An Intimate Bargain

Six

Abigail was happy to see her father looking so well. He’d been in rehab in Houston for several months following a stroke in the early summer. Luckily, her sister Mandy’s fiancé had been in the valley with his jet plane that night, and they were able to whisk everyone to Lyndon and then Denver for his treatment. Ultimately, they moved him to a state-of-the-art facility in Houston. After months of therapy, he was nearly ready to come home to walk Mandy and Katrina down the aisle at their double wedding, coming up in a few weeks.

Now Abigail and her mother, Maureen, moved to a shady table in the lush garden of a restaurant a few miles from the facility. The scents of roses, asters and sage mingled beneath the oak trees in the September afternoon. They ordered iced tea and spinach, raspberry salads, settling comfortably into padded rattan chairs.

“And how’s Travis doing with the ranch?” asked Maureen, stirring some sugar into her glass.

“He seems good,” Abigail answered. “Though I’ve actually seen more of Seth lately than Travis.”

“But you are back on the ranch.”

“I was for a few days. But I’m back in Lyndon.” Abigail drew a breath. “Speaking of which, your sister Nicole’s name came up the other day.”

A look of obvious shock contorted her mother’s face. “Nicole?”

“You never talk much about her.”

Her mother’s fingers trembled ever so slightly as she rested them on the table. “Even after all these years, it’s hard for me to think about her. She was so young and beautiful and full of life. It hurt a lot to lose her.”

“Seth said she ran away from home?”

“Sadly, she did. All she could talk about back then was the bright lights and the big city. I tried to convince her to pick out a college.” Maureen squared her slim shoulders. “But I couldn’t. She thought she was going to become a model or an actress or some such craziness. Seven months later, she was in that accident.”

“Seven months?” Abigail’s stomach flip-flopped.

Maureen’s eyes shimmered. “I can only guess what happened. I adored her. But she always partied too much, was constantly finding excuses to stay in town on weekends. She smoked and drank with her friends. There was no holding her back.”

While her mother spoke, Abigail’s brain did the math. The nuns had told Lisa she was two weeks old when her mother dropped her anonymously into their care. Nicole had died a week later. That made her ten or twelve weeks pregnant when she left town.

Lisa’s father was from Lyndon. But that would have to wait until later.

“We were told the pair of them were leaving a bar,” Maureen continued, a faraway look on her face. “We later found out his family didn’t know Nicole, had never met her. They were estranged from their son, too.” Maureen absently restirred the iced tea.

“Mom.” Abigail reached forward and took her mother’s hand.

“Yes, dear?”

“I have something to tell you. It’s surprising, maybe even shocking.”

Maureen frowned. “Are you ill, honey? Is something wrong?”

Abigail quickly shook her head. “No, no. Nothing like that. It’s good news. At least I think it’s good news.”

Her mother waited.

“It’s Nicole, Mom. She had a daughter.”

Maureen blinked, her expression frozen in the dappled sunlight.

“A daughter,” Abigail repeated. “She was adopted out to a very nice family. She started looking for us a couple of years ago. And now she’s found us.”

Maureen’s voice was paper dry. “Nicole had a baby?”

Abigail smiled, squeezing her mother’s hand. “My cousin. Your niece.”

Maureen’s eyes welled up with tears, and her hand went to her chest.

“Her name’s Lisa,” said Abigail, speaking more quickly. “I’ve met her. In fact, I know her. She helped with Seth’s campaign.”

“I can’t believe it,” said Maureen, but a smile was forming on her face. “Okay. I do believe it.” The smile turned into a shaky laugh. “Nicole was never a careful or cautious person.”

“So, you’re okay? You’ll like her. She’s a wonderful woman.”

“You said she helped on Seth’s campaign? Is she in Lyndon?”

“She came to town a few months ago. But right now…” Abigail paused. “Right now, she’s in Houston.”

“She’s here?”

“She wants to meet you. And she wants to meet Mandy and Katrina and everyone. But we wanted to start with you.”

“Oh, well in that case.” Maureen promptly stood up, dropping her napkin onto the table. “Let’s go.”

Abigail laughed. “Hold on.”

Her mother paused, waiting.

“We don’t have to go anywhere.” Abigail nodded across the garden to a far table. “She’s over there.”

As Maureen turned to stare, Lisa caught the gist of the body language and came gracefully to her feet. She was wearing a white, sleeveless tank dress, her blond hair loose and framing her face. She looked nervous but brave as she walked forward on delicate, white, strapless sandals.

