From the desk of Emerald Larson, owner and CEO of Emerald, Inc.
To: My personal assistant, Luther Freemont
Re: My newly discovered grandson, Nick Daniels
My grandson, Nick, will be leaving at the end of the week to take over running the Sugar Creek Cattle Company in Wyoming. Please be advised that he wonât be particularly happy when he discovers that his ranch foreman is the woman he was to have married thirteen years ago. To ensure the success of my plan and avoid the fallout of his displeasure, I am instructing you to intercept all calls from him until further notice.
As always, I am relying on your complete discretion in this matter.
Emerald Larson
From the desk of Emerald Larson, owner and CEO of Emerald, Inc.
To: My personal assistant, Luther Freemont
Re: My grandson Nick Daniels
My grandson, Nick, will be leaving at the end of the week to take over running the Sugar Creek Cattle Company in Wyoming. Please be advised that he wonât be particularly happy when he discovers that his ranch foreman is the woman he was to have married thirteen years ago. To ensure the success of my plan and to avoid the fallout of his displeasure, I am instructing you to intercept all calls from him until further notice.
As always I am relying on your complete discretion in this matter.
Emerald Larson
âDrop that roll of wire and back away from your truck.â
Nick Daniels took a deep breath and tried to ignore the jolt of awareness that shot from the top of his head all the way to his feet. It had been thirteen long years since heâd heard that soft, feminine voice. But if he lived to be a hundred, he knew heâd recognize it anywhere, anytime. The melodic sound had haunted his dreams and left his body aching with unfathomable need too many nights for him to ever forget.
âI told you to put that down and step away from the truck.â
At the sound of a shotgun being pumped, Nick slowly lowered the coil of barbed wire to the tailgate of his new truck and raised his gloved hands to show he was complying with her command. Then, turning to face the reason heâd left Wyoming one step ahead of the law, he smiled sardonically. âItâs been a long time, Cheyenne.â
The widening of her eyes and the slight wavering of the double-barrel shotgun she pointed at him were the only indications that she was the least bit surprised to see him after all this time. âI donât know what you think youâre doing out here, Nick Daniels, but Iâd advise you to get in your truck and go back to wherever you came from. Otherwise, Iâll call the law.â
He took a deep breath as he stared at her. Damned if she wasnât more beautiful now than sheâd been at sixteen. Her long brown hair, streaked with golden highlights, complemented the healthy glow of her sun-kissed skin and her aqua-green eyes to perfection.
His gaze drifted lower. Her pink tank top caressed her torso, fascinating the hell out of him and giving him more than a fair idea about the size and shape of her breasts. He swallowed hard as his gaze drifted even lower. Sheâd always been a knockout in a pair of jeans, but the well-worn denim hugged her hips and thighs like a second skin and emphasized how long and shapely her legs were.
He diverted his gaze back to the gun in her hands. Heâd do well to forget how good she looked after all this time and concentrate on the fact that she was ready to blow his ass to kingdom come.
âGo ahead and call the sheriff. Last time I heard, it wasnât against the law for a man to mend a fence on his own property.â
âItâs not your land. It belongs to the Sugar Creek Cattle Company. And youâre trespassing.â
He shook his head as he took a step toward her. âNo, Iâm not.â
âI swear Iâll shoot you if you donât stop right there, Nick.â
âThat wouldnât be very neighborly of you, sweetheart.â
âDonât call me that.â She released the safety on the shotgun when he moved forward.
From the sharp edge heâd heard in her voice, he knew heâd hit a nerve. He inched a little closer. âYou used to like when I called you sweetheart.â
She shook her head. âThatâs past history. Now, get in your truck and disappear like you did thirteen years ago.â