“I’m Mr. Milton with Milton, Baker, and Associates. I’m very sorry for your loss. May Icomein?”
“Sure.”
Normally she wouldn’t have let a strange man into her house, but having Logan around made her feel safe. Even if he was a jerk, he’d never done anything to physically harm her. Besides, if this guy tried something, Logan would probably just let his bear come out. At least being a shifter came in handy for somethings.
Technically, she could probably shift and defend herself if necessary, but she hadn’t shifted in over a decade. Almost killing her best friend had been enough to make her never want to shiftagain.
As they walked into the kitchen, Logan’s gaze fixated on the man. “Her old man hasn’t even been dead a week and you’re already sniffing around. You should be ashamed of yourself. But I guess you have noshame.”
“It’s good to see you again,Logan.”
Kate glanced from one man to the other. “You know eachother?”
Logan fisted his hands at his sides. “Yeah. He’s been trying to buy up all the property around Hebgen Lake. He wants to build aresort.”
“What’s wrong with that? We pay a fair price,” Mr.Miltonsaid.
“You try to threaten and intimidate people into selling. It’s not fair. If this were my land, I’d throw you off of it in a heartbeat.” Logan turned to Kate. “The only reason I haven’t is because I don’t have theright.”
“I’d like to hear what he has to say,”shesaid.
“I like a woman with an open mind,” Mr.Miltonsaid.
Logan turned his back to them and busied himself at the stove. With the cracking of eggs and the sizzle of bacon going on in the background, she listened to the developer’spitch.
“We’re planning a lakefront resort with our corporate partners. We see the future of business being conducted in the midst of pristine wilderness. If you sell the ranch to us, we’ll use your land as part of the boat docking area,” Mr.Miltonsaid.
“So you’re not interested in the buildings?” sheasked.
“No.”
That sounded like a good deal. All she’d have to do is clean out her father’s belongings and then bulldoze the place. Or just sell it as is and let them dealwithit.
“You left out a few things, don’t you think?” Logan asked over hisshoulder.
“We’re prepared to offer $350,000, which is fair market value,” he said as if Logan hadn’tspoken.
“Tell her about the devastating effect your corporate resort will have on the surrounding environment. Tell her about the impact it will have on the fish in the lake,”Logansaid.
Mr. Milton’s voice turned cold. “Stay out of this. It’s not your property and not yourdecision.”
Logan set down the spatula. As he slowly turned toward Mr. Milton, he pulled his shoulders back. “What are you going to do? Try to intimidate me like you did with the Jenkinses? I’m not in my eighties. I won’t let you take advantage of someone whose fatherjustdied.”
“I’ll just come back when you’re not here,” Mr. Milton rose tohisfeet.
Logan got in his face. “Was that athreat?”
“I don’t threaten people. I don’t have to when they’re smart and take what we’reoffering.”
Kate stepped between the men, with her back to Logan. “This is a hard time for me. Maybe you could come back in afewdays.”
“Consider my offer carefully,” Mr.Miltonsaid.
An undercurrent of darkness tainted his voice. Now that sounded more like a threat. Maybe Logan was right to send him away. She walked to the front door and opened it. “I’ll give you a call if I decidetosell.”
Before leaving the house, he shot a murderous look at Logan. His mouth twitched as if he’d been holding back anothercomment.
After closing the door, she turned to find Logan directly behind her. She tilted her head up to look at him. He hadn’t looked this tall from across the room. All six foot two of the hunky shifter towered over her. She considered take a step back, but didn’t. If anything, she wanted to move closer. Dangerously closer. Into his armscloser.
