A Moment To Love by Jennifer Faye Read Free Book Online Page B

talked down to him. With great difficulty, he swallowed his indignation.
    “Yes, he’ll verify it. Does this buy me some time?”
    “I’ll need to speak to Mr. Forbes.”
    The woman summarized what they’d already discussed. Cord’s thoughts strayed back to another businesswoman—the one with a sweet tooth. He couldn’t help but wonder if Lexi would be as difficult to deal with as the woman on the phone. Although after haggling with Lexi over some silly candy bar and then finding out she liked to play hide and seek with the truth, he decided she’d definitely be worse.
    Cord gave his word to the banker to be in touch as soon as he got more information about the interested party and hung up. The weight of his hasty agreement weighed on his shoulders like a gigantic boulder, threatening to crush him. How could he have promised the bank a buyer—a buyer whose blue eyes weaved a charming spell over him—a buyer who wanted to destroy his little piece of heaven on earth?

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    T he following morning, after assuring her father that she would e-mail him pictures of the ghost town in a day or two, Alexis dressed in a new topaz sundress that stopped a couple of inches above her knees. On her feet, she slipped on a new pair of tooled cowgirl boots. She worried the inside of her lip while trying to decide if she should wear such a casual outfit to conduct business. However, with her luggage still lost, her only options consisted of her dirty suit or the new things she’d picked up at Miss Mabel’s Dress Shop and Sam’s Hitchin’ Post.
    She wondered what Cord would think of her makeover. She wasn’t so sure what she made of it herself. As she applied a light layer of foundation, she imagined herself as a cowgirl, riding horseback and rounding up a herd of cows. She laughed at the image—executive, up-town-girl goes country chic.
    A month ago, the idea simply would not have crossed her mind, but after being here in the Southwest, where the sun warmed her face and the wind combed through her hair, she found herself drawn to this place like a hummingbird to sweet, red nectar.
    Oh, who was she kidding? She’d never be a cowgirl. Her life was in a high-rise in downtown Manhattan. She had to think of her father. He’d spent years putting her interests ahead of his own, trying to be the best single parent. He’d planned out her future probably before she’d even been born. Now it was time for her to live up to his expectations by walking the walk and talking the talk.
    Her father deserved no less than for her to look after him—starting with finalizing this deal for the land to build their latest resort—the key to saving her father’s life’s work. She just needed to get through to Cord. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Why couldn’t he see reason?
    Alexis ran the brush over her hair. Pushing Cord may have worked to gain his chocolate bar, but something told her it wouldn’t work in buying his land—especially when he learned she had no intention of buying anything unless the ghost town was part of the package. She should make some sort of friendly gesture to regain her footing with him, but nothing over the top. It had to be something subtle but thoughtful.
    She pulled her shoulders back and gave her reflection a nod of approval before heading for the door. The brilliant sunshine blinded her at the exact moment a light bulb went on in her mind. She shielded her eyes with her hand, gaining clarity on her surroundings. In that moment, a plan formed in her mind—a way to sweeten Cord’s sour disposition. Chocolate. After all, she owed him some. He surely wouldn’t turn away her peace offering.
    The Hitchin’ Post was only a few blocks down from her motel. In fact, with a limited number of stores, shopping in Whistle Stop could easily be accomplished on foot. However, when the resort was built, the town would flourish with supermarkets, department stores and a business district. The thought of