“Yes he does, lives with Tobias Hamilton at the ranch.”
“Tobias is hunky too.”
“He’s an ass.”
Allison laughed. “You noticed it too? He does have a nice perky butt.”
It was impossible to stay angry around Allison. “I was too angry to look at it.”
“What happened?” Allison sipped her tea while looking at her over the rim.
“The property line. Their fence is over the line by like a quarter of a mile. He refuses to move it. When I go to sell it, it could become a reason for a buyer to back out.” She huffed. “I called and spoke to him twice already, the last time he hung up on me.”
“Let me get this right,” Allison said, putting her cup down. “You each own hundreds of acres and you are fighting over a section of fence. That’s crazy.”
“The way you’re saying it makes it seem trivial. It’s not. If you count the fact the fence goes down a for several miles, that’s a lot of property.”
“Ah,” Allison said, distracted when the bell chimed as customers wandered in. “Don’t move. Drink more.”
The women who walked in were greeted by a cheerful Allison and maintained a happy chatter. After a while, Leah went to the counter to join in and help when another set of customers walked in.
When Allison had first purchased the shop, Leah had spent many an afternoon helping and ensuring Allison had time to the basics, such as running the register and figuring out the cost of materials, etc. Although her friend was an amazing flower designer, Leah had worried Allison would lose money on the venture.
Instead, Allison was doing well and actually began making a profit the first year in business. At Leah’s suggestion, Allison incorporated tea into the shop, which suited her friend’s need to flitter from one thing to another.
After the women departed, a man arrived and soon after left with a rose bouquet for his wife. They remained at the counter.
“I think you’re right. I have been an over the top asshat,” Leah mumbled. “Damn, how did I become such a...”
“Butt-Egg?”
“Thanks, that’s better than what I would’ve said.” Both laughed at the creative ways they used butt and ass for years. “Yep, I was an asscake.”
Allison came to her and placed her arm around Leah’s shoulders. “Leah, you need a break. I think your Dad’s request makes sense. The land thing can be the perfect way for you to reassess. Meanwhile to keep your juices flowing, you can fight with the Hamilton’s.”
“I don’t want to fight with them. Our parents have been friends and neighbors for generations. I’ll set up a meeting so we can have a mature discussion over the matter.”
“There ya go!” Allison yelled. “I’m so coming there for a few days.”
“Hilda can cover for me,” Allison said referring to her business partner. “She won’t mind.”
Whether the move to Laurel was good for her or not, Leah went home to her condo in Billings to pack.
4
“I’m not going. You go.” Tobias crossed his arms and stared down at the laptop. An email addressed to them had arrived the night before, from Leah Morgan, asking for a meeting. Four p.m. at the Morgan ranch.
“I can’t go,” Taylor said as he mimicked Tobias’ stance. “Uncle Carl asked me to come and help him finish up the gazebo he’s building.”
One of their cousins was getting married in a couple of months. Their aunt and uncle were pushing for projects to get done since the wedding was taking place at their large backyard in their home just outside of Billings.
Both looked to Luke, who didn’t have an excuse for not going. He grunted and rolled his eyes. “Fine, yeah, whatever. I’ll go.”
“Don’t cuss,” Tobias instructed. “She’ll run and tell Mom.”
“Did you tell Dad about it? Why can’t he and Mr. Morgan work it out?” Although he’d said he’d go, now Luke fought for any excuse not to have to deal with the willful Pesky Morgan. “Just going to warn you. If she raises her voice, I’m leaving.”
“Maybe we can give her money and tell her to fuck off,” Tobias said. “What a waste of time.”
“I could try that. We’ll see.” Luke looked to Taylor. “Bring back some food from Uncle Carl’s. Tell Aunt Patty, I want fried chicken.”
Leah spread the plans on the wide kitchen counter and looked around the open spaces of the great room and dining area combo. Why had she scheduled the meeting so soon? She wasn’t prepared. Arriving just that morning, she’d been surprised all the furniture was still draped and very few kitchen items remained.