Abigail rose and moved to stand next to her mother as Maureen approached them.

“Nicole,” Maureen whispered, groping blindly to grasp Abigail’s hand. “She looks just like Nicole.”

Abigail found her own eyes filling with tears.

Maureen let go of her hand, rushing forward to pull Lisa into her arms.

Lisa’s eyes fluttered closed as Maureen rocked her back and forth and stroked her hair.

“Oh, my darling.” Maureen spoke in a choked voice. “I’m so glad you’ve come home.”

It didn’t take Abigail long to realize Zach’s employees were like a family. Thirty people worked in the executive offices, with another hundred and fifty or so between the sales, marketing, accounting and human resources offices on various floors in the office tower in downtown Houston. All of them greeted Zach by his first name. They all seemed to know he’d been in Colorado, and they were all anxious to hear how things were going with Craig Mountain.

She’d been in Houston for three days, and between visiting her father and watching her mother and Lisa get to know each other, she’d managed to power through the application for Zach. Now she sat in a corner boardroom on the thirty-second floor, gazing out the bank of windows at the lights of the surrounding buildings and the clear, night sky. The water-license variance application form 731-800(e) was on the table in front of her, neatly printed out, supported by charts and graphs, and a letter of intent, complete with the company background, prospectus and all the technical data she’d been able to pull together from her previous water-table research. It was a great report, probably the best she’d ever done.

Half the double doors opened, and Zach entered with his partner, Alex Cable. She’d met Alex earlier and really liked him. He seemed smart and motivated, with a wry sense of humor. She knew he’d just broken up with his girlfriend. She also knew he was staying with Zach. Though Alex was fairer than Zach, with blue eyes, light brown hair and a lankier build, the two had a lot of gestures, expressions and speech patterns in common. If she hadn’t known better, she would have taken them for brothers.

Zach glanced at the cover page of the report, then looked to Abigail. “That it?”

“That’s it,” she confirmed. She was done, officially free from his blackmail, ready to go back to her old life.

“It’s really nice of you to help us out,” Alex put in.

Abigail shrugged. “It was no problem.” Then she caught Zach’s ironic brow lift, and she amended the statement. “Uh, not much of a problem. I am glad to be finished, though.”

Zach lifted the report and thumbed through it.

“We should celebrate,” said Alex.

“You don’t have a variance yet,” Abigail pointed out, taking her clutch purse from the table and tucking it under her arm. She should be rushing from the room, but, for some reason, she found herself hesitating.

Her mother was resting at her rented condo right now, tired from her emotional few days with Lisa. She’d taken a shine to Ozzy, and the puppy was keeping her company. It was nearly eight o’clock, and Lisa had asked Abigail to meet for a late dinner or maybe hit a club before they flew back to Colorado in the morning.

It was a strange feeling of déjà vu. Abigail was having a final night on the town before heading back to the ranch. She was trying hard not to rehash the Lucky and Doll-Face evening in her mind, but it was proving impossible. She was also trying hard not to think about leaving Zach forever, but that was causing her trouble, as well. Despite everything that had happened, she couldn’t seem to stop herself from liking him.

“How long will the committee deliberations take?” Zach asked.

“Weeks, probably,” she answered, avoiding looking into his eyes. She had to be strong for another five minutes or so, get out of here and forget about looking back.

“We don’t have weeks.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Anything we can do to speed it up?” asked Alex.

“You want to try bribing a legislative committee of the state of Colorado?”

Alex coughed out a laugh. “Not a good idea?”

“Not if you enjoy life outside the Colorado penal system,” she responded. Then she shot a stern look at Zach. “And there’s not a thing in the world you can blackmail me with on that one.”

“Blackmail?” Alex glanced from one to the other, clearly in the dark about the details of her and Zach’s working relationship. No matter. It was over now, and Zach could explain himself however he wanted.

“Ask your partner,” she told Alex, starting for the door. “By rights, he should already be in jail.”

“Who’d you blackmail?” asked Alex.

“She’s exaggerating,” Zach drawled.

“Abigail.” Alex’s voice stopped her.

She turned, prepared to answer his question, acknowledging that she’d been the one to drop this bomb into the conversation.

“He actually blackmailed you into helping us?”

It was all a moot point now, and she didn’t really care enough to keep the secret from Alex. Mostly, she just felt tired. “He did.”

“Go, Zach.” Alex whistled in obvious admiration. “What’d he use?”

