don’t really want to talk to you. I just want to find out what’s going on.” Alex seemed to be at her breaking point as her hands dug into the plush arms on the chair. “What about the will?” She enunciated each word and her stare nearly burned a hole in Connor’s face.
“Daniel, please go outside now.” Connor didn’t want the kid exposed to too much of his sister’s anger, justified or not.
“Aw, but Connor . . .”
“It’s getting time for the guests to pick their saddles. I’m sure Julio can use your help.” It was the right thing to say. With a whoop of delight, Daniel scrambled out the door, leaving the tension in the room behind him.
“No more bullshit, Mr. Matthews. I think I’ve been more than patient here.” Alex completely ignored Claire, who was standing beside the desk. “Or tell me where this attorney is and I’ll find out on my own.”
Connor didn’t want the first meeting between the women to be such a mess, but it was too late to stop it. He found himself wanting to throw Alex over his knees and spank her until she stopped behaving as if the world owed her something. She’d been through a hell of a lot that morning, but still, he prided himself on his iron control and she couldn’t be testing it more.
“I told you he’s out of town until later this week. I can set up a meeting when he returns, but for now I can fill you in on the gist of it. Michael can give you the particulars. The will has split the ranch and its property in equal proportions for his two children, you and Daniel. Claire gets a monthly stipend for the rest of her life. I am head of operations and receive a salary just like anyone else at the ranch, but I have control over the business.” Connor heard the steel in his own tone.
Alex watched his face carefully, her blue eyes like chips of ice. “I think you need to contact that attorney so I can see this will. Not that I don’t believe you, but understand that I have never even seen you before and I’ve learned to trust no one.” Her gaze moved to Claire’s. “You, however—I remember very well when you showed up here hanging on my father’s arm before my mother’s body was even cold. I hope you enjoyed her funeral.”
Claire’s cheeks flushed and Connor realized angry Alex was telling the truth. He’d had no idea Grant would have brought his new wife to his first wife’s funeral. It seemed out of character for the man he’d looked up to.
“I, uh, didn’t know your mother had passed away. I tried to offer my condolences but—”
Alex cut her off with a wave of her hand. “It was ten years ago and your apologies don’t really mean much now. I was a scared, grieving sixteen-year-old girl and you appeared with my runaway father. Forgive me for not accepting you at your word. As I just said, I don’t trust anyone, least of all you.”
Connor imagined Alex as a teenager, angry and full of sadness over her mother’s death. He wondered why Grant had left them and if her anger was misplaced. Perhaps Grant had had a very good reason, or perhaps his timing was just a coincidence.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to review the books as soon as possible. I have a laptop, so if I can get access to the network, I’ll use it to open whatever program you use for accounting purposes. Also I’d like the name of the attorney and his number so I can verify he’s out of town.” Alex rose and Connor couldn’t have been more surprised to see her entire body trembling. She was iron on the outside, but obviously not on the inside. He wanted to comfort her, even if she’d been a bitch to Claire and Daniel.
“Where are you staying? I can get all the information to you.”
Alex’s smile didn’t even come close to her eyes. “I’m staying here, so you either find me a room or I’ll pick one. When you have the information I need, find me.”
With that, Alex left the room, leaving disaster in her wake as if she’d been a tiny brown-haired
“Daniel, please go outside now.” Connor didn’t want the kid exposed to too much of his sister’s anger, justified or not.
“Aw, but Connor . . .”
“It’s getting time for the guests to pick their saddles. I’m sure Julio can use your help.” It was the right thing to say. With a whoop of delight, Daniel scrambled out the door, leaving the tension in the room behind him.
“No more bullshit, Mr. Matthews. I think I’ve been more than patient here.” Alex completely ignored Claire, who was standing beside the desk. “Or tell me where this attorney is and I’ll find out on my own.”
Connor didn’t want the first meeting between the women to be such a mess, but it was too late to stop it. He found himself wanting to throw Alex over his knees and spank her until she stopped behaving as if the world owed her something. She’d been through a hell of a lot that morning, but still, he prided himself on his iron control and she couldn’t be testing it more.
“I told you he’s out of town until later this week. I can set up a meeting when he returns, but for now I can fill you in on the gist of it. Michael can give you the particulars. The will has split the ranch and its property in equal proportions for his two children, you and Daniel. Claire gets a monthly stipend for the rest of her life. I am head of operations and receive a salary just like anyone else at the ranch, but I have control over the business.” Connor heard the steel in his own tone.
Alex watched his face carefully, her blue eyes like chips of ice. “I think you need to contact that attorney so I can see this will. Not that I don’t believe you, but understand that I have never even seen you before and I’ve learned to trust no one.” Her gaze moved to Claire’s. “You, however—I remember very well when you showed up here hanging on my father’s arm before my mother’s body was even cold. I hope you enjoyed her funeral.”
Claire’s cheeks flushed and Connor realized angry Alex was telling the truth. He’d had no idea Grant would have brought his new wife to his first wife’s funeral. It seemed out of character for the man he’d looked up to.
“I, uh, didn’t know your mother had passed away. I tried to offer my condolences but—”
Alex cut her off with a wave of her hand. “It was ten years ago and your apologies don’t really mean much now. I was a scared, grieving sixteen-year-old girl and you appeared with my runaway father. Forgive me for not accepting you at your word. As I just said, I don’t trust anyone, least of all you.”
Connor imagined Alex as a teenager, angry and full of sadness over her mother’s death. He wondered why Grant had left them and if her anger was misplaced. Perhaps Grant had had a very good reason, or perhaps his timing was just a coincidence.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to review the books as soon as possible. I have a laptop, so if I can get access to the network, I’ll use it to open whatever program you use for accounting purposes. Also I’d like the name of the attorney and his number so I can verify he’s out of town.” Alex rose and Connor couldn’t have been more surprised to see her entire body trembling. She was iron on the outside, but obviously not on the inside. He wanted to comfort her, even if she’d been a bitch to Claire and Daniel.
“Where are you staying? I can get all the information to you.”
Alex’s smile didn’t even come close to her eyes. “I’m staying here, so you either find me a room or I’ll pick one. When you have the information I need, find me.”
With that, Alex left the room, leaving disaster in her wake as if she’d been a tiny brown-haired
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