Cinderella's Convenient Husband

“Matt.”

“It seems we’re back to the beginning.”

“Let’s go into town and let me meet with Cochran. He might agree to my plan. Or perhaps he’ll agree to take the land and leave me the house.”

“I don’t want your land in anyone’s hands other than yours.”

“I’m always going to remember how noble you were about this, Seth.”

“I’ve never been noble but I do know right from wrong, and what you’re proposing doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s the only way.”

He didn’t say another word, just turned forward and started the car. He drove into town, his mind swimming with possibilities. He’d let Lynn try to work her deal with the bank, and if that didn’t work, he’d arrange for one of the banks that he used in Chicago to buy the loan. He knew there was a way to manipulate the banks and the system for it to seem as if Lynn were still making payments to the institution, when in reality she’d be making payments to him.

Part of him chafed at the thought of deceiving this woman to whom pride meant so much, but another part realized that there were times when the situation called for desperate measures. As the thought entered his head, he wondered if his mother had ever justified using him by just the same thought.

Lynn left the bank with a heavy heart and anger pulsing through her veins. She’d never met a person she couldn’t out-stubborn until this morning. Cochran wanted her land—but he wanted all of it and he wanted her out of the house in less than ten days.

Seth leaned casually against the hood of his car. Give him a cigarette and a leather jacket and he’d look the same as he had fourteen years ago. Her heart pounded a little faster at the sight of him, but she knew that nothing could come of it. Men were bad news for her.

“What did he say?” Seth asked, straightening as she approached.

She tried to utter the words, but her throat closed and she had to wrinkle her nose to keep the tears from falling. Instead, she just shook her head.

“Take my money,” he said to her.

Never in her life had her pride stung more than at that moment. She wanted her ranch, but taking money from Seth Connelly was something she simply couldn’t do. “I can’t.”

Anger crossed Seth’s face, but she sensed it wasn’t directed at her. “I’m going to talk to this man. Give me your notes.”

“I don’t think it will help. He’s a barracuda.”

“I’m a lawyer, sweetheart. We’re known for being sharks.”

“I don’t want to think of you swimming in the same water as that man.”

“Wait in the car. I’ll be right back.”

“Seth—”

“Let me do this, Lynn. I owe your family a debt, and it’s the only option you’ve left me.”

“Okay.” She handed over the folder that held all of the paperwork on the ranch’s mortgage. She was careful not to let their fingers brush, remembering the sensation that had rocked her the last time. But more than anything, she wished she could lean against him. Rest against his tall, strong body and let her troubles recede if only for a few minutes. But Seth was a weakness she couldn’t afford.

He opened the Jag’s door for her and she watched him walk back into the bank. It was a cold, blustery day and the mountains in the distance seemed to look down on the little town of Sagebrush with wise eyes. She felt their stare and knew that the mountains weren’t really censoring her for giving her trust blindly. But realizing that her friends and neighbors would know how foolish she’d been didn’t make her feel confident that they wouldn’t look on her the same way.

She tried to weigh her options objectively. If Matt were here, would he take Seth’s money? She doubted it. Matt preferred relationships that were equal, and if he’d taken money from Seth, their friendship would be forever changed.