“When I stopped calling,” Cain said, “I figured you’d realize I wasn’t interested. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, Anna, but that hasn’t changed.”
Blue fire flashed in the eyes that fixed on his face. “Don’t be a fool, Cain. We were always good together, even back in high school. Now that I’ve inherited the controlling share of the Somerset Bergen Group, a relationship could be extremely beneficial to both of us.”
“I’m not interested in your money, Anna.” He glanced over to the truck and saw Jenny watching them. Inwardly, he cursed. “Best to let the past stay in the past and get on with our lives.”
Anna’s gaze returned to the truck. “It’s her, isn’t it? That little bit of fluff who owns the saloon. I saw you watching her when I was in town a few months back. I know you’ve been seeing her. I suppose in a town this size, you don’t have a whole lot of choice.”
Cain bristled.
Anna’s smile could have sliced through steel. “I remember her from high school. Shy little thing. She was nothing then, and she’s nothing now.”
“I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“She isn’t worth it, Cain. Think what the two of us could accomplish together. Surely, you can see I’m right.” Anna buzzed her window closed.
Putting the Mercedes in drive, she pulled a little farther down the lane and turned around. The car blew past, throwing up a cloud of dust as Cain walked back to the truck.
He cursed as he slid behind the wheel and closed the door. “With any luck, she won’t give us any more trouble.”
Jenny adjusted her seat belt. “It’s your business,” she said.
“Dammit, Anna Hobbs means nothing to me. She never has.”
Jenny’s eyes met his. “I guess Anna doesn’t understand that.”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “After the conversation the two of us just had, she damn well better.” Cain fired up the engine.
By the time he pulled up in front of the Copper Star an hour later, things seemed to have returned to normal.
“I need to get going,” Jenny said a little too brightly, popping open the door as he stepped on the brake and put the truck in park. She reached behind the seat and grabbed her overnight bag, looked up at him, and smiled. “Thanks for everything. I really enjoyed myself.”
At her fake smile and abrupt departure, irritation filtered through him. “Did you?” He let his gaze roam over her suggestively. “I did my best to make sure of that.”
Jenny’s cheeks turned pink, but her smile remained in place.
“The ranch is beautiful. You were right—I needed to get away. Thanks again.”
He’d been brushed off by women before, but it had never bothered him. It bothered him now. “So that’s it? We’re done?”
“Of course not. I’ll see you over at the Grandview. I still have plenty of work to do.” Jenny turned to leave as Cain stepped down from the driver’s seat. He slammed the door and caught up with her just as she reached the entrance.
Catching her shoulder, he turned her to face him. “We aren’t done yet,” he said. “Not even close. I thought you’d figured that out after your fourth or fifth orgasm.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. She glanced wildly around to see if anyone was listening, then pulled him out of the way around the corner as a man and a woman walked past them into the saloon.
“It was fun,” she said, her lips still curved. “But I’m sure you have more important things to do than squire me around the country.”
His eyes narrowed. He studied the smile plastered on her face, and suddenly he understood.
“You’re afraid. That’s what this is. I didn’t think you were afraid of anything. Not bikers, not ghosts, not even murder on your doorstep.”
When she tried to glance away, Cain caught her chin, tilted her face up, and brushed a kiss over her lips. “I’ll pick you up after work, and we’ll have dinner in my suite at the Grandview.”
“I don’t . . . I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Well, I think it’s a great idea. You wanted a man, Jenny. Well, now you have one. We’re going to see how this works out.” For several long seconds, he just stood there waiting.
Slowly, a warm, sincere smile curved her lips. “Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you tonight.”
