The reception space for the office building was huge. There was a desk with at least ten people behind it from security to secretaries. A sitting area had expensive-looking chairs spread out to allow visitors their privacy when on the phone or waiting to be seen. There was a small café to the right and the smell of coffee and pastries permeated the air.
A hallway around the side of the main reception desk would allow visitors access to the elevator. And that was where they needed to go.
Noah and Jane were already checking their group in with the security desk. Reese was busy on his phone and Leo allowed himself to observe the people coming and going.
They were all dressed in high-powered suits. Some of the women wore pencil skirts, while others wore slacks. It didn’t matter what they were wearing, they looked utterly uncomfortable.
He glanced down at his weathered jeans and black Henley. It wasn’t the worst thing he could have worn. But he was severely underdressed. Did these people expect him to come here in a suit? He wasn’t sure he even had one that fit anymore.
“Leo, let’s go.” Jane gestured toward the elevators. “They’re ready for us.”
He sighed. Hopefully this meeting would go well enough they wouldn’t have to come back again. Whatever questions they might have regarding this project, Jane and Noah would be able to answer. Leo was only supposed to cover anything that had to do with Sagebrush itself. But seeing as Sagebrush Ranch was only providing the land, and maybe some of the horses, he wouldn’t have to interact with any of these stuffed-shirt city folk. This project? It was all Jane. She’d be able to handle the brunt of it. Right?
Reese shoved his phone into his pocket as the elevator doors slid closed. Jane and Noah spoke in quiet voices. Leo counted down the seconds before they would be leaving.
They were ushered into a conference room and there they waited.
“I thought you said they were ready for us,” he groaned, leaning his shoulder against the wall. He folded his arms as he directed the statement to Jane.
Noah gave him a warning look.
Yeah, Leo knew his attitude left much to be desired. He was irritated and he wasn’t sure what he could do about it. Maybe he was coming down with something.
The door opened and he rolled his head around to get a good look at the person.
His heart combusted.
There was no other way to describe it. The woman rushing toward the front of the room was drop-dead gorgeous. She had long, black hair that fell in waves. The navy skirt and the pale blue blouse she wore only accentuated her slight curves. He caught a flash of red beneath her heels. How could she walk so effortlessly in those shoes?
“Alright everyone. Sorry I’m late. I was in another meeting that ran long.” Her head lifted and their eyes locked. For a moment he wanted to believe that she felt the zap of connection between them too. But then her focus shifted toward the others in the room. She flashed a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. He got the strangest sense that this woman had never offered a truly genuine smile before.
Jane stepped forward. “You must be Ms. Jerris.”
Leo’s eyes dipped to Ms. Jerris’s left hand in search of a ring then he immediately berated himself. What was he thinking? This woman was beautiful, but she was poison. He didn’t have to look twice at her to know that fact. The way she carried herself showed just how impersonal and stuck up she probably was. She let her focus dart to Reese and Noah before returning to Jane. “Shall we get down to business?”
The meeting went exactly as Leo had expected. The woman knew next to nothing about horses, ranching, or even the way equine therapy worked. She was only interested in numbers and how the project would come to fruition. She avoided looking at Leo unless she had to—even after Jane introduced him as the liaison between Sagebrush and her company.
If that was how she planned on treating him, then this wasn’t going to work.
Leo shot a look in Noah and Jane’s direction. They didn’t seem to notice how she looked her nose down on him—on all of them.
“We’ve received your suggestions for contractors. Are you certain there are no other options? Perhaps we could?—”
Leo had put up with questions about the town they lived in. He’d put up with stupid questions about the program Jane had already fleshed out. He was done with the nitpicking. He leaned back in his seat and let out a derisive laugh. “No offense, Ms. Jerris, but have you been living under a rock?”
“I… beg your pardon?” It was the first time she’d graced him with more than a glance since they’d sat down at the table.
“Leo—” Noah and Jane warned at the same time.
Reese gave them a worried look.
Leo ignored them all. He leaned forward and tapped a finger on the table. “Rocky Ridge might be making a name for itself lately what with all the people who have decided to move there. We have some interesting folks to be sure. But the fact remains. It’s still a tiny town. Now, you tell me something since you’re such a greatbusinesswoman,” he sneered.
Kat gawked at him. She probably hadn’t experienced anyone speaking to her this way in her entire life. He drew moderate pleasure from this notion. Someone had to put her in her place.
“With a town as small as Rocky Ridge, how many contractors do you think can find enough work to keep the lights on? This isn’t about having options. This isn’t about finding the least expensive option or even the highest quality option. The people in Rocky Ridge are good, genuine community members who want nothing more than to contribute. So, if Mr. and Mrs. Reese give you the name of a company, do yourself a favor and accept it.” He rose from his seat and stared hard at the businesswoman before him. It wasn’t even a surprise that she was staring daggers at him. He reveled in her fury.
Good.
