Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,219

there were a nemesis to the Double B, Adrien Easup was it.

She turned back to Bobby.

“Let’s walk.” He rose, holding a hand down for her, and she took it without question.

“What’s going on?” she asked the minute she was on her feet.

Bobby didn’t reply. He simply led them away. Once they’d put a hundred feet between them and the rest of the group, he finally released her. But he didn’t look her way.

“Bobby?” Worry settled inside her. “What is it? What happened?”

He pulled off the hat he’d worn all week and ran a hand through his hair. And as he did, he stared over her shoulder as if once again seeking out the man in question. She peeked back at Easup, as well.

“What did he do?” she demanded, and when she turned back, cold eyes finally latched on to hers. She’d never seen Bobby so angry.

“He made an offer to buy the Double B.”

Chapter Five

Bobby peered through the magnifier and focused on the intricacy of the project in front of him. It would be a character from a Japanese manga series when finished, and it was about three-fourths complete. He’d started it when he’d been home the year before, wanting to try something new that he couldn’t do in his smaller workspace in Missoula. So, he’d looked up a popular series, made a few sketches, and off he’d gone.

As he worked now, he tried yet again to put the last couple of days behind him. Or, at least, to shed the bad parts of the weekend. Rolls Royce had remained unridden, so that had been good. At least, it should have been a positive. But as it was, Rolls going unridden would only encourage Easup to up his offer. Which, in turn, would leave his mother more inclined to sell.

He gritted his teeth and reminded himself to focus on the good stuff. The positives. Such as Jewel.

Jewel, he was finding out, was always a positive. She calmed him. She made him smile.

She got him.

Even when he was so damned furious he saw nothing but red, Jewel had a way of soothing him.

Unfortunately, being that angry—and then sharing the news with her—had not led their weekend down the path he’d originally hoped. In a strange way, however, it had made them closer. Which was nice. They’d seethed together over the injustice of losing a part of their lives that meant so much, and without even being able to fight for it.

And losing it to Easup.

Her jaw had gone slack the instant he’d shared the news.

“I had no idea your mom wanted to sell. When did that happen?”

“She wasn’t looking to. At least, according to her. But he approached her with an offer, and she wants us to consider it.”

Tears had sprung to her eyes.

“But it’s your dad’s business. His passion.”

And yeah, he knew that. And he knew that his mother had always been so proud of all her husband’s accomplishments. They’d both been supportive of each other. Always had the other’s backs. Yet one crap offer by the one man his dad would never have wanted to sell to, and that was all it took?

He ground his teeth and refocused on his work.

He did not want to sell.

“Is it a done deal?” Jewel asked. “A good offer?”

“No, and no.”

They hadn’t even gotten into the fact that it would leave her unemployed. Not that she couldn’t find another job. Anyone in the business would jump at the chance to hire her. But these were her bulls as much as they’d been his dad’s, and it had made him sick to give her the news.

“Mom wants us all to agree,” he told her. “Yes or no. After Dad died, the business was split between the four of us. But Brady and Brooklyn won’t ever be a part of it. They’re solid in their careers, and both live a couple hours away. Selling won’t matter to them. Mom is always busy.” He shrugged. “And now I’m . . .”

“About to start a whole new life for yourself, as well.”

“Yeah.” Which, some days, royally sucked.

“But”—her eyes implored his—“does it have to be Easup?”

That had been the million-dollar question. Did it have to be fucking Easup? He hadn’t asked that of his mom. He’d been too shocked and pissed right out of the gate. And he hadn’t talked to her since. He and Jewel had done their jobs at the rodeo, then they’d returned without talking about it again. The drive home had been ridiculously silent,