of her throat, she had a skin-crawling vision of her recent nightmares, of the swirling knives.The image of her stalker’s note, with its blade dripping blood, burst into her mind.She couldn’t breathe.
In panic and sudden suspicion, her gaze swung to Donovan Sinclair.
He looked back at her with a slight frown.“Is everything all right, dear one?You look a little pale.”He reached out to take her hands in his and massage her fingers.
She felt cold, dizzy.Her mind a muddled mess, she found it hard to think.She had to get out of there.
Getting shakily to her feet, she pushed away.“I—I have to go now.Sorry.Not feeling well.”
Donovan rose with her, his concern deepening.“Was it something I said?”
“No, no.I’ll be in touch.”The need to escape was overwhelming.She left him standing, perplexed.As she rushed out the foyer and past the secretary, the woman raised her brows at Sarah’s fast exit.
Bursting out onto the sidewalk, she looked wildly up and down.Where was Ben Paxton?
