Page 110 of Burning Skies
His eyes are zeroed in on my pajama top, which is barely clinging to my breasts. Shit. I slam the door and button all the buttons. Then I remember I’m on the phone. “Cyn, I’m going to need to call you back.”
“Ian’s there?” she asks, as surprised as I am.
“Ugh, yes.”
“Why?” She sounds pissed. I love that she’s as irate about this situation as I am.
I shake my head. “I don’t know, but I’m barely dressed. I have to go.” I hang up and run to the bedroom. A minute later, I have my pajama bottoms on, my slippers, and my robe cinched tightly around my waist.
When I open the door again, he’s leaning against the wall, grinning. “That was a nice show.”
“I hope you enjoyed it because that’s the only one you’re ever getting.”
He rubs his chin. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“Yes, my boyfriend. The one I fucked three times last night. In fact, his cum is still dripping out of me.” I’m as crass as I can possibly be.
His smile fades. “Funny. Listen, can we talk? I need to share a few things with you.”
I’m about to tell him we can meet up at a coffee house in half an hour when he brushes past me and heads for the couch, where he manspreads like he owns the place. “Yes, please come in,” I mumble to myself as I shut the door. Sitting on the far end of the couch, I don’t bother offering him anything to drink. “What’s up?”
“I feel like we got off on the wrong foot.”
“Showing up here like this, uninvited, isn’t doing anything to change the impression I have of you.”
He rolls up his sleeves. This is the first time I’ve seen him incasual clothes. He’s wearing boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved button-up. “My apologies for dropping by. Your father said he thought you might be home right now, and since you weren’t responding to my texts, I didn’t think I had much of a choice.”
Unbelievable. My dad won’t return my calls, but he’ll talk to Ian. “I didn’t respond because I don’t want to talk to you. I think we said all there was to say when we had dinner. When you left that bruise on my arm.”
He winces. “I’m sorry. I promise that will never happen again. I swear I’m not the asshole you think I am. Here’s the truth. Your father owes me a lot of money, and his solution to this is merging our families.”
I stare at him long and hard. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard we’re having financial troubles. “I’m not sure I believe you. My father’s never complained about money.” About what things cost, sure, but not about debt.
“He’s a proud man. Why would he burden you with those details?”
I pause because there’s some truth in that. My father never wants to discuss business with me, but I can’t believe he’d drive our ranch off a financial cliff. I’ll ask Cash. He’ll level with me. “If we’re so strapped, why does my father fly private every week to go to Dallas?”
“You mean on my jet?”
I blink at him. “What?”
“I loaned it to him last year.”
My mind races as I try to make sense of what Ian’s saying. “So when I asked you why you wanted to marry me the first time we met, you were lying? It’s not about my father’s political connections. It’s about his debt to you?”
“One doesn’t have to negate the other.” He shrugs. “Your father didn’t want me to disclose his financial problems, but nowthat you’ve made it clear you have other plans for your future, I thought I should mention it before you decide.”
I’m almost afraid to ask the question. “What happens if I decline your offer?”
His cold gray eyes bore into me. “Then I’ll call in my loans, and your family will be ruined.”
Is this guy for real? What the hell is going on? My heart beats in my throat as I try to process everything. “I’ll ask this again. What do you get by marrying me?”
“A third of your ranch and assets. A chance to buy out your brothers. And sex with a beautiful woman.”
I want to vomit. I cover my mouth and try to breathe through my nose. It takes me a full minute to not puke. “What… what did my father do to get into debt with you?”
“What didn’t he do?” He chuckles. “Made bad investments. Gambled. Whored. Overextended himself. The usual.”
