Page 20 of The Forbidden Texan
“Lucas, you should have quit when you were ahead. Now, I’m cutting this short. I have to go home to get ready for tomorrow. That house is going to be a lot of work and we’re trying to do it fast to get through it.”
“That’s also good to hear.” His smile faded. “Thanks for sharing your good fortune with the family. That’s generous and I think everyone will think twice about the old feud. Thane was right. The money will be a big reminder. And you’re right about the kids. Simon and Sheila shouldn’t be taught to hate. Thane would be pleased.”
“I hope our family can help. You have to start somewhere. This feud is ridiculous when you think about it.”
“Listen, this is generous and so very nice, but you know my business is growing. Take my check back. I appreciate this, but I don’t need it and I know you can put it to use somewhere.”
“Thanks, Lucas,” she said, smiling at him. “That’s really sweet, but you keep it. You’ll figure out something to do with it that will do some good. I already have enough to be able to paint full-time when I’m through with this job for Jake. I’ll be finding someone to run my shop. I’m fine.”
“Hey, that’s good news. Let me know when you do.”
“I will. Now it’s time for me to go. I’ve got a busy month ahead of me.” They walked back to the great room together and she moved around the room, hugging and kissing her family and telling them goodbye. Minutes later, she was in her car and saw a text from Jake.
He insisted on picking her up Monday morning so she could leave her car at home. They agreed on 6:30 a.m. and she spent the next couple of hours packing and getting things ready to go. She had two women who would run the store while she was gone, so she didn’t have to worry about that. In addition, her assistants, who had remained in Flat Hill this weekend, would meet them at the ranch.
Emily thought about how soon she would be under the same roof with Jake. Could she handle that or was she just going to melt into his arms and lose all good sense because of his fabulous kisses? She didn’t want to end this job brokenhearted and in love with a man who wasn’t interested in marriage, and wasn’t like the men in her family. Yet, there was no way to forget his kisses. And there was no stopping the longing to kiss him again. So far, all he had to do was look at her and all her resolve melted. Could she work closely with him for the next few weeks and keep her heart locked away? And say no to the greatest kisses ever?
Lucas
Lucas saw his sister leave and walked to the front window to watch her drive away. While he stood there, Doug stopped beside him.
“I still don’t like Jake.”
“If we take the money, we’ll have to be nicer to him,” Lucas said.
“My conscience would hurt otherwise because she gave up half a mill to get her family’s cooperation. We owe it to Em because she didn’t have to share a penny of that money with us. And we owe it to Thane who was a great guy. I’ll try to ignore Jake,” Doug said. “We have to be nice to the Ralstons now.”
“That’s right,” Lucas replied. “If we take the money, we’re nice to the Ralstons—including Jake. She did point out that Thane set up her working on the ranch for and with Jake. Thane trusted Jake or he would never have done that.”
Doug nodded. “She’s right. Thane fought with this guy in Afghanistan, so he knew he could trust him.”
“Aw, hell, they’d been friends since they were in kindergarten or earlier. Thane had to know Jake through and through. Thane was sharp. He wouldn’t have put her in jeopardy. Who would you trust to give a cashier’s check for a million and ask him to deliver it to someone else? No one else in the world would have known except Vivian, who probably wouldn’t have checked to see whether or not Jake delivered it.”
“Thane usually knew what he was doing, so I hope he did on this. Even so, I’ll be glad when she’s through working with Jake.”
“I’m going to invest my money, let it earn interest and somewhere down the line, give the original amount back to her,” Lucas said.
“I’ll go in with you. I think that’s a good idea because I don’t want to take her money, either. I’ll feel better giving it back to Emily.” Doug turned away from the window. “I’m leaving.”
Lucas nodded and strolled behind his brother to tell the family goodbye. He left, driving back to the condo he had on the top floor of a fourteen-story office building he owned in a suburban area of Dallas. He would fly back to his ranch in his private plane tomorrow. His family—all of them except the little kids—were steeped in dislike for any Ralston—how could they suddenly turn around and change? He didn’t think they could. On the other hand, Thane wouldn’t have pushed for it if he hadn’t thought it was possible.
Lucas could think of one Ralston he would be happy to speak to and to get to know better, and now maybe he had an excuse. Harper Ralston designed and sold her own jewelry in a small shop in the building next door. They never spoke, but he was certain she was as aware of him as he was of her. Thane had tossed in a million to Emily, plus a ranch to Jake, to try to get cooperation on ending the feud, so to please his sister Lucas would speak to Harper Ralston. It would be okay. His sister was working for a Ralston now and the sun still came up in the mornings.
Lucas smiled and whistled as he drove home. He would drop by the jewelry store before he went home to the ranch and see if he could have a conversation with a Ralston.
* * *
Monday morning, Jake picked up Emily promptly at 6:30 a.m. Her heartbeat quickened as she watched his long stride when he headed toward her front door.
She swung open the door and smiled, her pulse taking another jump when she looked into his dark brown eyes. “I’m ready to go. I have some things here I want to take with me.”
“I’ll get them,” he said, shouldering a big bag and picking up two more.
He might not notice her in sweats and jeans, but there was no way she could keep from noticing him. Every second she was near him, she was conscious of him. There was no way to turn off that tingling awareness of him. It was as unwanted as it was unstoppable.
Her brothers’ warnings echoed in her ears. Especially the reminder that Jake wouldn’t settle down and didn’t want a family and if she got involved with him, she would get hurt. She knew Lucas was absolutely convinced of that. She had to agree because there was good reason to think loving Jake would be disastrous. He had a stream of broken hearts in his wake, women who still loved him while Jake moved on and didn’t look back. She reminded herself it was just a job. All she was doing was working for him. Employer and employee. She would be busy with the contents of the house while he would be busy with other things. Stop worrying about being in the same house, she reminded herself.
Through the flight to Flat Hill and then the drive in a limo to the ranch, Jake was professional, engrossed in papers he had brought, while she went over notes and looked at pictures of various furnishings in the house.
