Read Online Burned by a Kiss by Tina Leonard - Free Book Online Page A

veggies on the side. The waitress left, and Nick lifted his bottle. “Thanks, guys.”
    “Stop being so nice,” Sierra snapped. “You got our ranch, you don’t need to rub salt in the wound by showing us what a prince you are.”
    Emma’s mouth fell open as she stared at Sierra. Nick looked startled, and Santana shook his head.
    “Sierra, Nick had nothing to do with the agreement our fathers brokered. I can work for him and help him make a success of things, or he’ll put the ranch on the market and it will be sold, as per the trust, which was an irrevocable trust, remember?” He looked at his sister, unwilling to hurt her, but knowing he had to make her understand. “Very likely Mr. Marshall made his brother agree to an irrevocable trust because he didn’t want to leave open the possibility that he might predecease Dad, and Dad might change the will in our favor. Given that Dad had shown that he was capable of making disastrous financial decisions, it was a wise business decision to make it irrevocable. If I don’t help Nick, and he can’t make it work or decides to sell, some developer is going to come along and pour concrete over our ranch, and change Star Canyon forever. Not to mention, I’m pretty happy to have employment for however long, doing what I know how to do best. What I love doing most of all.”
    Sierra waited as the waitress set down their plates.
    “Everything look all right?” she asked. “I can take your burgers back if they’re not how you like them.”
    “Mine’s fine,” Nick said with a smile Santana thought seemed very genuine for a man who wasn’t used to greasy spoons and roadside cafes.
    They all nodded, and when the waitress left, Sierra looked at Nick. “I don’t understand why you’d want to live at our ranch. You’re not a working ranch kind of man.”
    He shrugged, unbothered as he picked up his burger. “I need to do it. And since your brother’s going to help me out, maybe you’d be interested in working at the ranch, too.”
    Emma’s gaze met Santana’s over the open warfare that had been declared at the table. “I’m opening a bridal store, if you most know,” Sierra announced.
    Nick raised a brow. “How many weddings are there a year in Star Canyon? Based on the town rolls of five hundred people, give or take a dozen depending on the weather and when someone’s decided to look for greener pastures, I’d put the number at less than ten.”
    Sierra leaned back, her gaze cool. “So you’ve checked out our historic little town.”
    “A good businessman looks into what he’s investing in.”
    “So we’re an investment,” Sierra said, and Emma put down her burger.
    “Sierra, aren’t you hungry?” Emma asked.
    “Why did you decide to take over the ranch?” Sierra asked.
    “Maybe I’m looking for peace and quiet.”
    Sierra looked outraged, Santana noted, and outrage on his sister was a bad thing. “Sierra,” Santana began, but she sprang to her feet.
    “I don’t know why I agreed to break bread with the enemy. And you are the enemy,” she told Nick. “I came to dinner to protect my brother from your sneaky, opportunistic ways, because Santana has a good heart. He doesn’t want to believe that you’re conniving. But your father was, and I think you are, too.” She looked at Santana. “I can’t protect you if you decide to jump right into the lion’s jaws. But I’d look before you leap. I’m catching a ride back to Star Canyon.” She grabbed her purse and looked at Emma. “Sorry, Emma.”
    “It’s fine.” Emma snatched her purse up and followed Emma to the door, saying, “Thanks for dinner, Nick,” over her shoulder as she hurried after his sister.
    Santana stared after the two women as they departed.
    “I should offer them a ride home,” Nick said. He dug around in his pocket for his wallet. Patted his trousers for his keys.
    “Don’t worry,” Santana said with a sigh, as he realized what had happened. “Sierra is driving