Page 52 of Cowboy in Colorado
I take him literally for a split second, looking at the actual windows for frost before realizing he means me—the steel in my spine, the rigidity of my features, the ice in my voice. “If it’s personal, then it has nothing to do with you,” I say, knowing my dad doesn’t deserve it, but too pissed off and confused and aroused by Will’s mere presence and pissed off atthatto stop myself. “If it’s personal, then it’s my situation to deal with as I see fit.”
Dad’s eyebrows arch. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen you like this.”
“It’s a simple matter,” I say. “He’s the type of person who just pushes my buttons wrong. He refused to even hear out my proposal, and was rather…rude, about it. End of discussion. I decided on a different concept.”
“A safe one, that requires nothing from you but a few months of legwork.” Dad gestures at Will. “Meanwhile, two months later, if looks could kill, this man would be dead several times over, and you have always been the most objective and rational person I know.” Dad’s eyes see through me. “You’re bluffing, my dear, and I’m calling it.”
“Dad, I—”
He interrupts again, and I click my jaw closed to listen—the sternness in his eyes demand it. “Hear him out, Brooklyn.” He drapes his suit coat over his arm. “I have to go now, but my recommendation as your father, your boss, and an older, wiser head is to hear him out—in private.”
I sigh, because I know he’s right—he usually is. “Fine.”
Dad grins at me, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “We’ll talk more later,” he whispers. “Open mind, Brooklyn.”
“I’ll do my best,” I murmur back.
When Dad is gone, I go back into my office, and I feel trepidation and nerves made worse by the fact that I feel this way in my own damned office.
“What’s your proposal, Brooklyn?” Will gets right to the point, and his voice cuts through everything, low but commanding. It’s a voice that demands attention.
I stand in the doorway, blink through a pause, and then sigh. “There is no proposal. I’ve moved on.”
“Brooklyn.” Will’s voice is…almost soft. “I…I’m sorry. An apology is the least I owe you. On top of everything else, I should have at least heard you out when you visited the ranch. I made a mistake and I’m here to make amends. I’d really like to know what you would’ve proposed.”
I search him, and I see no duplicity. “Tell me why, after all this time, you finally want to have a discussion.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you want to hear this, now. Why did you come here, after all this time.”
My arms cross over my chest, and Will’s eyes follow the movement before flicking back up to my eyes.
"You’re gonna have to do better than that,” I say derisively.
He lets out a deep breath, glances up at the ceiling, and then at me. “I’ve…seen the error in my thinking.”
“Meaning?” I prompt. “You’re not going to get a second chance at this for free, Will.”
His shoulder drops for a moment, but then he re-squares them and meets my eyes, bold as I remember. “Okay, fine. Theo quit.”
“Quit? Quit what?”
“Quit working for the ranch. She left.”
I blink. “She…left? For where?”
“Denver.” He shrugs. “She’s always wanted to live in the city, and she has some friends there. I guess she’s got a part-time job or something until she starts school in the fall. Hell of a waste of talent as a rider, if you ask me, but I’m just her brother.”
“This has nothing to do with me, but I’m curious, why did she up and leave so suddenly?”
“Theo was in charge of the village. With her moving to Denver on me, that leaves me to take over.” He stops there, as if that should explain everything.
And, actually, it does, but I need more explanation from him. “And?”
He hisses, and if Will Auden could do anything unsexy, it’s make that noise. “So fucking difficult,” he mutters.
I nod. “Yes, I am.”