“Then relocating you all is the only answer.” He stood. “Because in a few months, I’ll be tearing the place down.”
The group gasped, but Mia Saunders still looked calm and controlled as she said, “I don’t think so, Mr. McKane.”
Jarrett was surprised by her assertiveness. He wasn’t used to that, especially not from a woman. No that wasn’t true, his sister-in-law, Kira, gave him “what for” all the time.
Ms. Saunders held up another piece of paper. “We all have leases giving us six months to relocate. When you bought the building, your lawyer should have told you about it. Unless you didn’t use an attorney.”
Dammit, he didn’t have an answer to that.
“And you still have to honor our leases.”
He shook his head. “Can’t do it. I want to start demolition by the first of the new year. And I’m sure the town council will go along with me since this is the site for a new computer-chip plant. It’s estimated to bring over a hundred jobs to this town.” He saw the panicked looks on the tenant’s faces and added, “And I’ll help anyone who wants to be relocated, but I can’t let you stay here for six months.” Finished, he headed toward the door.
“You might not have a choice,” Mia called to him.
He turned around, perversely enjoying the exchange. He liked the fire in her pretty eyes, the set of her jaw. He wondered if he could find a way to sway her loyalty. A little dinner and maybe some romancing might help his cause. “I don’t think you can win this fight, Ms. Saunders. But I’m willing to discuss it with you, another time.”
She rose from her chair and that was when he noticed her rounded belly. Pregnant? Damn, she’s pregnant.
Mia Saunders seemed to enjoy the surprise. “You can count on it, when we see you in court.”
Thirty minutes later, Jarrett was still thinking about the attractive Mia Saunders as he drove his Range Rover down the highway. He shook his head. What the hell was he doing fantasizing about a pregnant woman? A woman carrying another man’s baby.
He turned off onto the road leading toward the McKane ranch. After selling off his part of the family cattle ranch, he hadn’t called in here much to start with. He and his half brother, Trace, hadn’t gotten along while they were growing up, but the past few years that had slowly begun to change. Maybe he was getting soft. Of course, his brother’s wife, Kira, had a lot to do with it.
Now, he was an uncle and he was crazy about his niece, Jenna. She could ask him to walk over hot coals, and he’d do it, smiling. At three years old, the toddler had his number.
He parked around the back of the house. They hadn’t always been a happy family: he recalled just a while back when Trace and Kira were barely surviving a crumbling marriage. Kira’s problems getting pregnant had put a strain on them that had nearly ended their five-year relationship. Then a miracle had happened, and now they had Jenna.
Climbing the back steps to the century-old ranch house, Jarrett’s attention turned to another pregnant woman, Mia Saunders. It was true what they said about expectant mothers, they did have a glow about them. And unless he had been mistaken, she’d directed that rosy glow toward him.
He knocked on the door and walked in. “Everyone decent?” He peered into the kitchen, knowing he’d be welcome. That hadn’t always been true. There was a time he’d tried everything to one-up his younger brother. In their youth, he had wanted nothing to do with the ranch, or with the half brother who’d gotten all the attention. So, after their father died, Jarrett had accepted his share in dollars.
It had taken them years to work out their differences. And with the help of Kira and a sweet little girl named Jenna they’d worked through a lot of their problems, mainly just trying to be brothers.
Kira stood at the stove. “We have a three-year-old. There isn’t any time to get indecent.” His sister-in-law smiled as she came to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Jarrett. It’s good to see you.”
“Hi, sis,” he said, returning the hug. He’d used to have trouble with her being so demonstrative, but she said they were family, and that was how family acted.
Jarrett heard a squeal and little Jenna came charging into the room.
“Unca Jay. Unca Jay,” the girl called.
Jarrett caught her up in his arms, swung her around, kissing her cheeks and blowing raspberries. “How’s my Jenna girl today?”
The child’s tiny mouth formed a pout. “Mommy put me in time-out. I was sad.”
Kira arrived on the scene, brushing back her long blond hair. “Tell Uncle Jarrett what you did.”
“I got into Mommy’s makeup.”
Suddenly, Jarrett could see the faint remnants of lipstick on her mouth. “Uh-oh.”
“I just want to be pretty, like Mommy.” She turned those big brown eyes on him. “Are you mad at me, too?”
“Never.” He kissed her. “But you’re already pretty, you don’t need makeup.” He glanced at Kira. “But remember you don’t like anyone getting into your stuff, so you shouldn’t get into other people’s things.”
“’Kay.” She looked at her mom. “Can I play now? I promise to be good.”
Kira nodded, and they watched the child run out of the room. She turned to Jarrett. “Thanks for backing me up.”
He nodded. “I don’t know how you ever punish her. It would tear me up.”
“It part of being a parent.”
“That’s a job I don’t want.”
Kira smiled. “You just haven’t found the right woman.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’ve found a lot of women and I like it that way. There’s safety in numbers.” He winked at her. “Among other things.”
She shook her head. “Like I said, you haven’t found the right woman.”
“But I found mine.”
They both looked toward the door to see Trace. His brother went straight to his wife and kissed her. Jarrett hated the envy that engulfed him. To his surprise, his thoughts turned to Mia Saunders again. Well, damn.
“Hi, bro,” Jarrett greeted him. “How’s the cattle business?”
“If you came out here more, you’d know for yourself.”
“If I came out here more, you’d put me to work. You know how I feel about ranching. I’m doing just fine the way things are.”
“I take it you’re still trying to get by on your looks and your wit. So what brings you out here?”
Jarrett shrugged. “Do I need a reason?”
Trace hugged his wife close. “Of course not. Stay for supper.”
Jarrett smiled. “Don’t mind if I do.” Whatever had happened during their childhood didn’t seem to mean much anymore. It had taken years, but Jarrett had finally realized that Trace wasn’t competing with him. After they’d found natural gas on McKane land a few years ago, they’d worked together and ensured a prosperous future for them all.
They also found they could be friends.
Kira went to check on Jenna while Trace poured two mugs of coffee. He handed one to Jarrett and the brothers sat down at the large farm kitchen table.
“So, I hear you bought the old apartment buildings on Maple.”
Jarrett frowned. He’d been trying to keep the project quiet. “Where did you hear that?”
“It’s a small town. There aren’t many secrets.”
Kira