Page 125 of The Mountain Echoes

He’s sincere. He means it.

“You were always better than me…better thanher. Rami, when he used to drink, would tell me that I was the reason he lost you.”

“He’s the reason he lost me,” I correct him.

There’s something broken in his eyes. “I’m glad you’re fighting to keep the ranch going. Rami was hoping you would.”

“I thought you wanted to sell so you can pay off your big debts to bad people?” I can’t help the snideness in my tone.

“I want you to have the ranch,” he tells me. “I want…I want it very much for you.”

With that cryptic comment, he walks away.

Yeah, I got damn lucky that Celine stole him away from me!

CHAPTER 28

maverick

I’m halfway through checking the drip lines behind the greenhouse when my phone buzzes. The sky is warm with late spring sun, and the air smells like lavender and wet loam from this morning’s irrigation.

I stare at the name on the screen, a muscle jumping in my jaw.

I swipe to answer. “Yeah.”

“Where are you, Mav?” Her voice is soft and sweet.

“The greenhouse.”

“I’m coming over, so don’t go nowhere, alright.” She giggles.

I want to sayhell no, but I ask her to hurry ‘cause I’ve got things to do. I need to know what she’s up to. Hugh has been digging into what’s happening at Longhorn, but he’s got nothing right now.

With the auction tomorrow, I’m worried what new hell is going to land on my woman’s ranch.

She catches me as I walk to the door of thegreenhouse. She gives me a quick hug. “Mav, darlin’, it’s so good to see you.”

Celine is the antithesis of her sister, dressed like she’s headed to a party—black linen slacks, a raw silk blouse, heels that don’t belong within fifty miles of soil. Her sunglasses are perched on her head like a crown.

“I’m on my way to the Save The Sea Urchin fundraiser at Kitty Adair’s place in Aspen,” she tells me, her hand sliding onto my forearm.

“You want to save the sea urchins?” I ask bemused.

She laughs. “You know Kitty. She just needs an excuse for a party.”

Her perfume hits me before she does—sweet, cloying, too much. I don’t like her touching me, but I let it slide. If she thinks I’ve crossed over to her sister’s side, she’ll clam up. And right now, I want her talking ‘cause I need every edge I can get if I’m going to figure out what she and her husband are really up to with Longhorn.

“I’ve heard something distressing, Mav.” She turns to face me, her hands linking around my neck.

I place my hands on her waist. “You have?”

“My sister told me you’re sleepin’ with her.” She pouts.

I raise an eyebrow. Aria claimed me in front of her sister. I like that. I like that very much.

“You’re fixing her fences. Helping her tag cattle. Are you helping her save the ranch?”

I smile, slow and sharp. “I’m bein’ a good neighbor, Celine.”