Two To Wrangle (Hotel Rodeo #2)(13)

Hands on her shoulders, he backed her toward the door. “I’m sorry for you and me both, but you’re right that things have changed. I need more from you than just sex.”

Her gray eyes widened in disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re serious.”

“As a heart attack, sweetheart.” With mouth compressed, he gently but firmly propelled her out of his room. “My terms are nonnegotiable. I suggest you sleep on it.”

Cursing the whole while under his breath, Ty closed the door. Instead of a warm, soft bed, he was now looking at an icy-cold shower. Although it sucked, sometimes short-term sacrifice was necessary for long-term gain. As much as he hated to admit it, he still needed Monica.



Feeling as if she’d been doused with ice water, Monica found herself staring at Ty’s closed door. She couldn’t believe his sudden about-face. Was it only last night that he’d begged her to stay with him? But now, when she’d offered herself on a silver platter, he was discarding her like yesterday’s leftovers?

The same guy who never committed to anyone expected her to give up a month of her life for him? What was he risking? Nothing. While she had everything to lose. Her feelings for him went well beyond lust, but given his history with women, she just couldn’t take that kind of gamble. That thought still did nothing to console her as she lay awake in bed aching with deep, unsatisfied need.





Chapter Five


Bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, Ty dragged his sleepy ass out to the kitchen and straight to the coffeepot. Judging by the burned smell, it was already several hours old, but he didn’t care. He needed a big dose of something thick and strong to thin the cobwebs in his head.

“Hey, Ty. When’d you get in?” asked a perky voice that made him shudder.

“Early this morning,” he answered without turning around.

“Then you drove straight through?”

“Yup,” he said.

“I was really sorry to hear about Tom. I know how much he meant to you.”

“Thanks, Delaney.” He finally turned to acknowledge her. “Now may I ask what the hell you’re doing here?” He’d dreaded any encounters with his ex, but he should have known she’d come by the minute he arrived at the ranch. Here in Oklahoma, she was as unavoidable and inevitable as a springtime tornado.

Setting her cup down, Delaney rose from the table to park herself squarely in front of him. “Came to offer my condolences, of course. It’s the civilized thing to do.”

He cocked a brow. “Since when do you and me abide by any kinda rules of civility?”

“Don’t you think Tom’s death might be a good opportunity to draw up a truce?” She stared up at him with innocent baby blues, but he wasn’t buying it.

“What do you want from me, Delaney?”

“We need to talk, Ty. We’ve got some unfinished business.”

“No we don’t.”

“Yes we do,” she insisted. “Look, I know the timing is horrible, but Uncle Phil wants an answer. I can maybe put him off for another week, but he’s not going to wait forever. If you don’t decide soon, he’s gonna take his gazillions and move on to another investment. I don’t think you’re in a position to take that chance. Do you?”

Ty scowled back at her. “How would you know what kind of position I’m in?”

“I know you don’t have many options,” she said. “You’ll never get a conventional loan large enough to renovate the hotel. It’s too risky without a big corporate name behind you.”

“If I went into business with him, he could sell his share anytime he wants to anyone he chooses. I can’t have that, Delaney. I’m not taking that chance.”

“If you want to gain a controlling interest in the place, you’ll need to come up with another twelve million. So what are you going to do?”

“As it turns out, I have a controlling interest.”

“How?” Delaney asked.

“Tom’s will. You’re looking at the new CEO of Brandt Morgan. No one can sell the place out from under me anymore but I still need money to renovate.”

“How are you going to get it?” she asked.

“Fuck.” He tossed his hat on table and clawed a hand through his hair. “I don’t know.”

“Um, what if you took on a silent partner, someone you already have a vested interest with?”

“Like who?”

Her lips stretched into a broad smile. “Me, of course. You know I’m good for it, Ty. All I have to do is sell some of my oil stock. I could have millions in the bank within two weeks.”

“And what’s in it for you?”

“Well,” she hesitated and then took a deep breath. “Remember a while back I said I had a favor to ask? Something I wanted to talk about when the time was ripe? Well, I think this is the ripest it’s ever gonna get.”

“What is it, Delaney? Quit hedging.”

“All right. You want it straight out. I’ll give it to you.” Her eyes met his levelly. “I want a baby, Ty.”

Ty’s head jerked back in disbelief. “What the f*ck did you just say?”

“You heard me right. I want a ba-by.”

“What the devil put that harebrained idea into your head?”