Brokenhearted Beauty(Divine Creek Ranch 19)(30)

James made eye contact and nodded. “I know you do, Vince. That was never in doubt. And I think she knows there’s a real connection between us, too. Just let her do her thing.”

Vincent nodded, still worried that she was already in Abilene, already loving that store, already seeing her place in it, and that fucking general contractor her dad was putting her in contact with was already flirting with his woman. She could make a decision without knowing how deep his feelings went, because his pride had stopped him from speaking them that morning. She knew he loved fucking her but she probably didn’t know he loved her so much he’d give his life for her.





Chapter Six




“And this,” Denny Calder said as he opened the door to the office at the end of the corridor, “would be your office.”

Leah smiled as she tried to gingerly slide by Denny’s broad chest into the office. It was at least twice the size of her old office and had a window that looked out over the park across the street.

Her movement was halted by a tugging at the back of her blouse and she looked up into his smiling brown eyes and said, “Uh-oh.” Oh, this is so awkward! He’s gonna think I’m coming on to him. “My blouse is hung on something.”

His smile changed to a look of concern and he reached around behind her. She didn’t think he was purposely making bodily contact with her but she was really snagged so she held still. He curved his body around hers and she caught the close-up version of his woodsy scent combined with good, healthy sweat.

“Here we go. I don’t think your blouse is torn,” he said, freeing the knit material. “You were hung on a splinter. Are you hurt?”

“Um, no,” she replied, letting out her breath after realizing she’d been holding it. She looked around the office, imagining it once the renovation was done. Right now it was bare bones and down to the studs on the inner walls and the old bricks on the outer walls.

“You’ll be able to pick your own paint colors and flooring, if you’d like,” he said as he slid his hands into his jeans pockets.

“That won’t be necessary. Whatever is chosen for the rest of the offices and the store will be fine, no matter who takes on the position. It looks great so far.”

Denny nodded and smiled at her, her noncommittal comment about the occupant of that office going in one ear and out the other. “That’s pretty much the end of the tour. If you would like, I can show you a little about the area and…”

“Thank you but it’s been a long day, Denny. I really need to find some place to eat and get back to the bed-and-breakfast.”

All she wanted right now was a nice long soak in the great big tub in her room. Awesome as usual, Evelyn had taken it upon herself to arrange accommodations for her that night at the Angel Arms Inn, a quaint little bed-and-breakfast situated within a few miles of the store. It’d originally been a Victorian home that had been moved from its former location in another town and had been completely rebuilt and updated with modern conveniences.

“Well, I was also planning to show you one of the better eating establishments, and then I can drop you off at the bed-and-breakfast.” When she’d called him that morning to let him know she’d arrived in Abilene and asked for directions to the store, he’d offered to pick her up and had shown up at her door not five minutes later. Because she did need a tour of the area, she hadn’t rejected the offered ride, but the day had been a long one.

“Well, I suppose that’d be all right, but…” Damn, I really wanted to be alone tonight. He looked so hopeful she finally relented. “That’d be fine.” It was hard not to be taken in by the likable contractor. He’d told her he was a recent widower with two kids who were in college but he looked barely old enough to have kids that age.

“Great. Ready to go when you are.”

She followed him back down the hall, and out into the store which was now closed for the day. The last of the inventory had been moved into one section at the front of the store and the rest of the vast space had been sealed off with yellow “caution” tape, where construction was now going on. The work was impressive. It was obvious he led a rather large and accomplished construction crew and she hadn’t been able to find anything wrong with any of the work, although the city inspectors would have the final say on that matter.

She said good night to the manager on duty and the remaining employees, appreciating their friendly and open attitude toward her upon her arrival that morning. The store seemed like it was going to be an absolutely fantastic addition to her father’s fleet of department stores. She could envision this store carrying soft goods for the entire family with a heavy emphasis on Western wear.