He chuckled. “Yes, essentially, but there’s more to it than just the land. He has an aqueduct running through his property. With that access, I could expand my operations and potentially take on the international market.”
I leaned back against the couch and tried to wrap my head around his offer. It bothered me that he wanted to deceive the property owner. Plus, it would mean tying myself to Henry for at least six months. The money would set me up for life, though. I’d be able to go back to college and have a fresh start so far away from Mike, he’d never be able to find me again. It still felt dishonest, though.
“I don’t know what about his son? If he wants to sell the land, it seems like that should be his right.”
“Is that what you want? To see this land get turned into another racetrack and casino? Because I promise you, that’s what is going to happen.”
“This isn’t my home. Honestly, I don’t really care what happens to it.”
“If you don’t care, then what’s the problem with helping me out? I imagine that half a million dollars could do a lot of good in your life.”
“You don’t know the first thing about my life.”
“I know that you are new to town, at least in a sense. I’m guessing you spent time here before, judging by how close you are to Gwen. Maybe just a few years, but you’re comfortable enough to call it home for a while. You don’t want to stay, though. Something or someone is chasing you.”
“I think I should go,” I stammered. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m going to pass. I don’t want to be wrapped up in something like that.”
“Whoever you’re running from would have a much harder time finding you under my protection,” Henry said.
I paused halfway off the couch and looked at him. His eyes ran down my body, sending a shiver of delight coursing through me. When he smiled, and the butterflies started to jump in my stomach, I leaped to my feet. Henry was a dangerous man, but not for the reasons one might suspect. He would take my heart and break it like it was nothing if I got too close.
I reached in my purse and pulled out the fifty-thousand-dollar check. When I stuck it out for him to take, he shook his head and sat back in the recliner. My jaw clenched as I leveled my gaze on him. My polite mood was quickly turning with each second that passed. His stubborn nature was enough to drive any sane woman mad.
“Take the damn check. I don’t want to be a part of this.”
“And I respect that,” he said. “I wish you would reconsider, but it’s still your decision. I told you that money was just for your time. You gave me that you earned it.”
“I didn’t earn anything,” I snapped.
“Then consider it an incentive to keep our conversation between us. Even though you don’t want to take me up on the offer, if word got out, it would still be damaging to my chances of getting the property.”
“Somehow, hush-money seems even worse.”
“It’s neither. You earned it by listening. That was the deal. I won't take it back. When I make a deal, I keep it.”
“Are you saying I don’t?”
He shrugged. “You’re the one trying to give the check back to me. Sure seems like you’re going back on the agreement.”
I laughed. “If that’s the case, then you still have twelve minutes to get that full half-hour's worth of time. Anything else you want to talk about? Politics? The price of corn?”
“Let’s talk about you. Tell me about your life. Where were you at before you came here?”
Instantly I regretted my decision. Eyeing the door with the check still in hand, I thought about making a break for it. We’d made a deal. I tucked the check back into my purse and slumped down onto the sofa with a heavy sigh. Henry looked rather proud of himself. The flirty grin on his face enough to make me smile despite how hard I tried to fight it. I hated that he got to me.
“I spent a few years in Redbrook,” I offered.
“A nice little community but definitely a college town. Did you follow work there?”
“I followed my foolish heart, and it was a huge mistake, one that I won't make again. It was a move that cost me everything, including the small but significant life I was making for myself.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that. Now that you are here, do you think you’ll stay?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have any reason to. I love Gwen to death but staying here wasn’t ever part of my plan. I just want to get back on my feet.”
“That’s a reasonable desire. I’d like to help in any way that I can.”
I glared at him. It felt like he was still trying to sweet-talk me into taking him up on his offer. He may have been from the same life as I was years ago, but the time living in the lap of luxury had softened him. There wasn’t a hungry desire in his eyes to flee anymore. No, the only time I saw that desire was when he watched me move. A slight shudder moved through me as I watched his eyes travel down my body. How did he drive me so wild with just a look?
“I'm sorry, I need some time to think about all this. You don’t need an answer right now, do you?” I asked.
“No. Of course not. I’m a little surprised that’s you’re even considering it. Take all the time that you need. You know how to get ahold of me.”
“Listen, I’m not saying this is even a possibility,” I stammered.
“If there’s a sliver of hope, I'll keep my fingers crossed,” Henry said. He looked at his watch. “It looks like you survived the half-hour in hell.”
I chuckled. “I definitely earned that money then.”
I rose and moved back to the main entrance. Henry walked next to me. The heat from his body made my fingers tingle. His intoxicating scent was enough to turn me on. It had been a long time since I’d been with a man. Maybe that was the only reason I had the overpowering desire to push him against the wall and kiss him all over. Instead, I forced myself to give him a quick farewell. I nearly ran to my car before racing back to the apartment. There was no way I could consider his offer.
It was demeaning to even think about. I wasn’t a call-girl or mail-order-bride. No matter my past, I still had my dignity. If I told myself the money wasn’t tempting, it would be a lie. It was enough to clear my debt and go back to school without student loans or working myself to the bone. I could finally put down roots. Mike would find me. He always did. He was just a small-town thug. With half a million dollars, I could leave the country.
My heart started to race. I could spend the next six months learning French or Italian and just disappear when Henry no longer needed me. Mike wouldn’t bother chasing me across the ocean. Without my consent, my mind was starting to plan out a move across the sea. It would be a beautiful thing to have a second chance at starting over. Still, six months with Henry was a long time. I struggled to keep my hands off him. How would we make it that long?
When he wasn’t interrupting my hot fantasies, though, I wanted to strangle him for his arrogant attitude. No closer to an answer, I pulled into the apartment parking lot and shut off the engine. My phone started to vibrate, and instantly I thought of Gwen. I’d promised her I’d check-in, but it had completely slipped my mind. Without looking, I answered the call as I riffled through my purse for the house keys.