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“Have fun,” Katherine insists, almost shoving her granddaughter out of the house. “You’re only young once.”
“If you’re sure…” Rose breathes, but she’s already on the sinking porch with me.
“Give those pooches kisses from me,” Katherine instructs me. “And you know you can bring them along when you’re here, helping Rose, don’t you?”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I agree.
But first, I will ensure this project is moving forward.
Eli has already climbed back into the passenger side by the time we arrive back to the truck, and Rose slips into the back.
“It’s so dark out here at night,” she comments, awe flooding her voice as I drive. “It looks so different.”
I glance at Eli, who returns my stare.
“Lots of dangers on this land, too,” I add, warming her for the kill. “But I’m sure you know all about them.”
Rose laughs, either ignoring or oblivious to my meaning. “I don’t know the first thing about the Montana wilderness,” she confesses. “But every day that I spend here leaves me breathless. It’s so beautiful, like we’re not even in modern times.”
Gravel snaps beneath the truck wheels, pinging off the inside of the wells when I steer my Chevy up the driveway toward my double-story ranch house. Rose gasps loudly.
“This is your place, Connor?” she asks, stunned. I catch a glimpse of her face in the rearview mirror, her tangible awe confusing me.
She’s really acting like she’s never seen it before. But if she does work for MVP, she definitely has.
A combination of doubt and annoyance fuses inside me. Is she really that good of an actor?
“Sure is.” I stop the truck and jump out.
Silo barks twice as we approach the wood and glass structure, he and Bounce bolting through the doggie door to rush us. Rose squeals and drops to her knees, falling over as the dogs lick her.
“Oh, my God!” she shrieks, leaving me to reconsider my actions now. “They’re amazing!”
“She’s either really good or not an MVP plant,” Eli mutters under his breath as we walk up the stairs.
Behind us, Rose ambles to her feet to follow, giggling as my pets follow on her heels.
I don’t respond to Eli, but I’m more determined than ever to find out Rose’s true intentions.
The track lighting in the kitchen illuminates with our movements, and Rose is again star-struck by the décor. “Wow. This is… I should be taking notes for Katherine’s renovations.”
I throw open the fridge and grab a beer for me and Eli before turning back to her. “Beer?”
“Sure.” I offer her a cold one, too, and she slides onto one of the kitchen island stools, running her manicured nails over the marble countertop. “Ranching really pays, huh?”
I strut toward her, leaning against the countertop as I take a swig of my beer, mind formulating my groundbreaking question, the one which will throw her off her game and force her to admit she works for the company that’s been harassing us for months.
“You’ve made yourself pretty comfortable at Katherine’s,” Eli tells her before I can speak.
The smile of appreciation fades from Rose’s perfect mouth, and she looks at him warily.
“She’s been very kind, extending her home to me,” she answers with a measured pace.
“And now you’re just coming in to take over?” he presses.
Way to be subtle, asshole, I silently scold my friend.
I give him a warning look, but it’s too late. Rose has smelled the trap. Her entire body stiffens, and she pushes her beer away, untouched.
