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rightfully his.”
“Great. He’s sure not going to be agreeable to working anything out.”
“We’ll see. I think there are opportunities here to make this work for everyone.”
Leah snorted. “Yeah right. What about the other one? What’s his name again?”
“Dashiel Hyde. Goes by Dash.”
“You gave me his background but what about those scars? And his limp?”
“He’s a good man, Leah. He was a cop in Chicago, and a highly decorated one. He
and his partner were involved in a drug takedown, there was a shootout and a fire and
his partner was shot and killed. Dash was shot also, but he’s still wrestling with
survivor’s guilt. Obviously that’s why he’s no longer a cop.”
Leah rose from the chair, took two glasses from a cupboard and filled them from a
pitcher of iced tea in the fridge, just to give herself something to do. Her mind was
whirling. Two half brothers, both with very good reasons to hate both her and her
father. Both with tragedy in their lives. None of this was going to be easy.
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Eagle’s Run
She handed a glass of tea to Amos and sat down again. “Well, this ought to be a
cozy little family dinner, don’t you think?”
He gave her an apologetic smile. “I wish things were different, honey. I told Joe he
was buying a wagonload of trouble here but he was the most stubborn man I’ve ever
met.”
“No kidding.” She swallowed some of the tea, hoping the liquid would cool her
down.
“But I think if anyone can bring this all together it’s you. And don’t forget, Ken isn’t
going to let anything bad happen to you.”
She gave a short laugh. “If scalping were legal I think Ken would have two trophies
hanging from his belt right now. He’s trying not to show it, but he’s as mad as I am. He
never liked my father.”
“With good reason. But to everyone’s credit, he insisted Joe do right by your
mother and the man did what had to be done.” He finished his drink and set the glass
down. “You’ve got to sign these papers, Leah. I told Dash and Mac the same thing.
Tomorrow night y’all can hash out how you want to handle this. Maybe all it will take
is making sure they get their share of the profits on a regular basis.”
“I sure hope neither one takes it into his head to start exercising management
rights.” She let out a long sigh. “All right. Where do I sign?”
* * * * *
She’d found two steaks in the freezer, called Shane and told him she’d feed him if
he’d come hold her hand and let her vent her anger. He brought a bottle of wine, which
they drank with the steaks, baked potatoes and salad. While they ate he listened to her
account of Amos’ visit and her dread of the dinner the following night.
“This may not end up being as bad as you think,” he said, finishing the last bite of
meat. “They may not want anything to do with the ranch. They may even ask you to
buy them out.”
45
Desiree Holt
“That would take a lot more capital than I’ve got,” she pointed out. “I know I could
work something out with the bank, but it just frosts me that I’ll end up in debt because
that old man finally faced his guilty conscience.”
“Don’t borrow trouble before it gets here,” he said. “I think what you need is
something to soothe those frazzled nerves.”
Leah’s mouth curved in a tiny smile. “And I suppose you’ve got just the right
thing?”
“Oh darlin’,” he told her, “you know it.”
They had just finished stacking the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. He turned
her to face him, one arm banded around her, the fingers of the other threading through
her hair. His eyes were hot with need when he looked at her, his face taut with desire.
Even as his mouth brushed gently against hers, her nipples beaded and the pulse in her
cunt began its insistent throbbing.
Leah felt her body responding to him as it always did. From the first time he’d
fucked her that day in the barn, all Shane Duffy had to do was touch her and she was
instantly combustible.
His lips teased at hers, rubbing gently, the tip of his tongue tracing the seam of her
mouth and outlining its shape. His hand cradled her head, tilting it to allow him to
deepen the kiss. She felt every muscle of his body pressed against hers, from the hard
wall of his chest to the thick ridge of his erection straining at the denim of his jeans.
Clutching at his shoulders, she moved her hips back and forth against him and was
rewarded with a deep groan that echoed into her mouth. His tongue probed harder
now, a sweep of flame inside the wet cavern. She sucked on it, pulling it farther into her
mouth, her teeth scraping over the rough surface.
Shane lifted his head, his breath laboring. “We need to take this out of here,” he
rasped.
Struggling with her own breathing, Leah pushed away, took his hand and led him
along the familiar hallway and up the stairs to her room. They were barely past the
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Eagle’s Run
door when he drew her into his arms again, his mouth capturing hers in a kiss that
echoed down to her toes. His tongue was voracious, exploring every inch of that heated
cavern, licking it and sucking on her tongue. He drew it into his own mouth and nipped
at it with his teeth, sending tingles through her muscles and nerves.
One hand held her head firmly in place, allowing her no escape as the kiss went on
and on. She was drowning in the heat of it, her knees wobbling, her body melting. She
clutched at Shane’s t-shirt as he walked her backward to the bed, his arms holding her
securely against him. She felt the edge of the mattress hit the backs of her legs and then
he was tumbling her onto its surface, pulling his mouth away at last to give air to their
starving lungs.
“God, Leah,” he gasped. “I’ll never get enough of you. Ever.”
His mouth trailed hot, wet kisses along the line of her chin and down the slender
column of her neck. The tip of his tongue was like a feather tracing circles at the hollow
of her throat then back up at the sensitive underside of her chin. Her breasts ached for
the touch of his hands and the liquid of her arousal trickled from her throbbing pussy.
She threaded her fingers through the silken feel of his hair, clutching at him at the
same time she tried to free herself to yank off her clothes.
“Easy,” he murmured against her skin. “I told you. Today was quick. Tonight we’re
taking it very, very slow.”
Leah moaned and tried to rub her body against his, and a low chuckle of
satisfaction rumbled from his throat.
“I’m in control here, darlin’. By the time I let you come tonight, you’ll be screaming
for it.”
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