Nothing like a little pressure.
After a moment, Skylar shook her head and, with a sigh, wiped a few strands of hair off her forehead. “All right. I’m going to go check on Bogie and then go home for the rest of the day.”
It was well into the afternoon now. Skylar hugged her brother.
“I’ll be in touch,” Cal said as she withdrew.
Skylar turned to Julien and, after her eyes roamed his face, she extended her hand.
He took it for a semi shake. Not too tight, not too soft. His defenses went up over the way she looked at him. Take it nice and slow, he told himself. No time for romance until he solved her mystery.
“I wish we could have met under difference circumstances,” he said.
She smiled slightly. “Yes, but I have to say I am glad we did meet.”
He handed her his card, which had his office and mobile numbers.
Skylar took it. “Hang on.” She hurried from the room, returning seconds later with her own business card that she must keep in her father’s office. Or maybe she used it on occasion to run the ranch.
“Thanks. Call me if you notice anything odd.”
“I will.” With that she turned and headed for the front entrance. Julien enjoyed looking at how her jeans snugly fit her butt and the way each cheek rose and fell with her strides.
When he could no longer see her, he turned to Cal. His friend had noticed the observation and looked amused.
“I should warn you that she’s stubborn and loud.”
“Okay.” Stubborn was all right as long as it wasn’t malicious.
“She’s accustomed to running everything on her own,” Cal continued.
“Okay.” Might be a good complement to the hours he worked.
“She was raised by my dad. I didn’t listen to his preaching as much as she did.”
Julien had to pause at that one. “She doesn’t seem greedy. Is she?”
“I wouldn’t say ‘greedy,’ but the bottom line is important to her.”
That didn’t sound too harmful. Besides, he didn’t even know her yet. He only knew she was a knockout and he was very attracted to that. He’d take his time getting to know her.
“No man has ever lasted with her,” Cal went on.
“Does she have any redeeming qualities in your mind?” Julien had to ask.
Cal chuckled. “Everything I said except her thirst for a high bottom line.” He paused, as though thinking. “That and her love of nature and animals. And she does stand up to Dad. He doesn’t dare tell her how to run the ranch anymore. He works too much to do it himself and Dad can’t boss her around like he could his other ranch managers.”
Julien felt a spark of excitement over the prospect of engaging a woman like that. A love of nature and animals spoke of a softer side. He liked independent women, too. Independence meant she’d be more likely to tolerate a man with a career like his, where the hours ran long and unpredictable.
With his thoughts rambling way too far into the future, Julien checked himself. He’d help her stay safe from the gunman and try to uncover what she’d seen him doing first. Anything personal had to wait. His usual resolve on that point wavered, though. He felt doubt and began to worry he might not be able to resist his attraction to Skylar.
Copyright © 2020 by Jennifer Morey
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ISBN-13: 9781488064210
Cavanaugh in Plain Sight
Copyright © 2020 by Marie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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