“I think we should discuss it.” I’d crunched numbers today, knew what Twister was worth, and was ready to deal, but I needed Jake to cooperate and treat this meeting like what it was—a negotiation.
He nodded, but then smiled at me. “Let’s talk about some other points and come back to this one.”
“Fine. Point number two. Exclusive rights. Do you want exclusivity with Twister or am I free to make him available to other breeders during the same breeding season?”
“Exclusive rights. I don’t like to share.” My grin turned mischievous.
“Okay. For one season,” I said, ignoring his flirtation. “That’ll make a difference in the fee.”
“I get that.” He leaned back in his chair. “Like I said, we’ll come back to money.”
Next, we disagreed about artificial insemination versus traditional live cover. I was in favor of the first. There were a lot of reasons for it. Jake wasn’t and didn’t want to discuss it, which was frustrating. I was about to express that when his mother came into the room.
“I’m just making a cup of tea for the road. Junior Fair board meeting in town tonight.” Laura busied herself in the kitchen.
“Those things sure do keep you busy,” Jake said to his mother.
“I like being in the know and helping out worthy causes.” She came around the counter while waiting for the water to heat and tapped Jake on the head. “I remember when you and Brian did your homework sitting right here, and now you’re conducting business.”
“Mom, I’ve been conducting business for years now,” Jake said with an eye roll. “It’s just usually in the barn.”
I had been in his office in the largest of the barns several times to discuss treatment for one of his animals or to pick up a check for my veterinary fee, and I’d expected to meet there tonight. He’d been the one to insist on the house.
“The barn would have worked for me,” I said and caught his eye.
“You spend enough time in barns,” he said. “You should be where it’s more comfortable.”
Laura was looking between the two of us speculatively. I was sure that Jake hadn’t shared my pregnancy with his family, but his mother might wonder about that comment. The tea kettle whistled then, and Laura went around the island to make her tea.
“I’m no shrinking violet,” I reminded him in a low voice, “but I would like to get something on paper tonight.”
“We’ll get there,” he said.
When?I wanted to demand. He was intentionally dragging his feet. I knew it. He knew it. But I didn’t know why.
“There are cookies in the jar and sweet tea in the fridge,” Laura said. “Jake, did you offer your guest something to drink?”
“I—”
“I’m fine. Thanks, Laura,” I said, cutting Jake off.
“You know to help yourself, even if this one forgets to say it.” Laura kissed her son’s cheek and headed for the door. “I’ll be late. Our agenda for the evening is long. Good night.” A minute later, the back door closed.
“How about some tea and cookies?” Jake offered.
“I’m good,” I said, though it wasn’t the brush-off it might have been a minute earlier. Some of my annoyance had faded as I gave in to feeling sentimental for a moment. “I’ve always liked your mom. She’s generous and kind. My mom said that about her often enough.” I glanced around the big kitchen. “When I was a child, I wondered what it was like growing up here. Itseemed like you had everything. The house, the ranch, a big family.”
“It was pretty idyllic.” He put his hand over mine. “I’m looking forward to raising the next generation here. This house has been way too quiet since Amy and Henry moved out. I miss having a kid around.”
Jake could be so endearing and so irritating at the same time.
“I wasn’t suggesting that I move in here,” I said. “That’s not in my plans, and however good last night was doesn’t change that.”
While last night had started out about all the orgasms he could manage to coax out of me, it’d also been more emotional, more intimate. But as good as it had been, as much as I hoped it was the start of something new and special between us, I was still taking this one step at a time. I wasn’t going to hand my life over to him. I’d already learned that lesson with Rodney, and I had no intention of repeating it.
“I know that, and I didn’t mean now. But if it goes well between us… You just said that you like the house, right?”
“Of course I do.” That wasn’t the issue. It was his assumption that concerned me. Logically, I saw his point. This house was much larger than mine and as the primary heir to the Thorne empire, I knew that he wouldn’t move off the property. It made sense thatifwe were going to live together, it would be here. But it bothered me that uprooting my life and living on his ranch was his version of a happy ever after for us. Had he even considered that I might want to live onmyfamily’s ranch wheremybusiness was located?
