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“I was extremely good at masking it. I either avoided all words I couldn’t say or I just didn’t say anything.”
His gray eyes stared back at her from the shadow of his hat. “So that’s why you were so quiet. Although it doesn’t explain why you still are.”
“Habit.”
He nodded. “Those are hard to break.”
“And what are your habits?”
He took off his hat and slapped at his jeans, causing plumes of dust to rise. “Working too much.” He put his hat back on. “So what brings you to the Remington Ranch, Lucky?”
“Lucky?”
He grinned. “Since your name is Clover, I figured it was a suitable nickname.”
“Well, you figured wrong. I’m about as unlucky as a person can get. I never win anything.”
“Maybe nicknaming you Lucky will change that.”
She laughed. “Doubtful. And the reason I’m here is to apologize for what my grandmother said to you last night about marrying one of her granddaughters.”
“Not one,” he said. “You.”
Her cheeks heated. “I’m sorry. Finding out we spent the night together in the hayloft and that you and I have become . . . friends has made her think her ridiculous plan just might work. Now she refuses to sell the ranch. And I can’t make her realize that if she doesn’t sell, she’ll lose it anyway.”
Rome didn’t seem surprised. “Who is this loan shark your grandmother mentioned last night?”
So her grandmother had told Rome more than she should have. “They aren’t loan sharks. It’s an investment company, Oleander Investments, that helped Daddy consolidate all his real estate contracts with a loan.”
“How many payments has your father missed?”
“A lot.”
“So they could foreclose?”
Cloe nodded. “And no doubt they will if we don’t come up with the money. I was hoping we could just sell the land and keep the house. But the loan is too big. We’ll need to sell the land and the house to even come close to paying it off. Of course, that’s a moot point because Mimi refuses to sell. She doesn’t seem to realize that we don’t have a choice. Sell or get kicked out. And being kicked off our beloved ranch will not only be humiliating to my family, but also heartbreaking.”
There was a long stretch of silence and Cloe realized she’d said too much. She didn’t need to burden him with her problems. “I’m sorry. With my sisters gone, I just needed to talk to someone about it.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” He hesitated. “I’m not going to lie, Cloe. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to buying the ranch since you asked me if I was interested in it. I’d like to buy it. If we can talk Mimi into selling to me, I’ll pay off the loan and let your family keep their house and the land it sits on.”
She blinked. “You would?” He nodded and a small flicker of hope came to life before it was snuffed out. “It wouldn’t matter. She doesn’t want the land belonging to anyone but family.”
He studied her for a long moment before he spoke. “Then we’ll just have to give her what she wants . . . or make her think we are.”
“What do you mean?”
His smoky-gray gaze was direct. “You want to get married, Lucky?”
Chapter Nine
Even though he looked serious, Cloe knew he had to be joking. But since wedding proposals were a touchy subject, she couldn’t find the humor in it. “Don’t joke, Rome. It’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking.” As she stared at him with stunned shock, he continued. “I want your land. I was planning on making your father an offer as soon as the house went up for sale.”
“But you know he would never sell to a Remington.”
“I thought I could change his mind.” He hesitated. “With your help.”
