“We’re holding out hope he’ll come to his senses soon and return back home to God’s country.”
Jenny smiled. “And Byron? Is he—”
“Let’s go inside,” Jared interrupted. Old home week was getting old. He hadn’t called the realtor so he and Jenny could take a stroll down catch-up lane.
She pursed her lips and, without saying a word, made it abundantly clear she thought he had the manners of a feral dog.
He scratched his arm. Too damn bad.
She opened the door to let them in, but as Jared went to walk past her, she drilled him with a what-in-the-world-is-going-on look. He ignored her and followed Brad inside. With obvious reluctance, and a good deal of trepidation, Jenny directed them to the front living room, which was used as a waiting area for Blue Sky’s customers. The furnishings were more formal than the family room in the back of the house and in better condition. Not that that surprised Jared. From what he could tell of the business, the room probably got used only about once or twice a week at the most.
Two wing chairs in a soft green fabric flanked the fireplace. Jenny sat in one, Brad in the other, leaving the camelback couch vacant for Jared. Brad placed his briefcase on the round coffee table between them.
“Can I get you anything?” Jenny asked Brad, ignoring Jared. “Coffee?”
“Just say no,” he told the realtor.
Jenny scowled at him.
Brad looked from Jared to Jenny, assuming they were joking. But no one was laughing.
“If you drink her coffee,” Jared explained, “you’ll need your stomach pumped.”
Brad laughed. “Ah, yes, now I remember. Has Jennifer ever told you about the coffee stand she used to own?”
“I’m sure Jared isn’t interested,” she said quickly.
Yesterday, she couldn’t have been more right, but today, he found himself more than interested. Warfare 101: learn as much as you could about your enemy. “A coffee stand?” he prodded the realtor.
Jenny hunched down in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.
Brad coughed a few times, trying to cover his laughter. “Closed down in less than two weeks. Has to be a record for this area.”
“A real success, was she?”
Another few coughs from the realtor. Another bad job of camouflaging his amusement.
“I’m sure Mr. Owen has better things to do than discuss my past employment.” Jenny angled in her chair and faced the older man. “Actually, I am curious as to why you are here.”
“You don’t know?” Brad fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. “I just assumed . . . I mean, well, didn’t you ask Mr. Worth to call?”
“No,” Jenny gave Jared another one of her Sunday school teacher stares. When would she learn he was immune?
“Oh my,” the realtor said.
Jared leaned forward and braced his arms on his legs. “Jenny and I are partners.”
“Yes . . . I did hear something to that effect.”
“As such, I have an equal stake in this property. In order to come current with some outstanding debts, I believe it is in the best interest of everyone involved if we put the land up for sale.”
Jenny shot to her feet so fast, the chair rocked on its wooden legs, startling the realtor. “Over my dead body!”
Jared stared at her.
“Mr. Owen.” She took a couple of deep breaths. “I’m sorry you’ve been called out here on a fool’s errand. I have no intention of selling this land.”
“I must admit, I hadn’t thought so.” Brad got to his feet and picked up his briefcase. “But when I received the call, well, you just never know,” he said, making his way to the front door. He couldn’t seem to leave fast enough.
“How dare you?” Jenny hurled at Jared the moment the door closed.
“How dare I what?”
“Don’t play games with me. You now what I’m talking about.”
“Obviously you haven’t been hearing me.”
“My hearing is just fine. It’s yours that’s in question.”
For a moment Jared was sidetracked by Jenny in full fury. Her blue eyes were as hard and cold as ice, her breathing fast and shallow. Her chest rose and fell in rapid succession. He found himself captivated, and then his leg started to itch once more, and he remembered exactly why he’d called the realtor. Underneath all those gorgeous curves beat a devious heart hell-bent on his destruction. “I want my money.”
“I want you to leave.”
“Then we’re in agreement.”
“Like hell we are.”
“Either we sell this land, or you get the money from somewhere else.”
For a short moment, some of her anger seemed to leave. “I tried.”