Page 23 of The Rancher

David was the blustery sort, and she put the phone on speaker and held it away from her unless she was speaking. He was just too loud to keep it close to her ear.

“What do you want, Marissa?” shouted David.

“Ray has given me a better offer for my shares in Whispering Wind Ranch. Do you want to up your bid?”

“What? He did not. You’re just trying to get more money. One-hundred-thousand is my best offer. Take it or leave it.”

“I’ll leave it. Ray offered me one-fifty. Goodbye, David.” She ended the call.

Almost immediately, her phone rang. She snickered. “Gotcha.” But when she looked down at the caller ID, she frowned.

“Hello.”

“Marissa, it’s Ted.”

“Where did you get my number?”

“I have my sources. I set the bear traps like you wanted. Soon, Ray will let the horses out into that pasture and at leastone of them will get into a trap. That’s what you wanted and it will happen.”

She smiled. Her day was getting better and she couldn’t be happier. “That’s good. I want him completely stopped. I don’t need any of his horses in the races.”

“This should get them. If they get caught in one of those, the animals might never race again. If I find them, I can put them down as part of my job. Ray won’t be happy, but he won’t question my decision, either…I don’t think.”

She stood and paced. “No, don’t destroy the animal. Let that new vet take care of it. I hate having to do this, I just can’t think of any other way to stifle his expansion. I need to win those races. I need those purses to put my stable back in the black.”

“You’ll have it. Now, what time do I pick you up for our date? I want to take you to dinner and dancing. I don’t just want to sleep with you, though that is definitely something to look forward to.”

“What makes you think I want to be seen with you?”

“You probably don’t, but this is what you agreed to.”

“Fine, pick me up at seven. And don’t be late.” She ended the call before he could respond. Then her voicemail notification sounded. She listened.

“Marissa, it’s David. I want those shares. I’ll give you one-seventy-five. Call me with your answer.”

She quickly dialed Ray first. She got his voicemail, as she expected. He must be in the barn with his eyes on Maddy. He didn’t let anything take away from his time with her.

“Ray, it’s Marissa. I won’t be at your lawyer’s office tomorrow. I’ve accepted another offer.” She ended the call

Then she called David.

He answered on the first ring. “Where do you want to meet for the exchange?”

“I’ll see you at your attorney’s office tomorrow at nine.”

“Fine.” He hung up.

She grinned. This was going better than she could have hoped. Now, to decide what to wear on a date with a dirt-poor cowboy, after I take Scott to lunch, of course. She kept grinning. Her day was definitely looking up.

That nightafter treating Stormchaser and then working with Ray, Lyris was wired. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to settle her mind. Was she wrong in her dealings with Ray? Would the relationship be different with Ray than it was with Kevin? What if she was throwing away the chance for true love?

She and Ray definitely had a spark. He felt it as much as she did. She’d never been as at ease with anyone as she was with Ray…at least, until she’d given him her speech about not fraternizing with the boss.

Lyris groaned and placed her arm over her forehead to block out what she’d done. Would Ray keep hanging around like he said he would? What if he didn’t? Why was she even thinking about it? Did she want him to stick around?

No one was in her bed or her brain, so she could have it however she wanted it. And she wanted Ray.

But Ray was a rich man. Heck, he was a billionaire. He raised and raced thoroughbreds. He was part of a gaming empire. She wouldn’t fit into his life. She had the night of the gala, but he’d immediately removed her from there and took her on a joy ride to his old haunts. Places she wouldn’t be out-of-place, even though she was dressed in a fancy gown.