The cleaning service had done a great job of dusting and vacuuming the house. They’d also cleaned the bathrooms and ensured cobwebs were removed. It had taken four days before the company called her to say the house was livable.
She’d arrived with two suitcases, a computer, her planner, and coffee maker, only to find there were no cups, plates, or any kind of utensil. So, she’d spent two hours at the nearest store, which was over an hour away, gathering necessary items
Now it was three-thirty and with coffee brewed and brownies in the oven, she felt as ready as one could without a good plan of action.
Needing fresh air, she went to the front door and stepped out onto the wide porch that ran across the entire front of the house. Although some of the paint was chipped, it remained beautiful. It was the picture-perfect first impression to the graceful home she’d grown up in.
A truck rambled toward the house, and she glanced at her watch. Whoever it was came early. The meeting was not for half an hour.
“Damn it.” She looked down at her worn jeans and bare feet. She’d hurriedly pulled on a t-shirt and jeans to cook in and had planned to change before the meeting. Too late now.
The truck stopped and a man surfaced. Over six foot of muscles, tattoos and the look of someone who would snap your neck and spit down your throat emerged slowly and sauntered toward her.
Eyes wide, she took a step back. This was not one of the Hamilton’s, at least not one that she remembered. Of course she’d seen Tobias and Taylor in the last couple of weeks. Luke, Tobias’ twin, was gone. He lived in Texas, or somewhere south.
“Who are you?” she asked standing just inside the doorway. Eyes trained on the man, Leah held the doorknob so she could close it before he reached the porch.
He stopped in his tracks, giving her a chance to study him. This was not your typical Montana rancher. Instead of a Stetson, he wore a baseball cap. No plaid shirt for this man, instead his form fitting dark t-shirt left no illusions of the muscular body underneath. If it weren’t for the flatness in his eyes and the stoic expression, she’d find him utterly gorgeous.
At the moment, however, she’d describe him more of a serial killer than a hunk.
A hunky serial killer.
She moved back and closed the door a bit. “Who are you?”
“Luke. I’m Luke Hamilton. And you’re Pesky Morgan.”
No one had called her that since...well since middle school. Then it was Luke Hamilton who’d started everyone at school calling her that.
“I hate that nickname. Don’t ever call me that again.” She relaxed and opened the door wider. “What are you doing here? Where’s Tobias, or Taylor? We have a meeting.”
His wide shoulders lifted and lowered as his upper lip lifted in what she could only describe as an Elvis snarl. “Neither want to deal with you. So they sent me.”
“From where?”
“Hell. I’m the devil.” His eyebrows rose, the only hint he was kidding.
Leah blew out an annoyed breath. “Well, come in Lucifer. I have to get brownies out of the oven.”
Not waiting for him, she hurried to the oven and pulled out the brownies. It was hard to resist burning her mouth and gobbling one they smelled so good.
When she turned, Luke was at the counter peering down at the plans.
“You can’t be serious.” His hazel gaze lifted to hers and she knew her dumbass face fl
ushed red.
“Of course I’m serious. It’s a lot of land.”
He lifted his right hand and rubbed the nape of his neck. Unfortunately it emphasized his bicep, which bulged. “What do you want?”
Okay now this was not the time to lose her train of thought. Especially since she was not as prepared as she’d hoped. “Please sit down.” Leah motioned to the barstool. He glanced at it and remained standing.
Leah blew out a breath. If he wanted to play hardball, she was a professional at it.
“All I ask is that you or your brother, or whoever owns the ranch, move the fence. Why is that unreasonable? Surely you guys can afford it.”
“The fence has been there for over fifty years. If we don’t move it, there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.” He looked to the paper. “Does your Dad know about this? Are you doing it because you’re pissed at someone, got dumped or something?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Rage surged and Leah barely held back the f-bombs fighting to be let go. One more stupid comment from Luke and she’d let them loose. “Get the hell out. My lawyers will be in contact.”
