Read Online Different Dreams by Tory Cates - Free Book Online

“You’ve given me a fair chance to save them. You didn’t have to do that.”
    Before Cam could respond, Malou’s phone rang. It was Charlotte Dunsmore returning her call. Malou was surprised to find herself addressing the founder and director of the Dunsmore Foundation, which was dedicated to saving and studying primates.
    â€œYes, yes, Albert has told me all about your monkey ranch down there,” the woman, who sounded to be a very jaunty seventy, interrupted when Malou started in on her set explanation of exactly what Los Monos was. It took her a second to realize that “Albert” was Professor Everitt. “Now, what’s the current difficulty?”
    Malou outlined the problem.
    â€œSounds serious,” Mrs. Dunsmore said.
    Malou waited for Mrs. Dunsmore to tell her to submit her application in triplicate and she would give it “every consideration.” Instead, the older woman asked, “Would five thousand help out?”
    Malou felt her mouth working, but no words were coming out.
    â€œWe aren’t a large foundation, you realize,” Mrs. Dunsmore continued, a slight annoyance at Malou’s silence prickling her voice. “All we’d be able to do is help tide you over this emergency; then you’d have to find permanent support elsewhere.”
    â€œOh, five thousand would be fantastic!” Malou was finally able to force the words out.
    â€œFine, I’ll put a check in the mail today and we can look after the paperwork when it’s convenient. You’ll have to excuse me now. Polly just wheeled in the tea tray.”
    In the middle of Malou’s effusive thanks, the line went dead.
    â€œWe got five thousand dollars!” she whooped.
    Cam cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “Bravo. You’ve saved a bit more than three monkeys.”
    Startled by his cool response, Malou’s exuberance sagged.
    Cam put down the forty-page contract he was reviewing. “You still don’t understand, do you? We have to have more than just enough to pay the water and feed bills for a few months. We need steady, long-term income to cover taxes, lost revenues, and, more than that, I need a great big lump of cold, hard cash to plunk down on my banker’s desk in three weeks’ time. All of which means that you’ll have to find a foundation interested in purchasing not only the monkeys, but also the land along with them. Because I’ll guarantee you this: I can most certainly sell that land without the monkeys on it.”
    â€œForgive my naiveté,” Malou said, her flashing temper frozen into her icy tone. “My childish enthusiasm over such a pittance must be a sore trial to you.”
    â€œDon’t be snippy,” he commanded. “You need to know what the facts are if we’re going to work together. You keep trying to make me into some kind of ogre out to crush you and your little monkey farm. That’s not who I am, Malou, or how I operate. My idea of winning is when both sides get what they want. No losers, no tears. It’s not in my power to give you what you want unless I forfeit everything I’ve worked for all my life, so you’ll have to work for it. Your five thousand is an encouraging sign. When you multiply it a few hundred times, we can start thinking about breaking out the champagne. Until then, if you plan on holding up your half of this joint venture, you’d better graft that phone onto your ear.”
    Malou turned away, smoldering. Furious at Mr. Cameron Landell and even madder at herself because he was, once again, right. Undeniably, insufferably right.

C hapter 4
    M alou turned back to the phone. So intent was she, that she didn’t notice when the canyon wrens fell abruptly silent or when the temperature began to plummet or when sullen gray clouds began to shroud the sun. Had she been paying attention to anything other than a series of disembodied voices, she surely would