“He slept with me then threatened to tell my brothers.”

“Abby.” Zach dropped the report back onto the table.

“What?” She stared at him. “You embarrassed about sleeping with me, or embarrassed about committing a felony?”

“It wasn’t like that,” he protested.

“It was exactly like that. And now you’ve got what you want.”

“I threatened to tell them you hated the ranch.”

“I don’t hate the ranch.” Though she once again felt as if a set of walls was closing in on her. By this time tomorrow, she’d be in blue jeans and boots.

He moved toward her. “I was never going to kiss and tell.”

She was vaguely aware of Alex discreetly backing his way out of the room.

“Then you lied to me,” she told Zach as he came to a halt directly in front of her.

“I guess I did.” His eyes reflected the desire she couldn’t deny.

“Yet another sin on your head.” But her pulse sped up at his proximity, and her skin flushed with heat.

“Yet another sin,” he agreed. “You want to go get something to eat?”

She sputtered a laugh. “A date? On my last night in town?”

“Something like that.”

“You looking for another one-night stand?”

He gently took her hand in his, rubbing the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. “Absolutely.”

Her mounting desire peaked and crested. She struggled not to stammer. “You have got to be kidding.”

He leaned in, voice lowering to a husky drawl. “I’ll understand if you say no.”

Her breath hitched. “How very magnanimous of you.”

“But I’m still going to ask.”

“I’m saying no,” she managed to say.

“Yeah. I figured.” But his hand moved up to her cheek. His fingers brushed her sensitized skin, and he dipped his head toward her. “At least let me kiss you goodbye.”

She ordered herself to move, to back away, get out of the danger zone. But her feet weren’t cooperating, and her head was tilting to accommodate him. Her lips were parting, and her eyes were fluttering closed.

When his lips touched hers, desire exploded within her. A small sound escaped from her throat. Her knees went weak, and her chest became a tight band of emotion. Before she could form a coherent thought, her arms wound their own way around his neck.

His free arm pulled her close, pressing their bodies together, while his tongue found its way into the hot recesses of her mouth. The kiss continued for long minutes before he broke it off.

“I’ve missed you,” he moaned, cradling the back of her head, pressing her cheek against his strong chest.

Her voice was muffled. “You’ve barely let me out of your sight.”

“You know what I mean.”

She did. She’d missed him, too. But that didn’t make sleeping with him again a good idea. Okay, it would be great. It would be fantastic. But it would also be foolish.

She shook her head and tried to pull back.

“I can’t let you go.”

“You have to.” She swallowed, forcing herself to stay strong. “You’re out of ammunition, and I’m going home.”

She braced her hands on his shoulders and broke free of his arms, stumbling a couple of steps in her high heels.

He reached for her, but she’d already put enough space between them.

“Goodbye, Zach.”

He stilled. But then he dropped his shoulders and gave a sad smile. “Goodbye, Doll-Face.”

Her eyes started to burn, and she quickly turned away, walking out the door.

Watching her two sisters dancing under the sparkling lights of the central ballroom at the Ten Peaks Country Club in downtown Denver, Abigail couldn’t stop smiling. Mandy’s gown was clean and classic, strapless with simple lines that flowed gracefully as she danced in Caleb’s arms. Katrina’s dress had a sweetheart neckline and glittered with shimmering embroidery, beadwork and sequins. Where Mandy had gone with a silver-link necklace and hoop earrings, Katrina wore cascades of white sapphires, interlaced to a point just above her cleavage. Her dangling earrings and elegant bracelet made up the set. She looked delicate and beautiful in Reed’s arms.

Abigail had served as maid of honor, while Lisa was a bridesmaid. Seth and Travis stood up for the grooms. Their father was sitting now, at the head table near the multitiered cake that was flanked by two bridal bouquets. But he’d done an impressive job of escorting his daughters down the aisle. After the wedding, he and Abigail’s mother were definitely considering an extended stay here.

The lights were dim around the dance floor as everyone watched the two bridal couples in their first waltz. Abigail’s feet were sore, but in a good way. It had been weeks since she’d worn high heels, and she felt feminine and beautiful in her knee-length, plum-colored bridesmaid dress. Made of airy chiffon, it had a soft, strapless bodice, a two-layer skirt and a sleek waistline.

“Abby?” A deep voice resonated close to her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

She twisted to come face-to-face with Zach. She blinked, unable to make sense of his appearance.

“Hi,” he offered.

“What are you doing here?”

