“And I might be stuck in a position to encourage compromise?” She eyed him with hope, hope which he couldn’t honor.
“I won’t give up my land. My grandfather fought to keep this land. I’m not giving it up to a bunch of strong-arm politicians.”
“Good to know where you stand.”
“So, maybe we won’t work totally together, but can I count on you to have my back?”
“Yes. I have already decided to do whatever is best for you and your land.” She winced. “Even if you can’t see it.”
He didn’t like it. But he could work with that. “Perfect.” He checked his phone map. “Let’s stop outside of Chicago the first night.”
“That’s one full day of driving.”
”I know. I’m happy the roads are clear. The cold keeps the snow away.” He eyed her from his spot on the passenger side. “And I don’t mind the company.” He allowed himself a small smile. “Even if it is like cavorting with the enemy.”
“I’m not the enemy, Jed. I thought we just established that.”
“Okay, not the enemy. I’ll stop messing with you. This is gonna be a lot of hours on the road. Can we be friends again?” He didn’t think he could ever trust her completely with this situation. After all, only he would care enough to put the land first. Before anything. But he was more than relieved she hadn’t turned out to be the conniving spy he’d originally feared her to be. He reached a hand over, tentatively. “Can we do a little more of this too?” He picked up her hand that rested on her thigh. “And this?” He laced his fingers with hers, running his thumb along the back of her hand. “Dang it, AnnaMae, we had a good thing going. Is it fixable?”
She watched the road, her face serious, but her hand responded to his. “I loved what we started. I don’t know. We’re in a difficult situation, but I think if we work together, we can save your land. After that, for us, who knows?” She turned to look into his face, hers full of hope and, at the same time, resignation. “Let’s face that question at the end of this mess.”
“Deal. In the meantime, I’m gonna act like you’re my girl. I was hoping one day you would be. So if this is the only chance I get, I’m going for it.”
She laughed like he hoped she would. Then she gasped and turned to him. “Jed! That’s a great idea.”
“I’m glad you like it, ‘cause I want a repeat of that kiss too. Mmm.”
“Not complaining.” She laughed. “But listen. This is what we can do. In New York, you’re my assistant and we’re dating.”
“Why do I have to be your assistant? I mean, I don’t mind. The boyfriend thing I like better...”
“Because then you’re in on all the meetings. You can get the inside scoop, and we can work out our strategy together.” She squeezed his hand. “Then you’ll understand what I’m dealing with and who the players are.”
He nodded. More relief warmed him as he saw evidence that she really was fighting for him. “I like this. And I can be an excellent assistant. Take notes for you. Bring you coffee, tell you when your next appointment is...” he wiggled his eyebrows. “Sneak make outs in the broom closet.”
Her smile was his reward. Her face relaxed more: the lines around her eyes softened and a new spark of hope took over. “This might work better than I even hoped, Jed. I really do want to fight for your land. It’s yours.”
“I know. We’ll do this together.” He squeezed her hand and hoped it would work out. He was into her in ways he’d never cared for a woman before. But he had to do whatever it took to save his land. Somehow, maybe, he could come out at the end of all this with his family’s land and the beautiful AnnaMae still talking to him.
Chapter 13
Their night in Chicago was uneventful. They pulled into the hotel at one in the morning, and after a full day of driving, the most they could do was smile sleepily at her door, say good night, and then fall into their respective beds. Today, they would arrive in New York, and she’d invited him to stay at her place, but he’d opted for a hotel closer to his meetings and hers. Okay, that was fine, but it felt to her like a separation. Like their team effort to the save the ranch was not so unified. She couldn’t blame him though. He was in the fight of his life against some powerful people and deep pockets.
He was driving this afternoon and would be when they entered Manhattan. She grinned, thinking of him, his huge truck, and all the crazy New York crowd in one place.
Her phone dinged. Her boss. I need you for a meeting tonight. Drinks @ Julios.
I’ll be there. Arriving in an hour. I’ll bring my new assistant. We can catch him up to speed.
You hired an assistant?
Sort of. I’m seeing him. He’s helpful with this kind of thing, keeps me organized.
No assistant.
He’ll be present at all the other meetings I have to do to work things out.
No assistant for now. We’re talking about some sensitive stuff here, our client wants a confidentiality clause.
I’m aware. Okay, no assistant tonight.
See you at eight.
“I have meetings tonight. Already.” She looked out the window, the bridge just up ahead.
“Me too.”
Her gaze flitted to his. She didn’t like that he was having meetings without her. That was crazy, since she was doing the same, but it felt like more of a separation, like their team was breaking further apart. “But I’ve set up some things for tomorrow that I’d love you to come to...as my date.”
His eyes widened. “Date date? Like I’m your boyfriend?”
