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Authors: Austina Love
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“Did you
think you could waltz into my office, bat those pretty eyes, pout
your sexy lips and sweet talk me out of the land?”
“Wh-what?” She backed against the wall.
“You underestimated me, darling,” he snarled.
“I’m nobody’s fool. I heard all about Trip Viper sweeping in to
make a daring rescue of his sweet little Indian girlfriend.”
Her thoughts scrambled. How could he know?
He wasn’t there. She realized Trip had been right and that Gage
must be deeper involved than she presumed.
“So just because I’ve been seeing another
man, you’re turning on me?”
A deep shade of red flooded his face. Rage
blazed in his eyes as he towered over her. “I waited twenty long
years for you to complete your career and return home to become my
wife. And what did I get? Nothing! Not a damn thing! Now you expect
me to hand over a priceless estate without any sacrifice on your
part?”
“Trip was right about
you!” she spat, even in sudden fear. “I tried all this time to give
you the benefit of the doubt and told him that you’d never harm me.
That Carter must’ve forced you into his dirty game. Now I see you
are not the man I knew years ago. I don’t know who you are
now!”
With both hands braced on the wall behind
her, he lowered his head until their lips were dangerously close.
“I’m the man who owns the land you want.”
She swallowed against the dryness of her
throat, glaring up at him. “You? You tricked my parents into
selling our farm?”
“No…” he replied with an insolent grin.
“Carter did the dirty dealing. I merely steered your gullible folks
in the right direction. After all, you weren’t here to protect them
and we did need the space for our growing business. Then you came
home and started breathing down his neck so he sold the place to
me.”
Her body seethed with fury. “You won’t get
away with this,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“I already have and there’s only one way
you’ll be able to move your dear sweet Indian parents back onto
their farm before they die.”
“Just what is it that you expect me to do?” A
flurry of terrifying thoughts whipped through her mind.
He brushed his lips over hers and she
cringed.
“Marry me.”
“You’re insane…” Her stomach churned. “I
won’t be part of your corruption.”
“Sacrifices are made all the time, dear Shye.
You of all people should know. After all, isn’t that what your people practice?”
“You are so misguided it’s pathetic. You know
nothing of my people except fool’s tales. Our culture is rich and
pure. We don’t defile the land or lie and cheat.” With an indignant
lift of her chin, she stared back at him without flinching. “You
will never break me.”
“We shall see,” he said with a sneer. “You go
now, back to your rebel boyfriend and consider what I can offer you
compared to what he has. As my wife, your precious land will be
half yours.” He cupped her chin with a firm hand. “Since I’m in a
generous mood, I will give you one week…that’s seven moons in your
language,” he added with a mocking laugh. “Come to me when you’ve
made your decision.”
“And if I don’t?”
His hold on her face tightened and he gritted
his teeth. “Then I will come for you.”
She walked to Trip’s bike with a heavy heart
and feet that felt frozen to the ground. Each step seemed difficult
to take. Sliding onto the passenger seat, she sat numb from
betrayal and waited for Trip. He’d obviously been watching for her
as he appeared at her side without making a sound.
“You look badly shaken.” His voice was soft
and soothing as he wrapped protective arms around her. “What
happened?”
Sliding her arms around his waist, she clung
to him with her cheek pressed against his chest and eased off the
bike into his embrace. “You were right about Gage.” Her voice
sounded flat and removed.
“So he is working with Pike. I’m sorry
your friend let you down.”
“Not only
think you could waltz into my office, bat those pretty eyes, pout
your sexy lips and sweet talk me out of the land?”
“Wh-what?” She backed against the wall.
“You underestimated me, darling,” he snarled.
“I’m nobody’s fool. I heard all about Trip Viper sweeping in to
make a daring rescue of his sweet little Indian girlfriend.”
Her thoughts scrambled. How could he know?
He wasn’t there. She realized Trip had been right and that Gage
must be deeper involved than she presumed.
“So just because I’ve been seeing another
man, you’re turning on me?”
A deep shade of red flooded his face. Rage
blazed in his eyes as he towered over her. “I waited twenty long
years for you to complete your career and return home to become my
wife. And what did I get? Nothing! Not a damn thing! Now you expect
me to hand over a priceless estate without any sacrifice on your
part?”
“Trip was right about
you!” she spat, even in sudden fear. “I tried all this time to give
you the benefit of the doubt and told him that you’d never harm me.
That Carter must’ve forced you into his dirty game. Now I see you
are not the man I knew years ago. I don’t know who you are
now!”
With both hands braced on the wall behind
her, he lowered his head until their lips were dangerously close.
“I’m the man who owns the land you want.”
She swallowed against the dryness of her
throat, glaring up at him. “You? You tricked my parents into
selling our farm?”
“No…” he replied with an insolent grin.
“Carter did the dirty dealing. I merely steered your gullible folks
in the right direction. After all, you weren’t here to protect them
and we did need the space for our growing business. Then you came
home and started breathing down his neck so he sold the place to
me.”
Her body seethed with fury. “You won’t get
away with this,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“I already have and there’s only one way
you’ll be able to move your dear sweet Indian parents back onto
their farm before they die.”
“Just what is it that you expect me to do?” A
flurry of terrifying thoughts whipped through her mind.
He brushed his lips over hers and she
cringed.
“Marry me.”
“You’re insane…” Her stomach churned. “I
won’t be part of your corruption.”
“Sacrifices are made all the time, dear Shye.
You of all people should know. After all, isn’t that what your people practice?”
“You are so misguided it’s pathetic. You know
nothing of my people except fool’s tales. Our culture is rich and
pure. We don’t defile the land or lie and cheat.” With an indignant
lift of her chin, she stared back at him without flinching. “You
will never break me.”
“We shall see,” he said with a sneer. “You go
now, back to your rebel boyfriend and consider what I can offer you
compared to what he has. As my wife, your precious land will be
half yours.” He cupped her chin with a firm hand. “Since I’m in a
generous mood, I will give you one week…that’s seven moons in your
language,” he added with a mocking laugh. “Come to me when you’ve
made your decision.”
“And if I don’t?”
His hold on her face tightened and he gritted
his teeth. “Then I will come for you.”
She walked to Trip’s bike with a heavy heart
and feet that felt frozen to the ground. Each step seemed difficult
to take. Sliding onto the passenger seat, she sat numb from
betrayal and waited for Trip. He’d obviously been watching for her
as he appeared at her side without making a sound.
“You look badly shaken.” His voice was soft
and soothing as he wrapped protective arms around her. “What
happened?”
Sliding her arms around his waist, she clung
to him with her cheek pressed against his chest and eased off the
bike into his embrace. “You were right about Gage.” Her voice
sounded flat and removed.
“So he is working with Pike. I’m sorry
your friend let you down.”
“Not only
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