Rugged Fire [Rugged Savage Valley, Colorado 4] by Edith DuBois

“Actually, now that I think about it, it makes total sense for you.”
    “How’s that?”
    “You, your business, the Carson twins. It’s like everything is coming together to keep you here and make you happy.”
    Lianne bit her lip. “About that, I’m not really sure things are going to work out exactly like I planned.”
    “Huh?”
    “Well, there was a bit of an incident with the twins.”
    “What kind of incident?”
    “The kind where they don’t want to be with me because I’m a virgin and I guess that freaks them out.”
    “They’re being idiots. Give them time. They’ll come around.”
    “It’s not just that.”
    Jamie heaved a long, dramatic sigh. “What other dumb, crazy, completely nonsensical idea have you got into your head that will keep you from pursuing that two-pack of luscious manmeat?”
    “It’s your dad, actually.”
    “What?” Jamie shot up from the couch, pinning Lianne with her fierce green-eyed gaze. “What does he have to do with it?”
    “He offered to pay for everything.”
    Jamie kept her eyes locked on Lianne’s face. “What do you mean, everything?”
    “You know what I’m talking about. My business. A storefront. Connections. All the works. I had a meeting with Skyler Fischer at Savage Hunger this morning, and he pretty much offered me everything on a silver platter.”
    Jamie scoffed. “Please tell me you dumped scrambled eggs in his lap when you said no.”
    Lianne kept her mouth closed. She’d known Jamie wouldn’t be happy with her decision, so she figured she’d sit back and do as little talking as possible to give Jamie ample venting space.
    “You said no”—Jamie glared at her—“because I know that you are the smartest, most brilliant businesswoman who only makes a decision if it is absolutely, one-hundred percent right for her company. And I also know that you know what kind of person my dad is. That with him nothing is given without the promise of something in return. So this is why I know , I absolutely know that you would never say yes to him.”
    “Umm…” Lianne bit her bottom lip and glanced at a few threads that had come loose from the armrest of her chair. She tugged on them.
    “Lianne! Tell me this instant that you said no.”
    “I can’t tell you that.”
    Jamie’s mouth fell open. After a long moment she snapped it closed again. “Lianne, what have you done? Have you signed anything yet? Is it too late? Oh my god, what on Earth were you thinking?” Jamie jumped off the couch and stomped into the kitchen. Lianne heard a few cabinets being slammed. She heard the faucet, and then Jamie came to stand in the kitchen doorway with a glass of water. She tipped it up and drank the whole glass.
    When she finished, she glared at Lianne. “Well?”
    “Well what?”
    “What do you have to say for yourself?”
    “Jamie, don’t you think it’s possible you may be a tad biased in this situation?”
    “What?”
    “Don’t get mad! I just mean that, as his daughter, you maybe don’t have the best perspective on this.”
    “What the hell, Lianne? I thought you were on my side. For god’s sake, you know what he’s done. You know everything he’s said to me about coming to work for him and about living in Savage Valley. You of all people know exactly what he’s like, and you are still considering linking your business to him? You must be so far out of your mind right now. This is just”—her voice hitched up—“so insane I don’t know how to think about it. Please tell me exactly what is going through your head. I imagine it was something that made sense to you at the time, and I know your business is so important to you, but honestly, right now it really feels like you’ve betrayed me.”
    “No! No, that’s not it at all. Jamie, it’s the exact opposite of that.” Skyler had asked her not to mention Mr. Norman’s ulterior motives with Jamie, but she didn’t want Jamie thinking she’d gone behind her back or that she was