who knew Gage holding a kitten could be so incredibly sexy? What was it about guys holding small puppies and kittens that sent girls into a puddle of hormones? Even if the guys holding them were jerks.
She watched as he kept scratching Oil Slick behind her ears. He might have taken the cat under sufferance, but it seemed he was smitten by the little creature as much as Oil Slick was smitten with Gage. And why wouldn’t Oil Slick be happy? Being held in Gage’s arms last night had felt wonderful. Something Charlotte could easily get used to.
She gave herself a mental shake. “Why are you here?”
He shifted uncomfortably and she went on high alert. What was he up to? Well, whatever it was, he was about to get a rude shock when she told him she couldn’t sell to him. And now that she’d seen the property, she didn’t want to sell it. She knew that wasn’t going to go down very well with him.
He made a production of putting the cat back on the ground.
“You know how I mentioned previously I have older brothers,” she said casually.
Gage looked up. “Yeah.”
“Well, I’ve observed them lie to my parents. Each one has a different tell. I know you’re up to something. There’s no point trying to lie your way out of it. Just come out and tell me what you’re doing here.”
He huffed out a breath. “Fine. I came here to walk the perimeter again.”
“Again? That would suggest you’ve been here before. Are we talking years ago, or are we talking days ago?”
She wouldn’t have obtained the high levels in her career if she hadn’t been astute and listened carefully to what people around her said. As a woman in a male-oriented industry, she’d learned some men thought she was more eye candy than anything of intellectual use. She’d proven on more than one occasion she wasn’t one to be messed with. And with their past dealings, she would’ve thought Gage would’ve realized that.
“I was here yesterday. I mean, soon it’s going to be my land, so I figured I’d get a head start and see what I needed to do to the property. House looks like it’s in pretty good shape, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does. But with regards to the sale of the land…”
Gage’s back stiffened and his head whipped around from his observation of the roof to look at her. All signs indicated he was on high alert, like she’d been a few minutes ago.
“What about the sale?” he asked warily.
She knew Gage’s demeanor was about to change. She spied the cat; maybe she should suggest he pick it up.
“I spoke to Mr. Rodgers, your father’s lawyer. The one who drew up the will.”
“I know who Rodney Rodgers is. He’s been around the family for years.”
“Well, it seems your father put a stipulation into the will.” She paused.
“Oh, for frig’s sake, Charlotte, just spit it out. This isn’t a soap opera. You don’t have to stop for intense pauses and pathetic eyebrow raises to get across that something bad is about to happen. All we need is for dramatic music to start playing and the scene will be complete.”
“I’m not trying to be melodramatic. But I know how much you wanted this land, and, well, I can’t sell it for a year. Your dad put in a twelve-month no sale clause. I couldn’t sell it to you even if I wanted to.” She looked back over to the house. “And I don’t think I want to now.”
“What? You cannot be serious,” he yelled while Oil Slick jumped and meowed in annoyance. She couldn’t believe her eyes—that tiny cat had the power to make him bend down and scoop her up and murmur softly to her.
“I’m sorry, but I am serious. I don’t think I want to sell after all.”
Still holding the cat, he looked at her, his eyes cold with anger and disappointment. “Why would you hold land when Texas isn’t even your home?”
“How do you know it’s not my home?”
“Oh, come on, you’re Australian. You’re probably here on a work visa and work contract. All those things
She watched as he kept scratching Oil Slick behind her ears. He might have taken the cat under sufferance, but it seemed he was smitten by the little creature as much as Oil Slick was smitten with Gage. And why wouldn’t Oil Slick be happy? Being held in Gage’s arms last night had felt wonderful. Something Charlotte could easily get used to.
She gave herself a mental shake. “Why are you here?”
He shifted uncomfortably and she went on high alert. What was he up to? Well, whatever it was, he was about to get a rude shock when she told him she couldn’t sell to him. And now that she’d seen the property, she didn’t want to sell it. She knew that wasn’t going to go down very well with him.
He made a production of putting the cat back on the ground.
“You know how I mentioned previously I have older brothers,” she said casually.
Gage looked up. “Yeah.”
“Well, I’ve observed them lie to my parents. Each one has a different tell. I know you’re up to something. There’s no point trying to lie your way out of it. Just come out and tell me what you’re doing here.”
He huffed out a breath. “Fine. I came here to walk the perimeter again.”
“Again? That would suggest you’ve been here before. Are we talking years ago, or are we talking days ago?”
She wouldn’t have obtained the high levels in her career if she hadn’t been astute and listened carefully to what people around her said. As a woman in a male-oriented industry, she’d learned some men thought she was more eye candy than anything of intellectual use. She’d proven on more than one occasion she wasn’t one to be messed with. And with their past dealings, she would’ve thought Gage would’ve realized that.
“I was here yesterday. I mean, soon it’s going to be my land, so I figured I’d get a head start and see what I needed to do to the property. House looks like it’s in pretty good shape, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does. But with regards to the sale of the land…”
Gage’s back stiffened and his head whipped around from his observation of the roof to look at her. All signs indicated he was on high alert, like she’d been a few minutes ago.
“What about the sale?” he asked warily.
She knew Gage’s demeanor was about to change. She spied the cat; maybe she should suggest he pick it up.
“I spoke to Mr. Rodgers, your father’s lawyer. The one who drew up the will.”
“I know who Rodney Rodgers is. He’s been around the family for years.”
“Well, it seems your father put a stipulation into the will.” She paused.
“Oh, for frig’s sake, Charlotte, just spit it out. This isn’t a soap opera. You don’t have to stop for intense pauses and pathetic eyebrow raises to get across that something bad is about to happen. All we need is for dramatic music to start playing and the scene will be complete.”
“I’m not trying to be melodramatic. But I know how much you wanted this land, and, well, I can’t sell it for a year. Your dad put in a twelve-month no sale clause. I couldn’t sell it to you even if I wanted to.” She looked back over to the house. “And I don’t think I want to now.”
“What? You cannot be serious,” he yelled while Oil Slick jumped and meowed in annoyance. She couldn’t believe her eyes—that tiny cat had the power to make him bend down and scoop her up and murmur softly to her.
“I’m sorry, but I am serious. I don’t think I want to sell after all.”
Still holding the cat, he looked at her, his eyes cold with anger and disappointment. “Why would you hold land when Texas isn’t even your home?”
“How do you know it’s not my home?”
“Oh, come on, you’re Australian. You’re probably here on a work visa and work contract. All those things
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