Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
This was what Olivia was attracted to. At least she had been. Garrett could look like that. Garrett had managed to make himself comfortable in Olivia’s world.
Keane would always be a cowboy.
“Where is Olivia?” Scott asked like he had a right to know.
He might not wear thousand-dollar suits, but he knew how to protect a woman. He stepped between Scott and the front door to the building. There were people walking around the small town square, and there was no doubt they were all trying to figure out what was going on.
“She’s inside with Deputy Morgan,” Keane said quietly.
Scott took a step toward the door.
Keane moved in front of him. “They don’t need visitors at this time.”
Scott’s shoulders went back, eyes narrowing. “I’m not a visitor. I was once her fiancé.”
“No, you weren’t.” He knew the history.
“Well, I was going to be had circumstances not gone the way they did. I realize now what I walked away from.”
“I doubt it, but you are not with her at this time so respect her privacy while she deals with this. I understand you’re here to work. Well, I understand that’s your excuse. I’m sure Olivia will call you.”
Scott’s eyes narrowed as he studied Keane. “And I know she’s using you as a shield to keep me at arm’s length. There’s no way Olivia Barnes-Fleetwood ends up with some nothing cow poke.”
“I don’t know why not. Her mother did,” Keane quipped.
A nasty snort came from Scott’s mouth. “Oh, her mother married Jack and Sam when they were already multimillionaires. She knew exactly how much those cowboys were worth or I’m sure she wouldn’t have looked at them twice.”
He very much doubted that. “If you can say that, then you don’t know a damn thing about Olivia’s family. She can’t meet with you today. She has other problems.”
“I’ll hear that from her mouth.” Scott looked up at the building. “She’s probably lost a lot of records.”
“I’m sure she has backups.”
Scott seemed to think about that for a moment. “Well, I hope so since these are the business offices. I told her I thought it was a bad idea to keep records out here when she could easily have done the work in Dallas.”
“The ranch is here.” He wasn’t sure why he was arguing with this asswipe. At least it kept the man from bothering Olivia.
Who had stood in front of her closest friends this morning and cuddled up next to him. She hadn’t stayed away from him or looked embarrassed she’d spent the night with him. She’d acted like she was happy.
She was happy this morning.
He was going to make damn sure she stayed that way.
“The ranch might be here, but this is a big business now. No one wants to come out to Willow Fork. There’s no real security, and honestly, everyone hates her family. These rubes believe she’s the daughter of the devil. That’s probably why this happened. I’ve told her for years she needed to get out of this town.”
“Her family is here, and I find it interesting that this happened when not one, but two of the men she used to date decide to try to weasel their way back into her life.”
Scott stepped back. “Two? Who the hell are you talking about?”
“You’re not the only one who apparently needs some cash. Her high school boyfriend is sniffing around again. I need you to understand that you’re an idiot. She is the fucking sun in the sky, and she would be if she didn’t have a dime to her name. So you will do your job and you won’t bother my su…girlfriend or we’ll have a problem.”
“Oh, will we?” Scott’s handsome face took on a snide expression. “Somehow I’m not afraid of you. You should know I lived here for a couple of years. I made some friends. A whole bunch of them are on the force here. So I wouldn’t threaten me.”
“I’m not threatening. I’m promising. I might be nothing but a cowboy, but I know how to protect what I care about.” He should have learned this lesson. Protecting someone had cost him years before, but he wasn’t about to allow Olivia to deal with this man. When they were working, he trusted Garrett to deal with him. Hell, he was pretty sure Miranda and Gigi could handle this guy since they were young women who backed their friends up. But he wouldn’t leave her alone with him.
“Scott, is this guy bothering you?”
Keane turned, and the deputy who Olivia’s friend had sent away was back with two coffees in his big hands.
Scott smiled. “Hey, Gil. I had a great time last night with you and Lisa. Good to see you this morning. As for this guy, he’s nothing but a cowboy with no manners. Although I worry he’s got some bad intentions. If anything happens to me while I’m here, you should look to him.”