He was dressed in a well-cut three-piece steel-gray business suit, his silver tie in a sharp knot, his crisp, white shirt allowing him to blend with the other guests.

“I need to talk to you,” he whispered.

“I’m a little busy.”

The crowd broke into applause as the final strains of the waltz came to a close. The string quartet immediately launched into another song.

Mandy picked Seth from the crowd, while Katrina laughingly asked Travis to dance. Reed Terrell snagged Abigail’s hand and smoothly pulled her onto the hardwood floor. He swung her gracefully into his arms. For a large man, he’d always been a great dancer. He’d been a year ahead of her in high school, and they’d danced together many times before.

“Who’s that?” he asked, leaning to be heard above the music.

Abigail glanced back at Zach. Her heart tripped at his handsome, sexy looks.

“Zach Rainer,” she told Reed. “He owns Craig Mountain Brewery.”

“He was invited to the wedding?” Reed’s tone was incredulous.

“He’s here looking for me.”

Reed stopped.

“Don’t,” Abigail warned. She knew her neighbor well enough to realize he would step in to solve whatever problem was at hand. Dressed in a wedding tux or not, he was completely capable of tossing Zach out on his ear. “I’ll handle it.”

Reed hesitated a second longer, but to her relief began dancing again. “Why’s he crashing my wedding?” he asked.

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him.”

“He a friend?”

“Sort of.”

Reed stared down at her, eyes narrowed. “There something you’re not telling me?”

She gave a light laugh. “There are many, many things I’m not telling you, Reed. But don’t worry about it. It’s all good.”

“Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“Not at all.” Unless you counted her overwhelming desire to haul Zach off to the nearest hotel room and ravage him. That was a whole lot of trouble.

“He looks ticked off.”

“He’s impatient.”

“Well, he can bloody well wait until my wedding’s over.”

“Stop,” Abigail ordered. “Katrina’s going to kill me if I get you all riled up.”

“I’m not riled.”

“Yes, you are.”

“You don’t know riled, Abby.”

Abigail grinned. “Welcome to the family.” She stretched up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“You’ve got a great family,” said Reed.

“It just got greater.” She glanced at Caleb who was laughing with Lisa. “Two new brothers, and a new cousin.”

“Seth just thanked me and Caleb for evening things up between the genders again.”

“We women did have the upper hand there for a few weeks.”

The song wound down.

“You better get back to Katrina.”

Reed scowled in Zach’s direction one more time. “You let me know if he gives you any trouble.”

“Absolutely,” Abigail lied.

As Reed walked away, she felt someone come up behind her.

“Care to dance?” asked Zach.

She turned. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Like I told you, I need to talk to you.”

“Can it not wait?”

Without waiting for permission, he drew her into his arms.

It seemed simpler to dance than to make a scene by arguing about it. Plus, that would bring Reed to her side in a heartbeat, so she went along with Zach.

He settled her close. “You want to meet up later instead?”

“I do not.”

“It was worth a try.”

“You crash my sisters’ wedding, and now you’re hitting on me?”

“I can’t seem to help myself.”

“Try, Zach. Try.”

His tone stayed intimate, and his hand moved up and down her back, tracing the bare skin between her shoulder blades. “You take my breath away, Doll-Face.”

She steeled herself against the softer feelings creeping into her psyche. “You see that guy over there? The groom? The one I was just dancing with?”

“I do.”

“See how big he is? Well, he likes me. And he’s already ticked off at you.”

“I like you, too.”

“You like me naked.” The second the words were out of her mouth, Abigail realized they were a colossal mistake.

She mentally braced for his retort, but Zach didn’t reply. Instead, he gathered her closer, seeming to mold his body to hers. She fought the arousal that gripped her body, but it was useless. Images of their night together were back in force.

“I need to talk to you,” he repeated, voice barely a rasp. “And I can’t wait. Can we go outside?”

His tone brought a thousand questions into her mind. Why was he here, after all these weeks? Had he missed her? Had he come back for her, to pursue their relationship?

She tried to control the hope that surged inside her. She realized in a split second that she wanted him to pursue her. She wanted to be with him again, free from all the complications that had tangled them in knots.

She gave him a mute nod, and he took her hand in his, leading the way from the dance floor to patio doors that led to a lighted garden. Conflicting thoughts continued to spin around in her mind. Sure, he lived in Houston, while she lived in Lyndon. But there were airplanes. There were hotels. Maybe they could spend weekends together someplace in the middle.