He didn’t move, but looked to the brownies instead. “Don’t go getting all pissy Pesky. I asked you a simple question.”
“So now you’re adding insults? Don’t fucking call me that.”
Seeming more amused than annoyed, he looked around the room. “I remember this place. Hasn’t changed a lot.”
Leah rounded the counter and wrapped her hands on his upper arm, annoyed when she couldn't get her fingers all the way around it. She tugged him toward the door. “Get out. I mean it.”
“We haven’t talked. Don’t yell.”
“I want you to move the fence. My father sent me here to deal with this. I will do as I see fit. Now are you going to move the damn fence, or should I have a work crew tear it down?”
No matter how hard she pulled, he didn’t budge. “The cows will get out if you do that.”
“I don't give a shit.” Once again she tried to pull him. “Will you get on now?”
“Yeah I’m leaving. I’ll get back with you in a couple of days. Maybe you’ll cool down by then, get laid or something.”
Before she could stop herself, she slapped him hard. Her hand stung and he barely flinched. “How dare you? That was uncalled for. Get the fuck out now!”
Without a word he walked to the still open door. Leah shook with anger and watched as he sauntered to the truck. Not in a hurry, but as if it was the most normal thing to be slapped and kicked out.
“You’ll pay for this Luke Hamilton,” Leah gritted out. “Asshole.”
“Oh my God!” At least Allison was friend enough to be astounded at what Luke had said. “He hasn’t changed one bit. So different from his twin.”
“Tell me about it. Looks different too.”
Over the phone she could hear movement. “I’ll be there the day after tomorrow. If he comes over while I’m there, he’ll get a piece of my mind.”
“There’s something very different about him. I barely recognized him. Almost as if he’s hardened. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like he couldn’t care less about anything. I know he was stoic before, but now it’s as if he’s damaged or something.”
“Damaged?”
Leah wasn’t sure how to put into words what she felt when Luke had been near her. There was heaviness about him. It was as if he’d done things, bad things, and they lingered in him. “I thought he was a serial killer when he arrived.”
“So he’s not hot like Tobias? I thought they were identical twins.”
Tobias and Luke were easy to tell apart now. “No he’s attractive, tattooed, and definitely more muscular. But that’s not it. You’ll see. Maybe you’ll see him when you get here.”
“Not sure I want to,” Allison replied. “Okay, I’ll see you on Saturday.” The call ended, and Leah bit into her now cold brownie while considering how she’d handle it if she saw Luke again.
He was intimidating, but after he’d come inside, she’d not felt threatened in any way. Although he’d been crass and said stupid things, it was nothing different than the insults they’d hurled at each other as teenagers.
Things were different now. She’d not allow him to insult her. They were adults and even if he’d not left high school mentally, she had.
The sun splayed light across the wooden flooring through the glass panes in French doors. The doors lead to a side garden, and with her cup of tea and the pan of brownies, she made her way to sit outside. No matter what happened in the next few months, one thing was for sure. She’d not let her father, Zack, or the neighbors stop her from getting this project completed and her corporate career back on track.
Maybe she had lost sight of a few things. And although she expected a lot from people, it was not more than she herself was willing to give. Everyone was not wrong, she wasn’t so blind not to see how she’d over done it.
But she wasn’t about to be underestimated by anyone. The house project would be completed and taken care of and she’d return to Billings. Surely her father wouldn’t balk at her returning prior to six months.
5
His meeting with Leah hadn’t gone off well. Damn, why had he agreed to go as some sort of intermediary. If anything, he would be better suited as the guy who tortured people, not the one who gave victims hope.
Leaning against the steering wheel, he considered going back and apologizing. He had been way out of line. At this point in his life, he was afraid to go near his mama. The shit that flew out of his pie hole was rarely appropriate for any situation other than bars or around other guys.
