how it went. I even promised him a chance to buy me out, if he decided he wanted to.”
“So that land’s spoken for, anyway, right?” Cord hoped his disappointment wasn’t obvious. It was for the best that it wasn’t available, not when its very existence could have put a huge stumbling block between them.
“We didn’t put it in writing, if that’s what you mean, but we made a verbal agreement. In my book, that’s binding enough.” She studied his face. “Does that disappoint you?”
He forced a smile. “Darlin’, I’ve never pretended I didn’t want a ranch of my own someday. And it’s true that I’d heard there was one nearby that a widow might be willing to sell. I swear to you, though, that I had no idea you were that widow, not until you told me about the accident and Kyle. Then it all added up.”
“But you didn’t say anything,” she said pointedly.
“Because I’m a very long way from being able to buy so much as an acre of land, from you or anyone else, and until I can, what’s the point of talking about it? If your land is all but sold, it’s for the best. I don’t want it coming between us. I don’t want you to ever have any reason not to trust me. When the time comes, I’ll buy my own land and I’ll pay a fair price for it.”
She regarded him with obvious regret. “If only I’d known—”
“Stop that,” he said, cutting her off. “Even if you had known I was going to turn up, the foreman out there has more right to your husband’s ranch than I would have. What you’ve done is exactly the right thing.” He grinned. “Maybe it’ll even get your father off my back, once he knows.”
“I’ll tell him,” she said, her expression brightening. “That ought to put an end to it. I won’t have him making any more ridiculous accusations where you’re concerned, not when you’ve been so kind to me.”
“I’ll tell him, but don’t blame him for any of this. He’s your father,” Cord said, surprised to find himself defending Cody’s behaviour. “He has every right to look out for your best interests. Much as I hate to admit it, that’s exactly what I would have done if our positions had been reversed.”
Sharon Lynn seemed amused by his passionate declaration. “Did you tell him that when you two were fighting?”
“You can laugh if you want to, but yes. In so many words, that’s exactly what I told him.”
She looked surprised. “You did?”
“Haven’t you noticed, darlin’? I’m a reasonable man. I can see more than one side to things, even when a man’s all but accusing me of trying to use his daughter to get what I want in life.”
“I had no idea men were capable of a thing like that,” she said dryly. “Or are you just a remarkable man?”
“Maybe I’ll just let you go on thinking that I’m unique. It’ll work in my favor in the end.”
She directed a look his way that was oddly shy. “You don’t need any extra brownie points with me. You’ve already earned enough to last a lifetime.”
He could feel his smile spreading slowly across his face. “In that case, maybe I’ll cash one in.”
“Oh?”
“Come here, darlin’.”
He knew it was reckless, knew it was more than a little dangerous, but still he beckoned her over to where he was sitting on the sofa, then patted the space right next to him. She hesitated, seemed to consider the request, then moved slowly across the room. After another hesitation, another quick search of his face, she sat.
“Closer,” he urged.
Her gaze narrowed. “What are you up to?”
“I told you. I’m cashing in one of those brownie points.”
“I’m not sure it works that way,” she protested.
“We can make it work any way we want it to,” he countered. “This is between you and me. We set the rules, right?”
“I suppose.”
He pointed to a spot on his cheek, right where he’d been told often enough that there was an intriguing dimple. “Now, how about a little kiss right here?”
She went absolutely still at the request. There was a fleeting instant of panic in her eyes before it gave way first to resignation and then to what he interpreted as bold anticipation. She reached over and touched the same spot on his cheek with the tip of her finger.
“Right there, correct?”
His pulse had begun to race at the slight caress. He nodded, rather than trying to force