"Why me, really?" She turned back to him. Kate put her plate in the sink before speaking again. "You can have your choice of women if what the magazines say is true. Why would you want a country chick who hasn't half the class that your normal girlfriends have?"
"When you get everything offered to you on a plate, you tire of it eventually." Magnus met her gaze over his glass of wine. Kate watched him take another sip, then put it down and sat back in his chair. She could feel the heat in her face as his gaze travelling up and down her body. "For years it has been the same thing: ballets or operas with a bevy of beauties on my arm. Everyone willing to do anything I ask because of who I am. I guess I'm getting a little bit jaded in my old age. I want more from life. I just haven't found out what it is yet." A small grin lit up his face. "And you were there, Kate. Like a sign from heaven, different to anyone I have known before. A dusty little cowgirl with a fiery temper and something to sell that I wanted. It seemed perfect at the time and honestly, is it such a hardship for you to be with me for such a short time?"
"I'm not used to the games you play, Magnus. I'm just as you said—a dusty little cowgirl that wants to keep what is hers, no matter what the cost. It's the rules that scare me, not you," she said.
Chapter 3
Three days later, Kate drove to Magnus's farm after work. The bank had accepted the payments she had sent through, and she'd spent the better part of the day paying outstanding bills and wages. Tilly thought he was wonderful now they had a reprieve from the bank. She baked up a storm, sending Kate over with a parcel and instructions to make sure that he ate some of her home-style cooking.
But I'm going to offer more than that; the time is right. It's now or never. I'm not going to whelp on a deal. I'm psyched up to do the deed today, and I will tell him so.
She parked at the stables and breathed deeply, trying to settle the rolling in her stomach before grabbing the parcel from the front seat. When her feet hit the dusty ground, she hesitated, butterflies in her stomach. Kate leaned on the hood of her vehicle, her breathing labored. She looked over at the house, willing herself to take the first step. She would do it today—go to bed with Magnus to fulfill their contract. It was what she considered her payment plan to keep her farm. She screamed and jumped as a hand landed on her shoulder.
"Whoa, settle down, girl." Jock looked at her, a worried frown on his face as he watched her catch her breath.
"Sorry, Jock, I was miles away, and you scared the hell out of me." Kate stood with her hand over her heart.
"Your nerves seem just a little bit shot, Kate. Anything I can do?" Jock asked.
"Nah, it's all under control, thanks though," she replied, one hand tucking back a strand of unruly hair. "Tilly sent over some baking for Magnus. Now that he has brought the water rights, she thinks he's just the perfect neighbor."
"I'm glad it worked out for both of you, but he's not here, Kate. He flew down to Brisbane yesterday, some business that he couldn't deal with from here. Should be back later tonight or in the morning though." Jock tipped his head, indicating the parcel in her hand. "Want me to put those in the house for him?"
"Um, sure." Kate handed the parcel over to Jock. "Get him to call me will you?"
"Kate, I've known you since you were in knee pants so don't take this the wrong way now. He's not for the likes of us, girl. Don't go getting involved and get your heart broken." Jock's gaze was full of sympathy as he looked at her.
"Don't worry about me, Jock. Anything that I do with Magnus is purely business. No heart involved, believe me." Kate tried to smile reassuringly at him, her own words causing her heart to flutter and leave her feeling a little breathless. "See you around."
Kate got back into her truck and drove home, deflated that once again she had geared herself up for sex and it wasn't forthcoming. She was starting to feel unwanted, and another feeling she didn't understand lurked in the base of her gut. She stormed into the house and slammed the kitchen door behind her. Emotions running riot in her heart, she headed for her bedroom and ignored Tilly calling to her.
"Well, that was quick," Tilly said, leaning on the open bedroom door. "What's got you so riled up? Didn't he like your offering?"
"It was yours, not mine," Kate snapped as she threw punches at her pillow. After a few good hits, she leaned back on her bed and scowled. "He wasn't there, some business to deal with in Brisbane. Jock said he would be back tonight or tomorrow."
"And that annoyed you, the fact that he wasn't there?"
"No, not really," Kate said as the heat started to creep over her face. She turned so Tilly wouldn't see her blushing but she was too late.
"Well, well. Our Katie has finally set her sights on someone, has she? Wondered how long it would take you to see there was life outside this farm fence." Tilly grinned despite Kate's scowl.
"It's not what you think," Kate snapped.
"What, you think I'm so old these eyes don't work? That man is rich, full of himself, and too damned handsome for words. Why wouldn't you be looking? Any smart girl would, Kate, and you're nothing
