Sam from time to time.’
She thought that through and approved. ‘He’d like that.’
‘So, despite you staying in the city, Sam’s not happy?’
Drat, they were talking about her life again, and she shouldn’t do it. He was a client. She knew better than to mix business with pleasure. They stayed absolutely apart.
But it was so tempting to talk of Sam. She was so worried about him, and Jackson was looking at her with calm grey eyes that said he was really interested. He really cared.
‘No.’ She sighed. ‘He’s not happy. I guess I can’t expect that-his parents have only been dead six months. But…’ Her voice trailed off and she bit her lip. He couldn’t really care.
Only it seemed he did. ‘How did he come by the bruises on his face?’
‘He takes on the world.’
‘Can you explain?’
Unwise or not, the temptation to unload her worries was irresistible. Jackson’s shoulders were so broad-maybe it wouldn’t hurt to burden him a little.
‘He’s so darned little,’ she told him. ‘He’s the smallest kid in his class, but he won’t take a back seat. He stands up for himself, no matter what. If a bigger kid pushes in front of him Sam will shove back, regardless of the consequences-and he always comes off second best. The school’s not great, but I can’t afford to move him.’
Jackson thought that through. ‘There’s money problems?’
‘My sister and her husband didn’t believe in insurance. And they lived life in the fast lane. There were debts.’
‘I see.’ And he did. More than she knew. He could guess by the set look of her chin just what sort of obligations she’d shouldered. ‘He’s some responsibility.’
‘As you say.’
There was silence again, but this time it was different. There was no tension. It was almost as if they knew what the other was thinking.
He seemed…a friend, Molly thought inconsequentially. It seemed she was being offered friendship in an unlikely place-but it was friendship, regardless. She’d heard the note of caring in his voice and it made her blink back tears.
Drat the man. He had the capacity to get under her skin. And why? Because he was big and handsome and gentle and…
And a millionaire-even a billionaire! As such he was right out of her league, even as a friend. Men like Jackson weren’t friends. If they were anything at all then they were trouble.
She bit her lip and stooped to pack their picnic things. ‘It’s time we were getting on. There’s still plenty to see.’
‘So there is.’ But his gaze was on her face and his eyes were thoughtful.
‘So, help me,’ she demanded, letting a note of irritation enter her voice. ‘It won’t all fit in
‘And you’re not my servant?’ His tone was faintly teasing and Molly flushed.
‘No, Mr Baird, I’m not your servant,’ she snapped, and kept on packing.
But still he didn’t help. He stood looking down at her stooped figure, and there was a very odd expression playing beneath the thoughtfulness of his features.
She was some lady! The thought hit him out of nowhere, and he didn’t have a clue what to do with it.
CHAPTER FOUR
THEY rode for three hours and they hardly talked. There was no need.
The property did indeed sell itself, Molly decided as they moved from one paddock to another. Each seemed better than before. This was a tiny paradise cut off from the outside world. The more she saw, the more three million seemed very cheap.
But it wasn’t for her to say. Hannah Copeland had named her price and it was up to Jackson to say yes or no. If he said no then she’d contact Hannah and advise her to increase her asking price the next time she showed anyone…
‘What are you thinking?’ Jackson demanded, and Molly discovered that he’d been watching her. Were her thoughts transparent? She hoped not.
‘You’re thinking of upping the price,’ he said bluntly, and she had to smile.
‘Um…yes.’
‘You think three million is cheap?’
‘It is, and you know it is.’
He gazed around him and had to agree. ‘Yep.’
‘So, if I ask you to pay more…?’
‘I’d tell you to take a cold shower.’
‘That’s blunt.’ She grinned. ‘But you agree it’s a bargain?’
‘I’d imagine there are strings attached. Are there?’
‘There may well be. If you’re really interested I’ll contact Miss Copeland this evening and ask what she has in mind.’
‘It may well be taking on Doreen and Gregor.’
She thought that through and figured it was a distinct possibility. The elderly couple had been here for most of their lives and to move them on would be cruel. ‘Would that be a problem?’
‘Family retainers are the devil.’
‘I’d imagine they’d be loyal.’
‘They should be put out to pasture and you know it.’
She looked across at him, still considering. ‘Would you be the one to put them out to pasture?’ Suddenly his answer was absurdly important. She knew what his answer should be-his reputation was as a ruthless businessman, after all-but in the short time she’d known him she’d seen the kindness of the man, and it was desperately important that he still display it.
He was still watching her face, and it seemed the man could still read her thoughts.
‘Just because I splinted a frog’s leg, don’t think I’m a soft touch.’
‘You were nice to Sam as well.’
‘Okay, I was nice to Sam,’ he conceded. ‘Neither of those things cost me money.’
‘And if they had-would you still have done them?’
‘It depends entirely on how much. Any more than tuppence-halfpenny and I’d have consulted my accountant.’
She gave a chuckle and turned her face to the sun. She hadn’t felt this good for years, she thought. Or…since Sarah died. Jackson had given her this day, and for that she had to be grateful. ‘You will keep Doreen and Gregor on your payroll?’
‘I haven’t agreed to buy the place yet.’
She gave him a cheeky grin. ‘Neither you have.’
‘And I mightn’t.’
‘Yeah, right.’ She knew she had the man seriously hooked. Things were looking very good. Very good indeed. But she didn’t press the point. Instead she headed her horse down towards the river. ‘If we follow the river we’ll end up home,’ she told him.
‘No.’
‘No?’
‘We’ll end up swimming,’ he told her. ‘It looks fabulous.’
‘It looks wet.’
‘Chicken!’
‘I didn’t bring a costume,’ she told him. ‘And respectable realtors don’t strip to their bras and panties and go