“Damn it,” he said out loud, his gruff voice the only sound in the truck. Although he was almost to town, he hooked a U-turn and headed back to the Morgan ranch.
Pesky had definitely blossomed since high school. Shit, he’d have to stop thinking of her as Pesky but as Leah instead. The woman was an executive for Morgan Investments, and from what Toby said, she was high up on the food chain. Not because she was the boss’ daughter, but based on her own achievements.
A shark is how his brother said she was referred to. One thing was for sure, other than dealing with someone at a bank or some shit like that, he rarely spoke to a woman like her. Although the Leah he’d just spoken to had cussed him out, it seemed out of character for her. Leave it to him to draw the sailor mouth out of even a classy lady.
In worn jeans and bare feet, Leah Morgan still exuded class. Very little remained of the pesky young girl who’d thrown rocks at him as a teenager. He’d made her cry on more than one occasion back then. As if the land issue wasn’t a bitch, now he wondered if resentments from the past were one more reason he shouldn’t be the one attempting to make peace.
Luck was on his side. Leah was outside looking up at the house when he neared. She turned toward the sound of his truck, shading her eyes with her right hand. Immediately upon seeing him, she spread her feet, placed fists on her hips and glared.
“What do you want? I made it clear you’re not welcome here,” she called out as he climbed out of the truck. “If you don’t get off my property Luke Hamilton, I will call the police.”
“Don’t do that. Eric will take great pleasure in throwing me in jail.” Truth, he and his cousin didn’t exactly see eye to eye. “Give me a minute please. That’s all I ask.”
Although she rolled her eyes and a sneer curled her lip, it didn’t detract from her beauty. If anything, an angry Leah was astonishingly sexy. Damn if his mind didn’t dive into the gutter and he pictured her riding him, her mouth swollen by his kisses, his hands covering the small mounds on her chest.
“Hello?” she snapped. “What do you have to say that you’re willing to go to jail for?” Cell phone in hand, she lifted it to her ear. “You’ve got about five seconds.”
“I apologize. I was way out of line to say those things. Please accept my apology.”
“Hi, yes, is Eric Hamilton around?” she spoke
into the phone, her eyes glued on him. “No nothing urgent, I’ll call back later. Thanks.” She hung up and lifted a brow.
Since she didn’t give any indication of accepting his apology, Luke figured he’d better try again. “I’m sure we can work on the fence issue. I’ll get it moved. But you have to admit, it’s not a battle worth fighting over.”
“For the Hamiltons, it’s not. You’re getting free land for encroaching...”
“We don’t encroach. I’m sure it was an honest mistake. A mistake made many years ago. Your father never said anything.”
She huffed. “I’m the one who’s been put in charge of overseeing the property and deciding what is best. If you are moving the fence, then ensure it’s done by the end of the month. Your contractor can meet with my surveyor. I will email the information to Tobias.” Leah glanced over him. “Anything else?”
Luke pressed his lips together to keep from telling her to kiss his ass. “Nope.”
A gust of wind blew and a flapping noise on the house sounded. She turned back to the house and lifted both hands to shade her eyes. “What the hell is that?”
“Probably loose shingles or a pack of squirrels,” Luke mumbled. He’d not heard anything. “See ya.”
“Wait.” She moved backward still looking up at the house. “Do you know a qualified roofer? Doesn’t your uncle own a roofing company?”
“He retired years ago.”
“Oh. There’s a strange sound coming from the ceiling.”
He wasn’t about to climb up on a damn roof to ensure the woman wasn’t spooked. At the same time, he did want a new start there in Montana. Making amends with a neighbor was probably a good way to begin.
“Got a ladder?”
“You don’t have to look.”
“I know that.” He walked around the side of the house with Leah on his heels and upon seeing a shed, went toward it.
“There’s probably snakes and spiders in there.” Leah informed him of the obvious. Suddenly Wonder Woman had turned into a scared mess.
Jaded: Luke Page 3