The Reluctant Texas Rancher. Cathy Thacker Gillen

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СКАЧАТЬ settled on the arm of the sofa and stretched his legs out. “They asked me to tender my resignation.”

      Liz edged close enough to be able to see his eyes. In the dim light of the cabin, they were the color of an approaching spring storm.

      “So they wouldn’t have to pay you severance, right?”

      Travis shrugged, the turbulent emotion on his face fading to acceptance. “I got something out of it, too,” he admitted quietly. “It always looks better to resign than to be fired.”

      True.

      The uncomfortable silence between them lengthened.

      Travis studied her with narrowed eyes. “What have you heard about what’s been going on?” he asked curiously.

      “In legal circles? Not much … except whatever you did to vault you off the fast track was being kept very hush-hush by the senior partners.”

      Travis locked gazes with her. He rested a callused hand on his thigh in a move that wasn’t quite as easy and relaxed as it seemed. “Well, that’s no longer the case.” He exhaled roughly, lips taut. “As of yesterday, the senior partners are letting it be known all over Houston that they are as disappointed in me as my former client is, and they are going to be helping her in the lawsuit being waged against me.”

      Not good. Not good at all. “In return for keeping Haverty, Brockman & Roberts from being sued, as well?” Liz guessed.

      Travis’s eyes hardened. “Sacrificing me is the only way they can protect the firm and keep Olympia Herndon’s business.”

      Liz studied him with the same reserve she would have used with any other client. “Why ask me to represent you? Why not go to another big firm—maybe even an HB&R rival—back in Houston?” There were always competitors eager to take another law firm down a notch.

      That was the more logical route to go.

      But, apparently, not to him.

      Travis faced her boldly, his annoyance at having to explain himself evident. “Everything I have worked for is on the line. I need an attorney I can trust, someone strong and savvy enough to handle this. And you’ve got a reputation for finding out-of-court solutions where there seem to be none.”

      That was true. Although, out of courtesy, Liz felt duty-bound to point out, “Your malpractice insurance company can do that for you, Travis.”

      He grimaced. “They’re interested in making the problem go away via a large cash settlement that will not only raise my rates but make it look as if I did something wrong, when I didn’t. I want to come out of this with my professional reputation intact.”

      “So you’re asserting that there is no validity to any of the charges against you?”

      “Everything I did was in my client’s best interest. If the huge business deal Olympia Herndon was chasing had gone through, I have no doubt I would still be representing her. But it didn’t. So—” his broad shoulders lifted in a tense shrug “—someone had to take the fall….”

      And that someone had been Travis.

      “What about your family?” Liz asked quietly, knowing this couldn’t be going over well with the Andersons. They would be furious at even the implication that Travis had acted less than admirably.

      “They know I quit my job in Houston, although I was vague about the reasons. They don’t know about the six-month suspension of my law license, or the lawsuit. And I don’t want them to know until after it’s resolved.”

      Liz could understand that. Being falsely accused was humiliating and demoralizing.

      Still, it didn’t mean keeping his loved ones in the dark was right. “They’d be on your side,” she predicted.

      Travis frowned again. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want them embarrassed by any of this. And I especially don’t want them to offer to help out with any of the legal expenses.”

      Ah, yes, money … “Why not?” Liz asked. Kelsey and Brady Anderson ran the Double Deal Ranch, one of the biggest, most successful cattle and horse operations in the state. They could easily afford it.

      “Because—in their view, anyway—that would entitle them to be involved in strategy.”

      Liz empathized with him. She was fiercely independent by nature, too. “This is your problem. You want to solve it.”

      Travis nodded. “With your help.”

      He made it sound so personal … but why was she even considering this?

      Years ago, she had fallen hard and fast for Travis. And had her heart stomped on as a result.

      Now he needed her.

      She should say no.

      The irony of it was that she wouldn’t—couldn’t—turn away. Partly because she loved helping the underdog and could never resist a challenge. And Travis was that. The rest was more insidious. And deeply personal.

      Now that he was back, she had to prove she’d gotten past the devastation of their breakup. That he no longer had the power to hurt her. That she had moved on to a happy, defiantly single and bulletproof life.

      This was the best way.

      Liz paused, sizing him up, her attorney radar on full alert. He remained all-innocence. Too innocent!

      She tapped her index finger against her lips in a parody of thoughtfulness. “Why do I think you’re still not telling me everything?” she asked suspiciously.

      “There is one small difficulty.” Travis’s mouth compressed grimly. “I don’t have the money to pay you.”

      You’ve got to be kidding me.

      “I can compensate you monetarily for the initial consultation. Beyond that …” Travis stood and lazily ambled toward her “… I’ll have to work off whatever I owe you, on this ranch.”

      THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS alone should have been reason enough to turn down Travis’s request. Add to that the fact the two of them had once dated, albeit a very long time ago … But the bottom line was that the Four Winds bank accounts were at record lows, and he would be doing them a favor, embarking on a bartering agreement.

      “You’re saying I can deduct my fees from your salary,” Liz ascertained, thinking how much that would help the ranch coffers.

      “Until we’re even. Yep.”

      Confident that she could easily separate the business from the personal, she held out her palm. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

      They shook on it. Unprecedented warmth spread throughout her body as Travis’s hand engulfed hers. Liz’s throat went dry as she gazed up into his eyes. Maybe it wasn’t going to be as easy to keep her emotional distance as she thought.

      Luckily, the moment was interrupted by the loud chiming of the ranch bell.

      Smiling СКАЧАТЬ