The Tycoon's Son. Cindy Kirk

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ the bay or the gray or the black roan would die this winter. Trish took a moment to compose herself. Ever since she’d been a child she’d loved animals. While her encounters with horses had been few, these proud, well-spirited ponies had found their way into her heart.

      She thought of the money Elias Stamos would give, and how it could make the difference in these horses surviving the winter…or not.

      While Theo hadn’t been overly friendly, he hadn’t been hostile, either. Maybe now that he’d had time to think, he’d be willing to take the money and give these horses a chance at a better life. She simply had to try again…

      “I was wondering if you’d thought more about my offer,” Trish said.

      A tiny muscle jumped in his jaw. “No,” he said. “I haven’t.”

      It might not have been the most encouraging answer she could have gotten but it gave Trish something to build upon.

      “I know,” she said. “There hasn’t been much time. It seemed like I’d barely left the taverna to meet Sal when it was time for the tour to start.”

      “Sal?” He stopped and turned to face her.

      He stood so close Trish could see the sheen of sweat on his brow and she realized his eyes looked more gold than brown in the light. Her heart did a little flip-flop in her chest.

      “Sal?” he repeated.

      “My friend.” Trish gestured with her head toward the back of the group. “The blonde.”

      “The woman with Larry,” Theo said, his eyes dark and inscrutable.

      “Jerry,” Trish said, automatically.

      Theo’s gaze remained fixed on hers. “Is he a friend of yours, too?”

      Trish frowned. Why were they talking about a salesman from Cincinnati when they had more important things to discuss…like Theo accepting the money so the wild horses could survive.

      “Sally and I just met him this afternoon,” Trish said impatiently.

      “I didn’t know you were in Corfu with a friend.”

      “That’s not important.” Trish wished he’d quit talking and listen to what she had to say.

      He started walking again and the road came into view. Time was running out. Dear God, they were almost to the van.

      “Theo.” She grabbed his arm. “Please. There’s something I have to say to you.”

      He hesitated only a second before stepping off to the side and letting the rest of the group follow the trail to the van.

      “You want to apologize.” It was more a statement of fact than a question.

      “Apologize?” Trish shook her head, suddenly confused. “No, I want you to reconsider my offer.”

      “Offer?” A hardness edged the word.

      “The bonus if you sign the agreement.” Trish spoke quickly, sensing a wall was on its way up. When she’d walked away from Theo earlier, she’d told herself she’d done her best. She’d asked. He’d said no. But this was no longer just about her. This was about the ponies. “Think of all the good you could do for these animals with that kind of money.”

      He opened his mouth then closed it. Trish felt a surge of hope.

      “New watering stations,” she said in her most persuasive tone. “Grain and other feed to last them through the winter.” She leaned close. “Enough money to ensure that no horse will have to die this year.”

      A moment of longing crossed his face before his lips firmed. “If I agree to work with Elias Stamos.”

      “If you agree to resume doing excursions for Liberty Line,” Trish clarified.

      He waved a dismissive hand. “Same thing.”

      A puzzle piece clicked into place. “It’s him. He’s the reason you won’t sign. You have something against Elias Stamos.”

      She asked only out of curiosity. He’d made it clear he wasn’t going to do the excursions. While that didn’t bode well for her agency’s bottom line, Trish had survived tough times before and she would again.

      “I gave you my answer.” Theo’s words were accusatory. “But instead of respecting that decision, you come on this excursion and interrupt my business for the sole purpose of getting me to change my mind.”

      The idea was so ridiculous Trish couldn’t help but laugh. “You make it sound as if I’m stalking you.”

      She expected him to laugh, too. Or at least crack a smile. But her words were met with a chilling silence. This conversation was going from bad to worse.

      “Mr. Catomeris?” An older woman tapped Theo’s shoulder. “Will there be restrooms at our next stop?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Theo answered politely.

      The woman looked at Trish. “Miss, your friend said to tell you she’s saving you a seat in the back of the van.”

      “Thank you.” Trish smiled, then heaved a sigh of relief when the woman scurried off.

      “I should get back to the group,” Theo said, but surprisingly he made no move to leave.

      Trish shared his reluctance, knowing this was probably the last time they would be alone. Once she boarded the ship tonight, she would sail off to the next port and he would remain in Corfu.

      “Goodbye, Mrs. Melrose,” he said finally.

      “Goodbye…Theo.” Trish reached into her pocket and pulled out the business card she’d forgotten to give him earlier. “If you change your mind or just want to talk about the offer some more, I hope you’ll give me a call.”

      Theo hesitated for only a moment before his fingers curved around the card she held out. “I won’t change my mind.”

      “I understand you feel that way now,” Trish said. “But sometimes things change. Just remember I really want your business. I think we’d make a great team.”

      “You don’t give up, do you?”

      “The contract is important to me,” she said. “Now that I’ve seen them, helping these horses is important to me, too.”

      “We need to get to the van,” he said. “So you can get back to the ship on time.”

      Okay, so he hadn’t said he’d do it. But given time she knew she could persuade him. Unfortunately time was the one thing she didn’t have.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      AT SLIGHTLY BEFORE eight o’clock in the evening the harbor area in Corfu Town teemed with tourists. Many of them, exhausted after a day of tours and shopping, stood quietly, waiting to get back on the ship. Theo took his place at the end СКАЧАТЬ