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Michael Kabara’s ad had caught her eye a couple days earlier, and now she stared at it for a moment. With a deep breath, she dialed the number listed in bold, black ink and asked for the lawyer. She was surprised when the secretary advised he was available and transferred her without delay. Her previous experience with lawyers was not very extensive but it had always involved leaving a message and sometimes waiting days for a return call from an assistant. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they’d been Robert’s lawyers? She didn’t trust anyone connected to him anymore.
“This is Michael Kabara, how may I help you?” He had a deep, rich voice that resonated across the phone line.
“Mr. Kabara, my name is Kendra Zelner. I need your help.”
****
Colton tugged his second glove off as he approached the house for lunch, but Kendra’s soft voice carrying through the open window made him pause.
“—can’t get away during the day, it’ll have to be later.”
He tilted his head to hear better.
“Yes, Wednesday should be fine.” A brief pause, then, “No—don’t do that!”
Her strident voice startled him.
“No. He can’t know.”
She was back in control, and Colton shifted as a fissure of alarm raised the hair on the back of his neck.
“Besides, I’m not sure I want to hire you yet.”
Colton leaned against the side of the house as the conversation continued.
“Money isn’t the issue, or, at least it won’t be when this is all done. If I hire you, you won’t have to worry about getting paid…Sorry, but everyone I’ve ever dealt with in your profession is concerned about the money first and the job second…Okay, then. Wednesday evening, Beniton’s, at seven.”
Colton waited a long few moments before stomping inside, not wanting her to have any suspicion that he’d heard a word. He heard the phone slam down and she moved toward the table with a sandwich and glass of milk as he walked into the kitchen. She ate in silence and finished just as he sat down with his plate. After she left, he watched through the window until she disappeared into the barn. Star sixty-nine on the phone put him through to Beniton’s Pub, and he hung up with a frown.
Who are you meeting Wednesday, Kendra? Who are you hiring, to do what, and with what money?
****
Colton wracked his brain over the next two days, trying to come up with a plausible way to be at the popular bar the same time as her meeting. Wednesday morning, she approached the riding arena fence, and he reined in the chestnut gelding he rode.
“Any chance I could trade a few hours off this afternoon and stay later tomorrow?”
A sudden idea came to mind, and Colton faked a grimace. “I have plans tonight myself—I was going to ask at lunch if you could stay late in exchange for few hours off tomorrow.”
Her expression hardened, but she recovered quickly. “Fine, I’ll switch my plans.”
To needle her and check her reply, he quipped, “Hot date?”
“What else?”
Her response was quicker than he expected. He grinned at her bold faced lie and gave one of his own. “Me, too.”
“Let me guess, she’s blonde?”
“Of course.”
She gave a snort of disgust and rolled her eyes.
“I could ask Joel to cover for me so you don’t have to cancel,” Colton offered. She hesitated, but then shook her head. Colton groaned silently. He needed her to agree so he could ‘accidentally’ bump into her at the bar. “Why not? I’m pretty sure Joel won’t mind, and you’ve been working hard, you deserve a night out.”
She cast him a suspicious glance, but must have really wanted to make this meeting, because after another moment, she asked, “You sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not. All work and no play makes Kendra a dull girl.” Impossible, but it was the first stupid thing to pop into his mind.
