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Reuniting with the Rancher (Conard County: The Next Generation, 21, Band 2314) - Softcover

Buch 22 von 58: Conard County: The Next Generation

Lee, Rachel

 
9780373657964: Reuniting with the Rancher (Conard County: The Next Generation, 21, Band 2314)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 037365796X ISBN 13: 9780373657964
Verlag: Harlequin Special Edition, 2014

Inhaltsangabe

A passionate summer romance between a rancher and a social worker is rekindled when they meet again unexpectedly in New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lee's latest addition to her miniseries, Conard County: The Next Generation! 

"I love you." 

Ten years ago rancher Cliff Martin said those three little words to Holly Heflin. But all she said was "goodbye." She ran from Conard County fast as a jackrabbit, leaving Cliff with a broken heart. But Cliff never forgot the one that got away…. 

Now Holly has returned to settle her aunt's estate—and Cliff is the executor. Her matchmaking aunt and his jealous ex-wife are the least of Holly's problems. Everywhere there are memories…and Cliff. But he's still a small-town rancher with roots and she's a big-city girl with a ticket home. She's got two weeks to avoid the hunky cowboy…. 

But what if she can't?

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Rachel Lee was hooked on writing by the age of twelve and has lived all over the United States. This New York Times bestselling author now resides in upstate New York and writes full-time. Research is one of her favorite things along with the exciting life in Rochester.Rachel loves her pets nearly as much as her four children. She has had both dogs and cats and is currently enjoying the antics of Jazz, her bloodhound. She also calls him her "Gentle Giant."   

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Holly Heflin walked into the lawyer's office in Co-nard City with more uncertainty than she had felt in a long time, and she was used to facing some pretty ugly situations. But this was different-the reading of her great-aunt's will. She was, as far as she knew, the only heir, so her concern didn't lie there.

But she had arrived in Denver after a red-eye flight, hopped into the cheapest rental car she could find and driven straight here to make this meeting. She felt tired, grungy and most of all overcome by memory. Facing this meeting seemed so final.

Returning to Conard County wasn't easy, but she had the fondest memories of visits to her aunt's from childhood and early adulthood. They had begun washing over her from the instant the surrounding country began to look familiar, and with them came the numbness she had been feeling since the news of Martha's death had begun to give way to a deep well of grief.

The last of her family had died with Martha, and a sense of her solitariness in the world had been striking her in an utterly new way.

But she shoved all that down as she spoke to Jackie, the young receptionist. Get through this. Get to the funeral home to watch Martha's ashes placed in a mausoleum. Martha had always used to say she wanted to sprinkle her ashes around the ranch, but apparently that wasn't allowed, because the attorney had been quite definite, and Martha had paid all the expenses in advance.

God, the ache was growing. The reality was beginning to settle in, tightening her chest.

The receptionist ushered her into a spacious but ancient-looking office. She supposed the balding man behind the desk was the attorney, but then she saw the cowboy in one of the chairs facing the desk.

Her heart immediately jammed into her throat. Cliff Martin? Here? Of all the people on earth she never wanted to see again, he topped the list. She'd been busily burying her memories of him for nearly a decade now, trying to forget, trying to forgive herself. Apparently she hadn't succeeded.

He had always been attractive, but at thirty-two, Cliff Martin had become attractive to the point of danger. Weather and those ten years had etched themselves a bit on his face. Age had taken away any softness and his face now looked hard and chiseled. Those eyes were the same, though, an incredible turquoise that would make him a standout anywhere.

An instant shaft of remembered passion pierced her numbness, arrowing straight to her core and causing her insides to clench. She'd never wanted to see this man again, but apparently her body had other ideas. She glanced quickly away.

Both men rose immediately at her entrance, a courtesy that seemed quaint after the life she had been living. She tried not to look at Cliff, but couldn't help noticing that he seemed taller. Was that possible, or had her memory shrunk him? Broad shoulders, narrow hips… Stop, she ordered herself. Just stop it now. She didn't need this.

