yesterday," Gina replied stiffly. "I never expected to walk into your office this morning and see him sitting…" The legal proposals in her briefcase seemed to burn through the leather to scorch her fingers. The turbulent green of her gaze slashed to Rhyder as the significance of his presence registered in her mind. "I presume you are the president of Caufield Enterprises?"
"That's correct," Rhyder nodded with cool mocking arrogance. "Pete is my attorney and he'll be advising me during our negotiations for the resort property that Justin has indicated a willingness to sell."
Her grasp tightened on the briefcase. She turned to Justin with every intention of telling him that he would have to find someone else to represent him. The negotiations would quite likely be lengthy because of the difference between the asking price and the offered price and some complex legal entanglements of the property.
Gina did not want to spend the amount of time required to arrive at a satisfactory compromise, since the time would be spent in Rhyder's company. But before she could advise Justin of her decision, Rhyder spoke up.
"I think it would be best if we postponed our meeting for a few days, Justin." He rose leisurely to his feet, his gaze glittering briefly on Gina as he stood beside her, towering and masculine, completely in control of his emotions. "I'm certain Gina is as reluctant as I am to sit on opposite sides of a negotiation table. Considering our past association, it will be difficult to be impartial or objective in the discussions needed to reach the various compromises. I quite understand that Gina would prefer that you find another attorney in this matter. Naturally you'll need some time to bring him or her up to date on the various issues."
A raging fire seared through her veins. On the surface it sounded as if Rhyder was offering her an easy way out, but underneath she sensed that he was demanding that she be replaced. His mockery or his sarcasm she could have tolerated, but to be virtually ordered to resign under the guise of thoughtfulness was not something she would accept.
"You are mistaken, Mr. Owens." It sounded ludicrous to call him that, yet it seemed the only way to express the fullness of her anger. "I do not prefer to have Justin hire another attorney. I am much more qualified than anyone else since I am acquainted with you and your methods. I will be better able to protect my client's interest because of it."
Except for the slight darkening of his pupils to a midnight shade, there was no indication from Rhyder that he found her decision objectionable. Yet Gina was certain she had scored a hit. Setting her briefcase on a corner of the desk, she opened it and removed a legal-sized folder.
"I have drafted a land contract agreement to use as a starting point." Gina extracted three copies of the document from the folder and distributed one to each of the men. "It will be more constructive to deal first with the items we agree on."
As he was already familiar with much of the language contained in the proposal, since Gina had discussed it with him in some detail, Justin's perusal of the document was merely a formality. Pete read it with concentration, mentally testing every word and phrase.
With growing irritation, Gina watched Rhyder flip through the multi-page agreement, barely skimming the contents. He didn't even glance at the last page as he tossed it on Justin's desk.
"I find little in it that's agreeable," Rhyder stated flatly.
Counting to ten, Gina held her tongue. If he was attempting to bait her into losing her temper by placing an immediate obstacle in the discussions, she was determined he wouldn't succeed.
"I prefer to hear Pete's opinion," she responded with professional crispness.
There was a condescending, faintly derogatory nod of his jet-dark head. Seething inwardly, Gina ignored the gesture. With negligent ease, Rhyder sat in the chair he had just vacated, relaxing deeply against its winged
"That's correct," Rhyder nodded with cool mocking arrogance. "Pete is my attorney and he'll be advising me during our negotiations for the resort property that Justin has indicated a willingness to sell."
Her grasp tightened on the briefcase. She turned to Justin with every intention of telling him that he would have to find someone else to represent him. The negotiations would quite likely be lengthy because of the difference between the asking price and the offered price and some complex legal entanglements of the property.
Gina did not want to spend the amount of time required to arrive at a satisfactory compromise, since the time would be spent in Rhyder's company. But before she could advise Justin of her decision, Rhyder spoke up.
"I think it would be best if we postponed our meeting for a few days, Justin." He rose leisurely to his feet, his gaze glittering briefly on Gina as he stood beside her, towering and masculine, completely in control of his emotions. "I'm certain Gina is as reluctant as I am to sit on opposite sides of a negotiation table. Considering our past association, it will be difficult to be impartial or objective in the discussions needed to reach the various compromises. I quite understand that Gina would prefer that you find another attorney in this matter. Naturally you'll need some time to bring him or her up to date on the various issues."
A raging fire seared through her veins. On the surface it sounded as if Rhyder was offering her an easy way out, but underneath she sensed that he was demanding that she be replaced. His mockery or his sarcasm she could have tolerated, but to be virtually ordered to resign under the guise of thoughtfulness was not something she would accept.
"You are mistaken, Mr. Owens." It sounded ludicrous to call him that, yet it seemed the only way to express the fullness of her anger. "I do not prefer to have Justin hire another attorney. I am much more qualified than anyone else since I am acquainted with you and your methods. I will be better able to protect my client's interest because of it."
Except for the slight darkening of his pupils to a midnight shade, there was no indication from Rhyder that he found her decision objectionable. Yet Gina was certain she had scored a hit. Setting her briefcase on a corner of the desk, she opened it and removed a legal-sized folder.
"I have drafted a land contract agreement to use as a starting point." Gina extracted three copies of the document from the folder and distributed one to each of the men. "It will be more constructive to deal first with the items we agree on."
As he was already familiar with much of the language contained in the proposal, since Gina had discussed it with him in some detail, Justin's perusal of the document was merely a formality. Pete read it with concentration, mentally testing every word and phrase.
With growing irritation, Gina watched Rhyder flip through the multi-page agreement, barely skimming the contents. He didn't even glance at the last page as he tossed it on Justin's desk.
"I find little in it that's agreeable," Rhyder stated flatly.
Counting to ten, Gina held her tongue. If he was attempting to bait her into losing her temper by placing an immediate obstacle in the discussions, she was determined he wouldn't succeed.
"I prefer to hear Pete's opinion," she responded with professional crispness.
There was a condescending, faintly derogatory nod of his jet-dark head. Seething inwardly, Gina ignored the gesture. With negligent ease, Rhyder sat in the chair he had just vacated, relaxing deeply against its winged
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