Ready, Set, I Do!

It only figured she wasn’t going to make this easy. He’d start with the basics and save the best—or rather the worst—for the finale.

“The man can’t be trusted, Hailey. He’s out for himself.”

To his surprise, Hailey looked slightly amused. “Is the pot calling the kettle black?”

Winn blinked. “What?”

“You and your father are masters at looking out for number one.” There wasn’t an ounce of censure in Hailey’s matter-of-fact tone. “It only figures you’d recognize those characteristics in Josh.”

What was he supposed to say to that? Did she even expect a response?

“You’re aware of Josh’s duplicity?” Winn spoke slowly, cautiously, feeling like a soldier making his way through a minefield.

“I am.” Though her tone gave nothing away, her eyes took on a sheen.

Winn’s gut clenched. Josh was a rotten little weasel for putting that look in her eyes. “How did you find out?”

Her strangled laugh told him she was close to letting those tears fall. “You mean, how did I finally wise up to the fact he was using me to get close to my brother?”

Now Winn was thoroughly confused. “I was talking about the woman he’s been dating in Idaho Falls.”

Hailey dropped her cup to the table with a clatter. But when she spoke, her voice was deadly calm. “What woman?”

“An attorney named Kelly. That’s all I know.” He paused as her earlier words sank in. “He was using you to get close to Tripp? Why?”

Before answering, she scrubbed her hands across her face. When she met his gaze, her eyes were dry.

“Apparently, Josh has political aspirations. Tripp is considering hiring a mayoral assistant.” She lifted the latte to her lips but only held it there. “What better way to get a leg up on the competition than to become personally acquainted with the man himself through his beloved little sister?”

Winn heard the pain beneath the sarcasm. Though he might admire Josh’s ability to think outside the box in pursuit of a goal, he decried his ethics. “How did you find out?”

“A friend of a friend.” Hailey raised one shoulder in a slight shrug. “He’d done some bragging. It got back to me.”

“He’s a fool.”

“I was the fool.” Hailey’s chuckle held no humor. “Up to now, I consoled myself with the fact that he liked me, at least a little. Now it appears I was truly only a means to an end. Tell me how you found out about the attorney.”

Winn hated the sadness that darkened her eyes. “She doesn’t matter.”

“I want to know.” Hailey reached across the table, clamped her fingers around his wrist. “Tell me.”

He looked into those baby blues and his heart wrenched. What he told her would only add to her pain and he was sorry for it.

“Last week I had a lunch meeting in Idaho Falls,” he began.

With a metro population well over a hundred thousand, Winn hadn’t expected to run into anyone he knew. Then, across the dining room at a trendy eatery on A Street, he’d spotted Josh with a pretty brunette.

He assumed it was strictly business between the two...until he saw them kiss. It wasn’t a little peck, either. Winn’s associate had noticed him staring and mentioned Kelly was an attorney at his wife’s legal firm. The guy with her was her boyfriend, Josh.

By the time Winn finished, Hailey’s face had gone stony.

She pressed her lips together. “A cheat as well as an opportunist.”

Winn took a sip of coffee and nodded.

“I don’t appreciate being played for a fool.”

“Who does?” Winn understood the sense of shock, betrayal and embarrassment. Even after almost eight years, the fact that he’d been played so completely still stuck in his craw.

“Thanks for telling me. I appreciate it.” Hailey’s lips lifted in a tremulous smile. “Some wouldn’t have said a word.”

“The way I see it, if you can’t trust your friends to have your back, what good are they?” Winn said casually.

But when he met her gaze, he had to fight back the sudden urge to take her in his arms, to kiss her until the sadness had vanished from her eyes and the sunny smile was back on her lips.

Friends, he thought with a rueful smile. Yeah, right.

Chapter Two (#ulink_5214621a-7baf-5aa5-949b-e0f7305cc11b)

After the discussion with his boss and subsequent conversation with Hailey, the last person Winn wanted to see was his father. But he promised his dad he’d stop by the ranch at noon. And that, he thought sourly, gave credence to the saying that bad things came in threes.

Winn turned off the highway onto a long lane with white fences on each side. He mentally put his Mercedes on autopilot and considered how much to divulge about his recent setback. While he might now be playing gentleman rancher, Jim Ferris was a businessman to the core. In his father’s eyes, if a man failed at anything it was his own damn fault. That was exactly how he’d view the project delay.

Though the golf-course development remained a political hot potato because of the environmentally sensitive guidelines it butted up against, the delay was on Winn’s back. He should have found palms to grease or, failing that, pushed harder. As his father was fond of saying, only a fool takes no for an answer.

Winn pulled his car to a stop in front of the sprawling ranch home and decided he’d answer his father’s questions honestly but not bring up the matter first. Barely noticing the beds of flowers in full bloom flanking the walkway, Winn stepped to the front door and knocked.

He’d been told many times there was no need for such formality, but walking unannounced into a home that wasn’t his didn’t feel right.

After a few moments, Elena Hernandez, his father’s housekeeper, opened the door with a welcoming smile. Though she was close to his dad’s age, the jet-black hair pulled back in a twist didn’t show the slightest hint of gray. Today, she wore dark tailored pants and a crisp white shirt.

Winn wondered if the outfit was her idea or his father’s. Regardless, she must not have an issue with the new uniform. From what Winn observed, Elena had a way of getting her way without the old man realizing it. That talent alone made Winn admire and respect her.

“It’s nice to see you, Mr. Ferris.”

“Good morning—ah—afternoon, Elena.” Winn glanced around the entryway with its beamed ceilings and travertine, stucco walls.

Normally by this time his father would be bellowing how he was late, even if Winn was early. But the house stood quiet, with only the soft swish from a ceiling fan and a faint, sultry salsa beat that appeared to be coming from the kitchen.

Winn lifted a brow and Elena flushed. “Mr. Ferris did not mention he was expecting visitors.”

“This place needs a little music.”

Relief washed over Elena’s face.

“Is he in his office?”

“I’m afraid your father isn’t here.”