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When I gasped, Harlon grinned the way rich people did when they were oh-so generous.
“That’s just a down payment.”
My brain short-circuited. Wow. I’d never seen so much money.
So much money…The words coated my mind like honey.
I knew it was Harlon’s trickery, but…well… Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be tricked.
Then I pictured a golf course and hot tubs — and, most importantly, the vortex.
I slid the envelope back over. “Unfortunately, my ranch is not for sale.”
Harlon’s cheek twitched as if I’d just spoken in a foreign language. And I suppose I had, because he probably didn’t hearnotoo often.
“You don’t know how much I’m offering.”
I shrugged. “Some things don’t have a price.”
He scoffed. “Everything has a price.”
“Granite Wash Ranch does. Seventeen million, from what I hear,” I tried redirecting him. “Two hundred and fifty acres and lots of privacy.”
Harlon gazed at me impassively, not saying a word.
The silence was crushing, and I hurried to fill it. “Then there’s Crooked Canyon Ranch. It’s much more accessible, and the water runs year-round. Our creek dries earlier and earlier each year.” I shook my head sadly, stressing how unsuitable the land was.
He leaned in, gazing deep into my eyes. “To be absolutely truthful, I’m not interested in any other place. You can name your price. Say, twenty-one million?”
Technically, that was him naming my price, but I decided not to point that out.
Twenty-one million,a smooth, soft voice cooed in my mind.
I gulped. Twenty-one million was a lot of money — even divided by three. My sisters and I could buy a smaller, more manageable place on the edge of Sedona. Heck, each of us could. I could buy my own balloon and fly just because I wanted to. Abby could open her own shop and pick and choose which jobs she accepted. Ditto for Pippa — no more boring old wineglassesto create day in, day out in the hot shop. We could even find adjoining properties and open a proper animal sanctuary to add to the handful of swaybacked horses we’d already taken in. We could even breed alpacas…
Wait. Alpacas?
I frowned, catching myself. Or had I just caught Harlon weaving another mind spell?
I closed my eyes, searching desperately for some way to turn him down without revealing that I was onto him.
I gulped and stuck on what I hoped was a dumb blonde look. “I’m sorry, but it’s not for sale.”
His jaw went hard and his gaze piercing. But a moment later, he worked up a thin smile and turned back on the charm.
“Such a pity. It’s a good thing I’m a patient man.”
Subtext:I can wait longer than you, so make a deal while you can.
I wrestled my face into a fake grin. “I’m sure you’ll find something. And this place isn’t exactly bad.”
I laughed, cueing him to do the same, though his chuckle had a forced edge.
Thank goodness the doorbell rang, and this time, a chorus of voices carried up the stairs.
“Harlon! You’ll miss your own party!”
I flashed him an apologetic smile and made for the door. “I’d hate to keep you from your guests. But I’ll keep an eye out for any property for sale.”
