Ramagos, Tonya - Strictly Accountable [Stud Service 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Tonya Ramagos Read Free Book Online Page A

first clue of alarm. She didn’t catch it in time to divert the conversation. “We ran into Jake. You remember him, don’t you, darling? He’s such a nice young man. He asked about you. Of course, he always does every time we see him. He said he saw you when you and your sisters were here last year.”
    Sabrina wrinkled her nose at the memory. Overweight and needy to the ick power, seeing him hadn’t been one of the highlights of her trip home. Then again, that particular trip when her parents dropped their happy-grandchildren bombshell really didn’t produce any highlights at all.
    “He works for Hertz Rent-a-Car. Savannah and I got a car from him when we arrived at the airport.”
    “That’s what he said last night. He really likes you, you know. You could do a lot worse.”
    “Oh, please, Mom. I know you’re going bonkers for more grandchildren, but surely you want them to come from a better gene pool than that.” Like a pair of drool-over-me Wranglers encasing one spectacular cowboy by the name of Brody Holt.
    Down girl, Sabrina silently scolded herself. The minute she started thinking about gene pools, she’d start remembering that kiss, the one that rocked her world two ways from Sunday and very nearly stole her soul.
    Nope, not a good idea to think about that right now . Or to remember how George did little to calm the need that kiss instilled inside her. George was apparently losing his jungle powers. Or maybe he simply needed fresh batteries.
    “What I want are grandchildren,” her mother stated, drawing her back from her reverie. “And I’m starting to wonder if you even know how to get a man out of his jeans.”
    Sabrina’s jaw dropped, and she swerved. The tires skidded onto the soft dirt shoulder of the back country road before she righted the steering once more. “Mother!” No way would she comment on that further. It was time to change the subject, and fast. “This is not the reason I called last night. I needed to talk to you or Daddy about ranch business and Generator’s Charmer.”
    “Why would you want to talk about your father’s horse?” Maria’s confusion came thick through the line. “William bought that horse two years ago because he simply fell in love with it. You know that, sweetheart.”
    “Yes. I do.” It was one of the few times in her life she’d seen her father act total ga-ga over something. Kindred spirits, she’d thought as she’d watched him with the horse, listened to him boast about what a fantastic animal the horse was and how he absolutely had to have him. “I wondered if you could look through the records and see how much he paid for it.”
    “I don’t need to look it up. I know exactly what he paid.”
    When her mother rattled off the number, Sabrina very nearly swerved again. “You’re sure?” No way. That was triple the horse’s worth!”
    “Positive. It’s not often your father will agree to such an exorbitant price for an animal, but he wanted it that badly. Why would you ask about Generator’s Charmer, Brina?”
    “Brody Holt has hired me to take care of the Holt family income taxes. There’s some, um, curious things that I can’t discuss.”
    “What is it about a person’s death that tends to make you see them in a different light?” her mother wondered.
    Sabrina guessed rumors were starting to spread through the ranch vines, but she didn’t ask. “Ironic, isn’t it.”
    “And what about the youngest Holt, this Brody? Is there any curiosity there?”
    Sabrina heard the question her mother left unasked and thought she had far more curiosities about the man than she was willing to share. “He’s a client, Mother.”
    “That’s how many people meet their true love, darling.”
    “So I’ve heard. Listen, I’m almost to Holt’em Up Ranch. I love you, Mom. And tell Daddy I love him, too.” She turned off her Bluetooth, severing the connection as she pulled into the long drive of the Holt ranch. It didn’t occur to her until