rancher of a brother."
Devon smiled slightly. "Let Phil meet you and find out for himself that conning you out of a bundle of cash is going to be harder than taking the stripes off a tiger. A meeting between you and Ordway should settle things one way or another. And Ryan will know that at least you gave his plans some legitimate consideration."
Garth watched her silently over the top of his brandy. "His scheme doesn't deserve any legitimate consideration."
"Maybe not, but Ryan does. He needs to know you have some respect for his judgment."
Garth exhaled deeply. "He isn't as easy to handle as Lee was. Hell, it's easier to handle my men than it is to handle my brother."
"That's because he is your brother, Garth. I've told you that. It's always different when it's family. You've spent so long looking after him that it's hard for you to realize he can look after himself. Believe me, after raising Lee and Kurt, I know what I'm talking about."
Garth took another sip of brandy and sat in silence for a long time. "All right," he said finally. "I'll tell Ryan he can invite Ordway here for a meeting. But no promises and definitely no financial commitments."
Devon's smile grew gentle. "Thanks, Garth. I think it will be an excellent way of handling the situation. Afterward you can still tell Ryan you're not interested in the deal. At least he'll know you've given it a chance. Just treat him as the intelligent person he is. Maybe he is way off base trying to go into business with Ordway, but a lot of more experienced people have made similar mistakes. It doesn't mean he's really lacking in judgment or common sense. He's just ambitious and anxious to make his mark in the world."
" Mmm ." Garth didn't look convinced but his gaze was a good deal less forbidding. "Speaking of judgment and common sense, I've been intending to go over this nonsense of your being in the stock market."
Devon took the last swallow from her glass and smiled sweetly. "I think you've got enough on your mind for now. Don't fret yourself about my little forays into the stock market. We can discuss it at another time."
His eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and masculine wariness. "Why do I get the feeling you've got a natural talent for leading me in the direction you want me to go?" He got slowly to his feet and came around the edge of the desk. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we should skip my lecture on the evils of the stock market tonight. God knows I've got a few other things besides that on my mind at the moment."
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. "Such as?"
He reached down and hauled her lightly to her feet. "Such as wishing to hell you hadn't put the wedding off for three long weeks. The waiting may kill me."
His mouth captured hers with a sudden intensity that took away Devon's breath and called forth an immediate, vital response from her senses. Without any hesitation she put her arms around his neck and let herself melt against Garth's hard frame.
"Devon, honey, I want you so much. You don't know how it is for me. I spent last night lying awake for hours thinking about the night we spent in your apartment. I thought once I had you under my roof, the sleepless nights would be over. I should have known better." His lips roved over her cheek to the soft, scented place behind her ear and then he pushed her hair away from the back of her neck and kissed her on her nape.
Devon shivered and tightened her hold on him. He slid his hands down to her hips, lifting her, pulling her against the straining heat of his thighs. She could feel the taut, waiting need in him and it sent a thrill of love and excitement through her veins. "Garth?"
"I know, babe, I know. Me, too." He leaned back against the desk and spread his booted feet wide. Then he urged her close, his big hands cupping her hips and anchoring her firmly between his jeaned legs. "Every time I think of my bed upstairs, just waiting for you, I want to haul you across the state line
Devon smiled slightly. "Let Phil meet you and find out for himself that conning you out of a bundle of cash is going to be harder than taking the stripes off a tiger. A meeting between you and Ordway should settle things one way or another. And Ryan will know that at least you gave his plans some legitimate consideration."
Garth watched her silently over the top of his brandy. "His scheme doesn't deserve any legitimate consideration."
"Maybe not, but Ryan does. He needs to know you have some respect for his judgment."
Garth exhaled deeply. "He isn't as easy to handle as Lee was. Hell, it's easier to handle my men than it is to handle my brother."
"That's because he is your brother, Garth. I've told you that. It's always different when it's family. You've spent so long looking after him that it's hard for you to realize he can look after himself. Believe me, after raising Lee and Kurt, I know what I'm talking about."
Garth took another sip of brandy and sat in silence for a long time. "All right," he said finally. "I'll tell Ryan he can invite Ordway here for a meeting. But no promises and definitely no financial commitments."
Devon's smile grew gentle. "Thanks, Garth. I think it will be an excellent way of handling the situation. Afterward you can still tell Ryan you're not interested in the deal. At least he'll know you've given it a chance. Just treat him as the intelligent person he is. Maybe he is way off base trying to go into business with Ordway, but a lot of more experienced people have made similar mistakes. It doesn't mean he's really lacking in judgment or common sense. He's just ambitious and anxious to make his mark in the world."
" Mmm ." Garth didn't look convinced but his gaze was a good deal less forbidding. "Speaking of judgment and common sense, I've been intending to go over this nonsense of your being in the stock market."
Devon took the last swallow from her glass and smiled sweetly. "I think you've got enough on your mind for now. Don't fret yourself about my little forays into the stock market. We can discuss it at another time."
His eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and masculine wariness. "Why do I get the feeling you've got a natural talent for leading me in the direction you want me to go?" He got slowly to his feet and came around the edge of the desk. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we should skip my lecture on the evils of the stock market tonight. God knows I've got a few other things besides that on my mind at the moment."
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. "Such as?"
He reached down and hauled her lightly to her feet. "Such as wishing to hell you hadn't put the wedding off for three long weeks. The waiting may kill me."
His mouth captured hers with a sudden intensity that took away Devon's breath and called forth an immediate, vital response from her senses. Without any hesitation she put her arms around his neck and let herself melt against Garth's hard frame.
"Devon, honey, I want you so much. You don't know how it is for me. I spent last night lying awake for hours thinking about the night we spent in your apartment. I thought once I had you under my roof, the sleepless nights would be over. I should have known better." His lips roved over her cheek to the soft, scented place behind her ear and then he pushed her hair away from the back of her neck and kissed her on her nape.
Devon shivered and tightened her hold on him. He slid his hands down to her hips, lifting her, pulling her against the straining heat of his thighs. She could feel the taut, waiting need in him and it sent a thrill of love and excitement through her veins. "Garth?"
"I know, babe, I know. Me, too." He leaned back against the desk and spread his booted feet wide. Then he urged her close, his big hands cupping her hips and anchoring her firmly between his jeaned legs. "Every time I think of my bed upstairs, just waiting for you, I want to haul you across the state line
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