Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Not for the first time in Leo’s life was he surprised by the fact that he had a billionaire for a cousin.
Sheesh. The plane his cousin owned was the sort one would see in the movies.
It didn’t have traditional seats by a long shot.
In the back there was a bedroom. He’d seen the bed.
The bathroom was full-size, too. And in the general seating area were lounge chairs and couches.
Sure, some of the chairs were adjacent to tables so those who used the plane could do work, but this plane looked more like a luxury hotel room than an aircraft.
His eyes shifted to Reese where he fidgeted. His eyes were glued to something outside the window. Out of the four passengers on this plane, Reese was decidedly the one who was the most miserable.
Leo smirked. His brother had gotten attached to a widow who was staying with Noah, and the woman wasn’t interested in anything serious.
Heck, she probably wasn’t interested in anything at all when it came to dating.
She had two small kids and she was just visiting for the summer.
Reese couldn’t have picked someone harder to get than Serenity.
Reese glanced in his direction and a scowl marred his handsome features.
Yep. Somehow his brother knew exactly what Leo had been thinking.
But what could he expect? They were brothers—and probably as close to each other as most twins.
Leo had a knack of knowing what was going on with his brother at all times.
“What?” Reese snapped.
Leo shrugged. “Nothing.”
His older brother scoffed. “That look wasn’t nothing.”
Snickering, Leo turned his attention to his phone. “Any idea why Bo thought we’d be the best team for this project? Why not pick someone else? Heck, I’m sure Jane could have hired some guys—”
“Apparently, Jane thought it would be best to have people who were already familiar with Sagebrush. We’re keeping it in the family,” Reese drawled, his irritation fading.
Yeah. That sounded about right. Jane had come from one of those families that went to church every single Sunday.
There wasn’t a single uncharitable bone in her entire body.
The woman was a saint which was why she’d managed to convince her new husband to spend his hard-earned millions on a charity for special needs children and military veterans.
Equine therapy wasn’t readily available.
Okay, affordable equine therapy wasn’t readily available. And the second Jane had fallen in love with being at Sagebrush Ranch, she knew she’d wanted to change that fact. And Noah loved her enough to make those dreams come true.
He glanced at his cousin briefly and hated the twinge of longing he got whenever he noticed the look of adoration they had for one another.
He didn’t believe in love at first sight.
It was a ridiculous notion at best. But it didn’t stop him from wanting to find someone and settle down.
He simply hadn’t found someone who was worth the effort.
A sigh slipped from his lips and he glanced at his brother again. Reese had found someone he wanted to spend his life with. No one could deny that. All they had to do was give Reese one glance when he was with Serenity and the truth unraveled.
If things worked out between them, he’d be one lucky son of a gun.
Leo stared at his phone without really seeing what was on the screen. Maybe it was time he started looking for someone who could make him smile like Jane did for Noah. Like Serenity did for Reese.
When he got back to Montana, that was what he’d do.
Maybe he’d even have his cousin Hallie set him up on a date with one of her friends.
All he needed was a nice country girl with good family values.
She’d be a good cook. She’d want a family—lots of kids.
The woman for him would appreciate sunsets and quiet walks.
She’d appreciate the simplicity a life at Sagebrush Ranch could offer.
The pilot’s voice came over the intercom system.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re preparing to make our descent. Please ensure your belongings have been properly stowed and you’re safely buckled into your seats. The weather is a balmy eighty-two degrees with a low of sixty-three. Skies are clear with low possibility of rain…”
Leo turned to his window. Bo might have picked him to be the liaison between Sagebrush and Jane’s charity because he saw something in him, but Leo knew better.
He didn’t work well with people—especially city folk who didn’t know how to live on their own without the sort of amenities places like New York offered.
They were to meet with one of the higher-ups at the fortune five-hundred company who had agreed to finance the build for the equine therapy program. Leo had lost track of how many times Jane had tossed him a concerned look especially when Noah asked him to be on his best behavior.
He resented the fact that they were more worried about him than his brother. Reese was the one with the attitude.
Well, currently, anyway.
Leo would be good. They didn’t have to be concerned. Just because he couldn’t stand being in the company of pompous big-whigs didn’t mean he couldn’t fake it. Leo would charm the pants off of this CEO guy. He’d make sure the man was left wanting more.
They got off the plane and were escorted into a limo. It was ridiculous, but Noah said he hadn’t called for the car. The company had sent it.
Two nights. They’d be here for two nights and then they could be back on that plane to Rocky Ridge. He could do this.
Leo exchanged a look with Reese the second they pulled up to the skyscraper.
The building rose into the sky so high that he nearly got dizzy looking up at it.
“Remind me not to offend these guys,” he murmured to his brother.
“I get the feeling they know how to handle people who disrespect them.” He made a show of dragging his thumb across his neck.
Reese smirked and Jane shot him a sharp look.
Noah rolled his eyes.
They headed for the front entrance and a doorman granted them entrance.
Leo made another face at his brother. This was all a little too excessive for his liking.
He still didn’t think it would have been too hard for the people working in this building to charter their own jet and come to them in Montana.
Sure, Jane and Noah had made a good point when they’d told him earlier that the people with the money get to call the shots—that they’re busy and their time is worth more.
But to claim it was about respect? That was hogwash.
Respect breeds respect.
There was something called good faith. And to have these people come out to the location where their hard-earned dollars would be spent… well, wouldn’t that be a better plan?
The reception space for the office building was huge.
There was a desk with at least ten people behind it from security to secretaries.
A sitting area had expensive-looking chairs spread out to allow visitors their privacy when on the phone or waiting to be seen.
There was a small café to the right and the smell of coffee and pastries permeated the air.
