Hell on Heels by Victoria Vane Read Free Book Online Page B

twenty grand had seemed a sure bet.
    How could she have so grossly miscalculated him? She needed this cowboy to keep things running until she could line up a buyer. And that could take time.
    She swallowed. Hard. “Look, when I offered you . . . I-I never really thought . . .”
    â€œYou never thought what?” He smirked. “That I’d take you up on it? I guess you should have considered that possibility before you threw it out there.”
    She bit her lip. “Are you saying you’d really pass up all that money just to humiliate me?”
    His demeanor softened almost imperceptibly. “I never came with the intention of humiliating you, Ms. Brandt. That was all your doing. You’re the one who resorted to rudeness and threats. I’ve done nothing here but follow your lead.”
    â€œAll right. I concede your point.” She dropped her gaze, hoping a meeker approach might appeal to his sense of chivalry. “Look, Ty, I’m sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, but please try to understand how stressful this situation has been for me.”
    â€œApology accepted,” he said, “but I still ain’t working for you.”
    â€œBut it’s not fair of you to just walk out on me like this,” she said, “Not when you know I need your help.”
    â€œI tried to help . . . initially, but my help is not really what you want, is it?
    â€œTell me what I need to do to make it right, Ty.”
    â€œThere’s something you gotta understand here. It was never my intent to leave you high and dry, but you led us down this path. My decision has nothing to do with money and everything to do with your mistrust and suspicions.”
    â€œBut I just apologized for that. C’mon, Ty, there’s too much on the line here to let personal animosities get in the way.”
    â€œThis matter was decided before I ever walked in here. I don’t know how much clearer I can make myself. I. Don’t. Want. To. Work. For. You.”
    Damn it all! She’d always held her own in the boardroom. She’d even managed to one-up Evan in the end, but the normal business tactics of coercion and intimidation had completely failed with Ty. He was the proverbial mountain that wouldn’t be moved. She’d never felt at such a disadvantage before, which made no sense. Didn’t she hold all the cards?
    â€œQuit playing games with me,” she snapped. Admittedly she’d screwed up, but she wasn’t ready to grovel. “Tell me what you want.”
    â€œYou really wanna know what I want?”
    â€œYes,” she hissed.
    â€œI want to rebuild this hotel just as Tom and I agreed to do the day he had the stroke.”
    â€œHow can I know you’re even telling me the truth? How can I be certain that discussion wasn’t the cause of his stroke?”
    His lips curved into a smug smile. “I guess you’ll just have to trust me. Is that really so hard for you, Ms. Brandt?”
    â€œ Trust you ?” She gave a derisive snort. “That’s like issuing a blank check. Do you think I’m crazy?”
    He cocked his head. “To be honest, I really don’t know what to make of you.”
    She blew out an exasperated breath. “Then that makes two of us. I don’t understand you either.”
    â€œI’m not that hard to figure. In fact, I’m well known as a straight shooter. So is Tom. If this is the way you’re gonna go about things, you don’t know him at all. If you want me to stay on, you’ll honor his wishes. Those are my terms.”
    â€œThat’s not what we’re negotiating here! I’m selling this place, whether you like it or not.”
    â€œIf that’s the case, we’re already done talking.” He turned to go.
    She grabbed his sleeve. “Wait! How do you think Tom would feel if he knew you walked out on me?”
    His expression darkened. “Don’t try to make