“Exactly.” She grinned. The boyfriend was not really needed. She wanted to introduce him, show him off for the guys at work to see. But he also needed to see what he was up against. And if she was being honest with herself, she just wanted him nearby. Was she really willing to give up her job, the name she’d built for herself in the industry, to save Jed’s land? They weren’t really dating. No commitments had been made or even felt, she guessed. He was ready to do whatever it took to save his land, including leaving her. So why was she considering such a risky move? Why go against her boss on this?
Because it felt like the right thing to do. What she needed to figure out was: if she didn’t know Jed, if she hadn’t met him, would she still want to try and save the land?
The traffic slowed to a standstill, the bridge just up ahead. “Here we go. Welcome to Manhattan.”
He groaned. “Tell me again why you live here?”
“Because it was the furthest and most different thing from Thayer Falls I could find.”
He tipped his head. “I’ll give you that. Success.”
She studied his profile. Very few men were as handsome. He understood her roots, her personality, even some of her needs. But if he wasn’t in the picture, if she hadn’t met the owners of the land, she decided, she would still have advised against it. There were other, more obvious recommendations to increase the parkland in that area, parcels that could be preserved without making trouble for ranchers and residents. Without the added knowledge of the oil pipeline, there was no reason at all to go after Jed’s land in such a stranglehold. What they were doing was unethical, plain and simple. She’d never been in such a position before.
The traffic picked up a little bit, and soon they were creeping along, overlooking the river with the tall buildings up ahead. “New York is incredible in small doses.”
He nodded. “I like the energy. But it drains me more than fills me.”
“After your place, I can see that. I’ve never been somewhere that filled me more than your home. Your land––everything as far as I could see––was beautiful. But New York has a charm. I’ve been happy here in my own busy anonymity.”
He pulled into traffic, and immediately the cars around them started heckling, honking, trying to move around his large truck. “I’m trying to keep out of their way. I don’t see the problem.”
“That’s the problem. No one is passive around here. You’re slowing everyone down. J
ust drive selfish, demand your space on the road, and they will stop complaining. Cut someone off. You’ll see.”
So he gunned it and forced his way into traffic and started moving with the flow. She was right.
“Ha, who knew. I feel like an expert.”
Then a traffic officer cut off one lane and forced them to go straight when he’d wanted to go right.
“What! I needed to go up that road. It was going the right direction.”
“There’ll be another. Look.” She pulled up her phone. “Take Forty Second.”
He groaned. “Okay, so I’ll drop you off, and then let’s touch base tonight after your meeting?”
“And yours.”
He nodded absentmindedly, making her wonder if their sharing of information would go both ways.
“And then lunch tomorrow, and dinner too? Dancing?” She knew of a country bar.
“You are so on. That’s what this town needs. A little Jed and AnnaMae to show them how it’s done.”
“Then I’ll introduce you to the guys from work. But don’t let on who you are.”
“I’m still back on the dancing. Me. You. A whole lotta swing. Tossing you around in the air until you learn to fly. That’s when I started to fall for you, you know.”
The part of her that wasn’t all worked up about work, relaxed and warmed at that admission. “You were the only bright spot in that whole wedding.”
He pulled up to her home, a brownstone. The local teens were out in front as usual, looking more sketchy than they really were.
“You safe here?”
“I have been for a year now.”
“Hmm. You could come join me at the hotel.” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m serious. Suddenly, I don’t want to say goodbye.”
A knot of sorrow clenched in her gut. “I don’t either. Let me get through tonight and how about maybe?”
“Fair enough. I’ll get your things out of the back.”
They climbed out of the truck; he wheeled her suitcase over, and then they stood facing each other. Silent. She didn’t know what to say. The next time they met...technically, they would be adversaries, even though she was trying to prove they could work on the same team. “Remember I’ve got your back.”
“Thank you.”
He never said he had hers. Because her back, what would save her career, would destroy his. But she wished he had, wished he’d expressed a confidence in her, an appreciation for their teamwork, a desire to work together. Anything that would have helped give her strength.
His big eyes stared down into hers, the silence lingering. So many unspoken words. At length, he pulled her close, into a great big hug, running his hands down her back, holding her close. “I care for you, AnnaMae. I want there to be an us when this is through.” Unspoken, a large contingency hung in the air. If. She hated that word all of a sudden. If. Did he even know? Did he appreciate what saving his land could cost her? With any luck, she would be able to negotiate in such a way that everyone was happy. Wasn’t that the job of every good mediator?
Too bad mediation was not her area of expertise.
Especially when her heart was so involved. She stepped away but lingered close enough that he could kiss her if he desired, but he didn’t. He tipped an invisible hat and then climbed back into his truck. She watched the taillights until he turned the corner, hoping that wasn’t the last she saw of him on good terms.
Chapter 14
As soon as the door shut behind her, and the New York street noise was muffled, a deep loneliness settled over her, painful and bruising to her insides. A heaviness pressed down from her head. She clutched at her stomach, unable to push the darkness aside as it spread. Powerless, her breathing sped up, her heart raced, and she fell to the floor, gasping for air while she grabbed at the area over her heart. Clenching her shirt, she closed her eyes and counted. A panic attack. She hadn’t had one in years, not since high school, when she was facing off against all the gossiping mothers in Thayer Falls.
