He closed the door firmly and went to the house to make sure it was secured. As he walked back to the car, he tried to tell himself he’d resisted Lynn because she was Matt’s sister. Tried to tell himself it was because she was in trouble and needed his help. But deep inside he knew the real reason—she saw too much of who he really was.
Three
Lynn held her breath until Seth drove off of her property, leaving behind the visual reminder of her mistake. She’d trusted her heart to a smooth-talking man from New York City who’d promised to give her the world and share her life. And then convinced her to mortgage the ranch and put the money into a short-term, high-yield fund.
The only thing Ronnie had forgotten to mention was that he’d be the only one getting rich from her money. He disappeared with her cash exactly eighteen months ago.
Seth pulled the Jag to a stop on the shoulder of the road. Her first thought was they’d run out of gas. But she soon realized that Seth had given in only to get his own way.
“We’re not going any farther until you tell me what’s going on.”
Tears burned the back of her eyes. He’d driven far enough that she couldn’t walk back to the ranch and still make her appointment at the bank. Time was running out. She heard the beating of the countdown clock in her mind and she could scarcely breathe as she stared at the long, empty road ahead of her.
She felt cornered and betrayed by someone who’d lulled her into feeling safe. The sensation was much the same as the one she’d experienced when she’d realized Ronnie was never coming back. She knew of only one way out of this situation. Actually, two—fighting or telling the truth.
Seth Connelly might wear the trappings of civilization, might have spent the last twenty years with a silver spoon in his mouth, but underneath the exterior beat the heart of a street warrior who’d seen the seamier side of life. She knew he’d come from the mean streets of one of Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods before his mom left him with the Connellys.
Military school had honed that rebellious boy into a controlled man who knew how to manipulate circumstances for his own good. And though she knew in her heart that he wasn’t acting out of malice, her pride chafed at having been fooled once again by a man.
Truth was really the only option she had left. But she had to ensure some provisos before telling him anything. Matt mustn’t be put into jeopardy because she’d listened to her heart instead of her head.
“I want you to promise me you won’t call Matt or interfere.”
Rubbing his jaw, Seth shook his head. “I can’t make any promises until I hear the circumstances.” For the first time, she understood how different their personalities were.
She would have agreed to the stipulation without thinking the entire situation through. But Seth was cautious. Maybe he could offer her some other ideas than the one she’d come up with—selling off part of her ranch.
She took a deep breath and looked out the window at the barren landscape. Montana was preparing for winter. The deep freeze within which she’d surrounded herself began to thaw just a little as she talked about the situation for the first time with someone other than a loan officer.
“The ranch is being foreclosed on in nine days.”
Resting one arm behind her on the seat and the other on the dash, he leaned toward Lynn. She felt his presence everywhere; it was totally nonthreatening, yet at the same time arousing. He smelled crisp and clean with a faint spicy aroma. He moved the hand to her shoulder, urging her to look at him.
He’s your brother’s best friend, she reminded herself.
She met his gaze. It was hot and heavy, filled with questions and something more. Her skin tingled, and she forgot that he’d maneuvered her to this place where she was acting on his will. Forgot that he was her brother’s friend and he’d owe his loyalty to Matt. Forgot that the last time she’d thrown caution to the wind for a man she’d ended up in this situation.
Snap out of it, girl. She leaned away from him, pressing her back against the cold glass of the window. Everything would be easier if he wasn’t attracted to her. When she mixed with men, things ended in disaster.
“How did that happen?” he asked, his tone so matter-of-fact that she thought he might be a researcher following clues to a new discovery.
I don’t know, she thought. You come close to me, and my mind shuts down. Then she realized he’d meant the foreclosure.
“There was this guy, Ronnie. He gave a seminar on investing and I took his advice. The deal went south, and I was left with a mortgaged ranch.”
“Things are never that simple. I need more details.”
No way, she thought. She wasn’t going to tell Seth Connelly that she’d fallen for blue eyes, blond hair and an all-American smile. That she’d mortgaged her property so that Ronnie would stay with her instead of moving on to Los Angeles and the promise of bigger investors. That she’d given her soul to a man without one.
“You mortgaged the land to get the capital to invest?”
She nodded.
“Where did he invest your money?”
“Supposedly on Wall Street.”
“Supposedly?”
“It seems I fell victim to a con man.”
He cursed.
“I know it sounds unbelievable but it didn’t at the time.”
“It never does. What have you told Matt?”
“Nothing. His job is very risky. I don’t want him thinking about me and the ranch instead of his assignment. I can’t bury another member of my family, Seth.”
“I know,” he said, caressing her jaw.
Silence fell and they both stared at each other.
“What’s the plan?” Seth asked.
“I’ve been working double shifts at the diner and have been boarding horses for the folks who live in town. I’ve got about five thousand I can give the bank today. I’m hoping that will be enough to buy me some time.”
“What are you going to do with the time?”
“Find a buyer for the outer land. I hate to give up even an acre of the property, but I can’t lose the house.”
The thought of anyone other than the McCoys owning the land seemed like sacrilege to him. But at the same time her dilemma was his way out of what he owed her family. It was ironic that he’d visited the ranch as a boy with no money and he’d returned a wealthy man. The solution seemed obvious to Seth.
“I’ll pay off your loan and you can pay me back.”
She smiled at him, and it was the saddest expression he’d ever seen. If he’d had a heart, he thought it would have broken. Her deep violet eyes were wide and watery as she tried to keep from crying.
“Seth, that’s so sweet. But I…no.”
Lynn shouldn’t look like this, he thought. She should be riding her horse across the same land she’d ridden as a child. Never should anyone else own an acre of land that had been the McCoys since pioneers had first settled in the West.
“Lynn, be reasonable.” If she took the money, he could leave and not be tormented by images of the two of them making love in her bed. Or, he thought, leaning closer to her in the front of his car, if he put the seat back, she’d fit nicely in his lap.
She’s your best friend’s little sister, he reminded himself. But his body didn’t care about that.
“Reason has nothing to do with this. I can’t take your money. If Matt were here, he’d