She immediately shook the lawyer's hand as he introduced himself. "John Carstairs," he said. "Good to see you, Ms. Heflin. And you remember Cliff Martin."

She turned to Cliff, wishing he didn't look as if he had just stepped out of a movie poster or ad. Darn, his dark hair didn't even show a thread of gray, unlike hers.

Cliff Martin. The man who had been helping her aunt keep the place up the past few years. The man who leased most of her aunt's grazing land. The man she had ditched. Her hand trembled a bit as she offered it.

He spoke. "So you finally got back here."

It sounded so much like a criticism that she had to bite back an angry retort. All she could do was drop her hand, turn away and take the empty chair. Working on the streets with troubled kids had taught her to be wary of how she responded to people. Problems could start in a flash.

She managed to keep her voice even. "I've been back."

The men sat. She avoided looking at Cliff Martin and focused on John Carstairs. "I traveled all night," she said. "I may be a little slow this morning."

He at once reached for his desk phone and punched a button. "Jackie? Could you bring some coffee for Ms. Heflin?" He arched a brow at her.

"Black, please."

"Make it black. Thanks, Jackie."

He released the button and sat back. Waiting. There was a strong sense of waiting, which made her even edgier after her race to get here. Then he said, "I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. Your aunt was a wonderful woman."

"Yes, she was," Holly said honestly. "I'm going to miss her."

"Really," drawled Cliff.

At that she turned to stare at him. "How would you know? You know nothing."

"You haven't been around much."

That wasn't true, but again she bit back her retort. This man had no need to know anything, and she wasn't going to dignify his criticisms with explanations he had no right to.

"Please," said the lawyer, "let's be pleasant, shall we?"

Holly was all for pleasant. She was too tired for the spat Cliff apparently wanted. Jackie entered, setting a cup and saucer on the edge of John's desk in front of

Holly. "Thank you."

Jackie smiled, nodded and walked out, closing the door quietly behind her.

John leaned forward. "As I told you, Ms. Heflin, your great-aunt made all the arrangements. They'll be waiting for you at the funeral home after we're done here. But there are other things we need to discuss."

"Yes," she said. There was also one thing she knew for sure, that a visit with a lawyer was supposed to be private. "But what is Mr. Martin doing here? You said I was Martha's sole heir."

"He," said John, "is the executor."

Holly's mind whirled. Maybe it was fatigue. Maybe it was burgeoning grief. All she knew was that she felt as if she had been sideswiped by a Mack truck. "Why not you?" she asked quietly.

"Conflict of interest. And it was your aunt's decision."

"Of course." She was still trying to take this in. She was going to have to deal with a man who had every reason to believe she was hateful? Well, it wouldn't be the first time. Still. She reached for the coffee and took a few sips, hoping to assemble her brain into a more orderly pattern than it seemed to be following right now. She noted that her hand trembled, and she quickly put the coffee down.

Deal. The word wafted up. She always dealt. Whatever life threw her way, she was good at it. She'd deal with all of this somehow, from grief to that nasty cowboy.

"I'm going to give you a copy of your aunt's will to read at your leisure. In the meantime, I'll just go over the broad aspects here."

"That's fine." She certainly didn't feel up to dealing with anything detailed.

"You've inherited the ranch. It's free and clear except for the leases. As the law makes clear, those leases to Mr. Martin remain in place, and your aunt's will states that he is allowed to continue leasing the land at his discretion for the next ten years."

Holly felt her heart began to sink. That meant she would have to deal with this ghost from her past indefinitely.

"Your aunt was also a very careful woman, and left you a great deal of cash, a quite surprising amount, actually. Mr. Martin has the necessary papers giving him management of the estate, and he'll take you to the bank to transfer the accounts into your name."

Holly managed a jerky nod. Nothing...

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Verlag
Harlequin Special Edition
Erscheinungsdatum
2014
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
037365796X
ISBN 13 
9780373657964
Einband
Taschenbuch
Anzahl der Seiten
224
Kontakt zum Hersteller
Nicht verfügbar
Verantwortliche Person
Product Safety Manager
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