Bones to Pick by Carolyn Haines

had been comfortable, but that was a long, long way from being rich.
    "Your mother had so much more than money. She had class and intelligence and beauty. She was a woman who could turn around the fortunes of a family."
    "How so?" I saw that his glass was nearly empty, so I made him a fresh drink and one for myself.
    "You greatly underestimate the power of a woman with brains and ambition." His gaze held mine.
    "My mother was smart, but I wouldn't say she was ambitious. She didn't seem to care a lot about money."
    "Perhaps not, but she was ambitious. Look at the way she raised you."
    I arched my eyebrows.
    "Independent, a woman capable of living alone, running her own business, a horsewoman." He smiled. "I would give a lot to see you astride."
    Just when I was beginning to enjoy the conversation, Humphrey had to go kinky on me. "Do you ride?" I decided to ignore the innuendo.
    "Yes," he said. "I used to showjump. I'd love a brisk ride through the autumn afternoon."
    Now that was interesting. "Perhaps I can borrow a horse from my friend Lee."
    "It would mean a lot to me. We haven't had horses at Tatum's Corner for a long time. You've probably heard that the Tatum family has fallen on hard times financially."
    Since Humphrey had brought it up, I decided to dive in. "Yes, and I've also heard that you were interested in marrying Quentin because she was due to be an heiress."
    He leaned back against the horsehair sofa. "That's true. My parents had settled on Quentin as my bride-to-be. I didn't object. She was a beautiful woman."
    I couldn't tell what he was feeling. "But Quentin wasn't interested in marrying you."
    "My little sister grabbed the brass ring." He shrugged. "What difference did it make? The money would be in the family."
    "It truly made no difference?"
    "Not to me. Once Quentin and Al hooked up, it took the pressure off me. Quentin was certain to remain unmarried until she gained the inheritance. Once she grew tired of Al, I was prepared to step in and pay court to her."
    "You would have married Quentin without loving her?"
    "You are naive." He finished his drink. "Name me one marriage that isn't based more on economic need than romance."
    "Tinkie and Oscar." I said it without thinking.
    "The question to ask is, would either of them be happy married to a pauper?"
    I didn't know. They were perfect for each other because they came from the same background, shared the same values. "In your quest for financial stability, have you considered a profession?"
    He laughed out loud. "Very cutting, my dear. Actually, I have an MBA in business. Unfortunately, it doesn't do any good if I don't have a business to manage."
    "So why are you leaving questionable gifts for me?" I asked. "I have nothing to offer in the way of financial security."
    He rose in a graceful motion. When he stood in front of me, he held his hand out. I accepted it, and he lifted me to my feet. "You have fire, Sarah Booth."
    "Not exactly a marketable quality."
    "But one that intrigues me."
    "I hear a lot of women intrigue you."
    He touched my cheek. "Someone has been listening to dirty gossip." He leaned closer so that his breath ruffled the curls beside my ear. "I do like my games, Sarah Booth, and I think you like them, too."
    He gently hooked his thumb beneath my jaw and tilted my face so that we looked at each other. "Tell me you don't."
    It was a dare, a challenge. "You're . . . interesting," I admitted, stepping away from him.
    He chuckled. "You're too honest for your own good."
    "Perhaps." I freshened my drink and made him another. "You're a handsome man, Humphrey. There aren't many women alive who don't enjoy the attentions of a handsome man."
    "I'm good in bed." He took the drink, his fingers brushing mine.
    "You're also too modest."
    My sarcasm only made him laugh. "Why did you come back to Zinnia, Sarah Booth? You could have stayed in
New York
. You could have married well and had the perfect life."
    I was surprised to discover that I wanted to