“Easy,” he said when she started to panic.“I’m not going to hurt you.I just want to show you something.”
She stopped struggling but stayed stiff.Once again, a spear of heat raced through her, and she didn’t like or understand it.
He wrapped his massive hand around her wrist.“Do you see this?”
She tore her eyes from his face to look at his hand on her arm and swallowed.“What?”she asked, confused.
“You’re so tiny.I could wrap my fingers around your wrists twice.”
Victoria’s spine straightened, and a frown puckered her brows.“Maybe you’re just abnormally huge.”
“Oh, I know I’m a large man, but that has nothing to do withyoursize and this ranch.”
She tried to pull her arm back, but he just tightened his grip.“Why is this any of your business?”
“Because I want the ranch.But I also worry that you’ll injure yourself.”
“I don’t believe that at all.Oh, I believe you want the ranch, but the other ...you don’t care about me, and you certainly have no say in anything I do.”
“For some weird reason, I do care, and I’m making it my business now.”
Victoria stood and vigorously yanked at her arm, setting herself free of him, but at a price.
“Goddammit.”He released her instantly.“Don’t do that.You could have hurt yourself.Let me see your arm.”
“It’s okay,” she said, but knew it was most likely red, so she tried to hide it behind her.
He walked around the desk, reached around her, and gently took her hand, then lifted her arm.His fingers ran softly over the bright red marks her action had caused.
“See.You bruise so easily.”His thumb slid over her soft skin.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to cause you pain.”
Victoria pulled away and was glad when he released her, because of the physical feelings she didn’t understand he was causing in her.She rubbed at the red mark on her arm.
“You didn’t.It’s fine, I promise.”
He studied her for a moment.“Why exactly do you want to stay here?”
Victoria lifted her chin.“That is none of your business, but I will tell you.I’ve always loved this ranch.I’ve dreamed of living here most of my life.”
He paused for a moment.A look of cold disgust crossed his face before his face hardened.“You loved the ranch, just not your uncle.”
Shock pierced her heart.Why would he say something like that?
“What are you talking about?”
“Because the only time you came was after he was dead.He was sick for a year, and you never came.”
Victoria wanted to scream that she tried to come, she wanted to be here for him, but there had not been one thing he’d ever said to indicate he was sick.She knew she’d feel the guilt for the rest of her life.A burning ball of sadness seemed to choke her.
“I’d like you to leave.”
His eyes narrowed on her as he bent to pick up the hat he’d dropped before he slapped it on his head.“When you’re ready to sell, give me a call.”
Victoria watched him leave, waited until the front door closed, and fell back into the chair, covering her face with her hands as great sobs shook her body.She’d just met the man, but for some reason, his words cut deep.She wanted to yell at him that she’d never known of her uncle’s illness, or she would have been here.It was one of her biggest regrets that she hadn’t just come as she had wanted to, but he always had a reason she should wait.
Victoria stood, turned off the lights, and after she locked the doors, made her way up the stairs to the bedroom she’d always used when she’d been here.She couldn’t make herself go into her uncle’s bedroom.His hat lay on the doorknob, a shirt draped over the chair in the corner, and his scent was still on every surface.She wanted to keep that as long as possible.It made her feel like he was close.
Sometimes when she felt especially lonely or overwhelmed, she’d lie on his bed.Just being around his things and smelling him made her feel better.