Her phone dinged. Gasping, the world blinking in and out, she pulled it out of her pocket. Jed. She clutched it and slid her finger across his name. Hey beautiful. You can do anything. I just wanted you to know, I’ve got your back too.
She exhaled in a great rush and was able to wait before gasping in the next breath. He had her back. Jed had her back. In. Two three. Out two three.
She lay there, controlling her breathing, imagining Jed on the ranch, Jed at breakfast, Jed riding across the meadow, herself flying across the meadow on a horse, flying, arms out. The elk. Freedom. Her breathing settled, her heart slowed, and she relaxed into the floor. Her cheek on the cold tile, clutching the phone to her chest, she texted back. Thank you.
She lay there a moment longer, enjoying the peace, the calm in the storm. More would come, more rough water, windy storms. Her meeting with the boss tonight would feel uncomfortable. But now, she felt the eye. The quiet moment. She let herself relax into thoughts of Jed and the happy times on his beautiful land.
All too soon, she picked herself back up off the floor and made her way to the shower. Tonight, she would wear power clothes: a black suit, her favorite color shirt––deep green, her most comfortable spike heels. Miles was short. She loved to tower over him. And her best lipstick slid on with a vengeance. Then she called a cab, gathered her research and her laptop, and headed back downstairs.
The ride ended too quickly, but she was prepared. The best possible thing for her to do tonight would be to listen. To encourage lots of talk from her boss and the others and to say as little as possible. Where she could encourage another direction, she would. Otherwise, her plan was to smile and nod and pay attention.
The bar was crowded, but she saw Miles right away, sitting in a booth in the corner, alone.
She approached. “Am I early? Where is everyone?”
He waved her to join him on his side, but she sat down across from him. He toyed with his drink. “They’re not coming. I thought you and I could work this out together without involving all the others. Let the power players work the magic, am I right?”
He laughed and waved for the waitress. “I’ll have another. And get this lady whatever she wants.” His grin was lopsided, a little sloppy. She wondered how much he’d had to drink already.
“Thank you. I’ll just have a water.”
“What, come now, relax a little. We may as well enjoy the night; not all work, right?”
She smiled. “Water’s fine.”
He shrugged and leaned back on his bench. “This new assignment is the deal of the decade. If we pull this off,” he leaned forward and smirked, “let’s just say we can retire the next day. It’ll be that good.”
He’d never mentioned a payoff before. She wondered if he slipped or if it was a regular thing and he was including her this time. “Do I get a cut?”
His eyes turned calculating. “See, this is why I send you to do the borderline cases. You are ruthless.” He swirled the liquid in his cup. “Yes, I’m dealing you in. We seal this deal the way the client wants, and we are sitting pretty.”
She nodded and tried to echo the greedy glint in his eye. “So, what do I need to know?”
He spelled out what Jed had told her. An oil company wanted to pipe oil up through the McCallister property.
“Who’s the client?”
He never told her specific client details, but this time, without blinking, he handed her an envelope. “Here’s all their information, what they want, and the timing.” He gulped down his next drink. “Ignore their proposed timeline. It’s impossible to get through the red tape that’s gotta happen in time for them to build when they want, but they don’t have to know that. The government’s out of our hands. All we do is recommend. After that, who’s to say how long it could take.”
She was shocked. But she put the envelope on the bench beside her. “Thank you.”
“So, are you in, babe?”
Babe?
“You ready to make us the wealthi
est environmentalists that ever were?”
“I’ll do my best. I’ve already told you how impossible this sounds. To anyone reading our report, they’re gonna immediately know something’s up. It doesn’t make sense to sequester off the land in the way they want.”
“Think of something that does make sense. I put you on these cases ‘cause I know you can handle it.” He tapped her forehead. “Use that creative mind of yours.” He clicked his tongue. “But know this. Our client wants the land. This land. He’s not backing down. He’s an all-or-nothing kind of guy. So don’t be attempting some sort of other route for his pipes. He’s got experts working on this, night and day. He knows what he wants.” Miles’s long hair dropped forward on his forehead, and he tossed it back. He blue eyes glinted at her. He rested his hand on the table between them. “Who’s this...assistant?”
Surprised at the turn in conversation, she stammered for a minute. “It’s Jed. We’re together.”
Miles reached a hand forward to cover hers. “You sure about...”
She swallowed and then nodded.
He caressed the back of her hand and moved his palm up her arm. “I just thought we could have something if we let it go there.”
She pulled her hand away and stood, feeling ill and slightly panicked. “Thank you for meeting me. I think I have all the information I need.” She patted the envelope.
He was less and less aware the more he drank. “Okay, babe, I’ll see you around. Let’s work your magic and retire early. You with me?” He held up his fist to bump with hers, and she thought him ridiculous when their fists knocked.
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