Unbridled by Beth Williamson Read Free Book Online Page B

was memorable. “Yes, it was me. I was glad to help. Is there something I can help you with today?” Connor sensed she was genuinely distressed about something and wanted to be anyplace but right there. He’d never actually had a stalker before, if that was what she was. Of course the memory of her lips, of those fantastic tits pressed against his chest, made him a bit distracted.
    “I’m looking for Grant F-Finley.” She threw back her shoulders as if girding herself for battle, but her voice shook.
    Ah, yes, she was looking for Grant. The name snapped him back to reality. “And you are?”
    “Oh, sorry; I feel like such a dunce. I’m Alex Finley, Grant’s daughter.” The word daughter got stuck in her throat and sounded more like a croak than a word.
    It was a word, however, that hit Connor square between the eyes.
    Holy fucking shit.
    This was Grant’s daughter? The one the attorney couldn’t find? The one Connor hadn’t known existed until after his best friend’s death? The earth shifted just a bit under his feet as he scrambled to figure out what to say to her. After knowing Grant almost eight years, Connor was still shocked he hadn’t known about the existence of the other man’s daughter. Where the hell had she been?
    “Is there a problem?” Her brows drew together. “Is he not here?”
    “Ma’am, why don’t we sit over here?” He gestured to the sofa and two wing chairs in front of the fireplace. The homey scene did nothing to relieve his shock or stress. What the hell was he supposed to say? Any way he got it out, it was going to sound bad.
    She didn’t look too happy about it, but she sat stiffly on the edge of the left-hand chair. Connor sat on the sofa and put his elbows on his knees.
    “Let me start by telling you who I am.”
    “That’d be helpful.” Her soft murmur told him she had a sarcastic streak he didn’t expect.
    “My name is Connor Matthews and I run Finley’s Ranch. Grant Finley was my boss and friend. We built the guest ranch together.” He cleared his throat and tried to think of a way not to look at her, but her gaze was like a damn magnet. “Grant, ah, unfortunately was killed in a car accident two years ago.”
    Every smidge of color drained from her face, leaving Alex looking as if someone had thrown flour on her cheeks. “Excuse me?”
    “They tried to find you after the attorney read the will but couldn’t. Didn’t know where to start, really.”
    “I didn’t want to be found. I lived off the grid as a renter. There was nothing for me here.” She narrowed her gaze. “Wait a minute, did you say after he read the will? I’m sorry; I don’t understand what’s going on here.” Her voice was wavering on hysterical. “My father dies and you wait until the fucking will is read to try to find me? It would have been nice to know he’d actually died.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “Jesus Christ.”
    Grant had obviously screwed up the situation already with his usual grace. “I’m sorry I don’t have the particulars of what happened. We really should speak to his attorney—”
    “No, I don’t want to wait for the attorney. Tell me what you know. Please.” Her voice had become almost gritty.
    “Look, Miss Finley, I didn’t know Grant had a daughter. He hadn’t mentioned you, but he was kind of private. No one looked for you because we didn’t know you existed, and then when the will was read we didn’t know where to start looking for you. This is awkward as hell since Grant was my friend and I didn’t even know he had a daughter. I mean, maybe Claire knew but—”
    “Who the hell is Claire?” Her voice cut through his like a knife.
    “Grant’s wife. I guess she’d be your stepmoth—”
    Alex stood up and he could see in her eyes that she was going to puke. He pointed at the restroom down the hall and she ran with her hand clamped across her mouth.
    Ah, hell.
     
     
    Alex knelt in front of the toilet shaking and crying. The