A hallway around the side of the main reception desk would allow visitors access to the elevator. And that was where they needed to go.
Noah and Jane were already checking their group in with the security desk. Reese was busy on his phone and Leo allowed himself to observe the people coming and going.
They were all dressed in high-powered suits. Some of the women wore pencil skirts, while others wore slacks. It didn’t matter what they were wearing, they looked utterly uncomfortable.
He glanced down at his weathered jeans and black Henley. It wasn’t the worst thing he could have worn. But he was severely underdressed. Did these people expect him to come here in a suit? He wasn’t sure he even had one that fit anymore.
“Leo, let’s go.” Jane gestured toward the elevators. “They’re ready for us.”
He sighed. Hopefully this meeting would go well enough they wouldn’t have to come back again.
Whatever questions they might have regarding this project, Jane and Noah would be able to answer.
Leo was only supposed to cover anything that had to do with Sagebrush itself.
But seeing as Sagebrush Ranch was only providing the land, and maybe some of the horses, he wouldn’t have to interact with any of these stuffed-shirt city folk.
This project? It was all Jane. She’d be able to handle the brunt of it. Right?
Reese shoved his phone into his pocket as the elevator doors slid closed. Jane and Noah spoke in quiet voices. Leo counted down the seconds before they would be leaving.
They were ushered into a conference room and there they waited.
“I thought you said they were ready for us,” he groaned, leaning his shoulder against the wall. He folded his arms as he directed the statement to Jane.
Noah gave him a warning look.
Yeah, Leo knew his attitude left much to be desired. He was irritated and he wasn’t sure what he could do about it. Maybe he was coming down with something.
The door opened and he rolled his head around to get a good look at the person.
His heart combusted.
There was no other way to describe it. The woman rushing toward the front of the room was drop-dead gorgeous.
She had long, black hair that fell in waves.
The navy skirt and the pale blue blouse she wore only accentuated her slight curves.
He caught a flash of red beneath her heels.
How could she walk so effortlessly in those shoes?
“Alright everyone. Sorry I’m late. I was in another meeting that ran long.
” Her head lifted and their eyes locked.
For a moment he wanted to believe that she felt the zap of connection between them too.
But then her focus shifted toward the others in the room.
She flashed a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
He got the strangest sense that this woman had never offered a truly genuine smile before.
Jane stepped forward. “You must be Ms. Jerris.”
Leo’s eyes dipped to Ms. Jerris’s left hand in search of a ring then he immediately berated himself.
What was he thinking? This woman was beautiful, but she was poison.
He didn’t have to look twice at her to know that fact.
The way she carried herself showed just how impersonal and stuck up she probably was.
She let her focus dart to Reese and Noah before returning to Jane. “Shall we get down to business?”
The meeting went exactly as Leo had expected.
The woman knew next to nothing about horses, ranching, or even the way equine therapy worked.
She was only interested in numbers and how the project would come to fruition.
She avoided looking at Leo unless she had to—even after Jane introduced him as the liaison between Sagebrush and her company.
If that was how she planned on treating him, then this wasn’t going to work.
Leo shot a look in Noah and Jane’s direction. They didn’t seem to notice how she looked her nose down on him—on all of them.
“We’ve received your suggestions for contractors. Are you certain there are no other options? Perhaps we could—”
Leo had put up with questions about the town they lived in. He’d put up with stupid questions about the program Jane had already fleshed out. He was done with the nitpicking. He leaned back in his seat and let out a derisive laugh. “No offense, Ms. Jerris, but have you been living under a rock?”
“I… beg your pardon?” It was the first time she’d graced him with more than a glance since they’d sat down at the table.
“Leo—” Noah and Jane warned at the same time.
Reese gave them a worried look.
Leo ignored them all. He leaned forward and tapped a finger on the table.
“Rocky Ridge might be making a name for itself lately what with all the people who have decided to move there. We have some interesting folks to be sure. But the fact remains. It’s still a tiny town.
Now, you tell me something since you’re such a great businesswoman,” he sneered.
Kat gawked at him. She probably hadn’t experienced anyone speaking to her this way in her entire life. He drew moderate pleasure from this notion. Someone had to put her in her place.
“With a town as small as Rocky Ridge, how many contractors do you think can find enough work to keep the lights on? This isn’t about having options.
This isn’t about finding the least expensive option or even the highest quality option.
The people in Rocky Ridge are good, genuine community members who want nothing more than to contribute.
So, if Mr. and Mrs. Reese give you the name of a company, do yourself a favor and accept it.
” He rose from his seat and stared hard at the businesswoman before him.
It wasn’t even a surprise that she was staring daggers at him. He reveled in her fury.
Good.
Maybe she’d see that he wasn’t going to be the pushover she had hoped him to be. Kat Jerris would get pushback. He’d be the one to keep her on her toes. This wasn’t her project, after all. After the building was constructed, there would be no reason for them to interact with each other.
He headed for the door, but her voice stopped him.
“Mr. Chambers. With all due respect, we didn’t grow to be the company we are without asking questions.
I wouldn’t be the successful woman I am if I didn’t cover everything.
We need to make sure our investment is in good hands and while I trust Jane and Noah implicitly, I am still going cross every ‘T’ and dot every ‘I’. ”
He didn’t turn around to look at her. As far as he was concerned, this meeting was over.
She didn’t even seem interested in talking to him whatsoever.
Her words were only directed toward Jane and Noah.
Occasionally Leo’s brother would make a comment about his plans to secure higher credentials when it came to the therapy services being offered.
Leo pushed into the hallway, ignoring the apologies that Jane practically threw at the woman. The next time Jane asked him to come on one of these adventures, she’d be sorely disappointed.