A Family Kind of Guy by Lisa Jackson Read Free Book Online

discomfiture. Amused!
    â€œTryin’ to buy the ranch out from under me, that’s what he’s doin’,” her father said, his blue gaze blistering. “I told him I’m not selling.”
    â€œWhy would you?”
    â€œBecause it’s too much for him.” Mason was matter-of-fact.
    â€œWho’re you to determine that? Just ’cause I had a little heart attack don’t mean I’ve got one foot in the grave.” Her father was as irascible as ever. Good. That meant he was getting better.
    â€œJust think about it, okay?” Mason suggested. “And while you’re at it, you might want to talk to Brynnie.”
    â€œWhy?” her father demanded, suspicion flashing in his eyes.
    â€œShe’s going to be your wife, isn’t she?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œThen you probably should ask her what she wants.”
    â€œI always do.”
    One of Mason’s brows rose skeptically. “I’ll bring you the offer. You can read it over.”
    John looked about to argue but clamped his mouth shut.
    With a nod to Bliss, Mason strode across the wedge of sunlight that had pierced the gloomy interior of the barn, shouldered open the door until it bounced against the wall and disappeared. A few seconds later a truck’s engine roared to life and gravel sprayed from beneath heavy tires.
    â€œNo-account bastard,” her father said as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a plug of chewing tobacco. He started to bite into the black wad, then hesitated, as if he’d caught the censure in his daughter’s eyes. “It’s just a little chew, Blissie, and since I can’t smoke… Oh, hell.” He shoved the dark plug back into his pocket. “What’s Lafferty want this place for? He owns property all over the West.” John hung his pitchfork on a peg near the door and walked outside, where the breath of a breeze cooled the air. Leaves, lush and green on the apple tree near the front porch, turned softly in the wind.
    â€œI was hoping you were down here taking it easy,” she said.
    â€œI am.”
    â€œI don’t think working in the barn and arguing at the top of your lungs is what the doctors had in mind.”
    â€œWhat do they know?”
    â€œCome on, Dad,” she cajoled as they reached her car.
    â€œDon’t you start in on me, too. I’ve spent the last few weeks cooped up in bed, so I thought I’d come into the barn and clean up a bit. Nothin’ more. Then Lafferty showed up.” He glowered at the driveway. “I’ve thought about sellin’ out, but it galls me to think that a no-account like Lafferty wants to buy.”
    â€œWhat do you care?” she asked and her father’s eyes flashed. “Weren’t you the guy who always said, ‘Money is money, as long as it’s green’?”
    â€œI know, I know,” he agreed as Oscar explored the shrubbery around the house. “It’s just that I care about this place, even if Brynnie doesn’t.”
    â€œWhy doesn’t she like it?”
    He shrugged. “Too many bad memories here for her, I guess.” He settled a hip against her fender as sunlight bounced off the convertible’s glossy finish.
    â€œBecause you were married to Mom?” Bliss asked, her heart wrenching.
    â€œEven though your mother never lived here, it bothered Brynnie.”
    â€œBecause you were married.”
    â€œI suppose.”
    Oh, God, this was going to be hard. A stepmother. One who had been involved with her father for a long, long time. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she shouldn’t have come back.
    â€œI’ll look over the damned offer,” he admitted, “but I’m not gonna accept it.”
    Oscar romped over, wagged his tail. As Bliss reached down to scratch him behind his ears, she glanced at the wake of dust that was settling on the long gravel drive.
    â€œI know it was