Anticipation tightened her chest as she realized she was going to say yes. If he wanted to try something long-distance, she’d agree to it. And then maybe they could find that nearest hotel right now and spend the night in each other’s arms. Her breath caught and her heartbeat thudded deep.

He came to a halt at the far edge of the concrete patio, turning to face her, taking his hand from hers. The music and voices wafted out from the reception, while pot lights glowed softly from the hedges and garden beds, reflecting off the planes and angles of his face. He was an incredibly attractive man.

“Abby,” he started.

“Yes?” She waited, not moving, not breathing.

“The application was rejected.”

She blinked. It took a second for her brain to switch gears.

“The committee turned us down,” he elaborated.

“The water license?” she all but stammered.

“Yes.”

She took a shaky step back, mind refusing to accept reality. “You dragged me away from my sisters’ wedding to tell me you didn’t get your precious water license?”

He looked confused. “What else?”

Excellent question. She pressed her fingertips against one temple. “Oh, I don’t know. Nothing, I guess. What is your problem?”

“I just told you my problem.”

“And this couldn’t have waited until tomorrow?”

“You’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yes, I am. Goodbye, Zach.” She took a step toward the reception.

He snagged her upper arm. “Hear me out, Abby.”

“No.” She was not going to let him do this. She’d done her best. She’d caved to every single thing he’d asked of her. And to add insult to injury, she’d apparently become infatuated with him along the way.

“I need you.”

She glared at him. “You need a bankruptcy attorney.”

“You’re giving up? Just like that.”

“Just like that? There is no ‘just like that.’ I did everything I could, everything I could think of. Every fact, figure, argument and rationale I could dream up went into that paper, Zach. There is nothing, nothing more I have to offer.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Too bad.”

He dropped his hand from her arm, raking it through his short hair. “There has to be something.”

“There’s nothing. You and a hundred companies like you want variances. The State has decided you can’t have them right now. They’ve made a rule, and they’re following it, Zach. You’re just ticked because they won’t break it for you.”

“I’m not asking anyone to break the rules. I’m only asking for a little logic and reason.”

“You’re asking a government for logic and reason.”

His lips flattened in obvious anger.

“You see the flaw in that, right?” she pressed.

“I see you giving up.”

“This is not my problem.”

“You’re right. It’s my problem. But while you stand there secure in that knowledge, Abby, ask yourself one thing.” He stepped forward, crowding her. “Ask yourself what you would do if this was your family.”

His gaze held hers, and she felt her resolve falter.

“If it was your ranch on the line. If it was Seth’s and Mandy’s and Katrina’s and Travis’s jobs. Would you throw up your hands in defeat? Or if you thought I could help, would you not track me down, back me into a corner and force me to agree?”

“By blackmailing you?” She’d like to think she wouldn’t, but maybe she would.

“By any means possible.”

Her throat became dry, and her voice became strained. “I tried to help you, Zach. I truly, truly tried.”

He took the last step that brought him directly in front of her. “One more time?” he asked. “Tonight. When you’re done here, before you go back to Lyndon. Let’s think it through one more time. You and me.”

There was no point. “I read every single word of the moratorium. I’ve looked up precedents and past cases. I followed their template to the letter. I dotted every i, I crossed every single t.”

“We’re talking hundreds of jobs. Hundreds of people without anything but the livelihood and the family they get from working at DFB. A couple of hours, Abby. Can you give me that?”

Her mind screamed no. But there was something in the raw honesty of his plea that got to her.

“If it was your family?” he asked more softly this time, “what would you do?”

She tipped her chin and tossed her head, telling herself she was capitulating for a good cause. “Fine. We’ll try one more time.”

He was silent for a moment, almost as if he couldn’t believe she’d finally said yes. “Thank you,” he breathed, in obvious relief and gratitude.

She was hit with an unexpected rush of pleasure. Which was silly. She might feel good about helping him, but that didn’t change the cold hard facts. “I wish I could be magic, Zach. I truly do.”

He gently took her hands. “You are.”

Despite everything, she wanted to throw herself into his arms, squeeze him tight and forget the rest of the world existed. “Go away,” she murmured. “Leave me alone for the next few hours.”

He nodded, and with a final, reflexive squeeze of his fingers, he let go and walked away.

She stared into the dark reaches of the garden, struggling to bring her emotions under control.

Lisa’s voice came from behind her, skirt rustling, heels clicking rhythmically on the concrete as she approached. “Now, who the heck was that?”

Abigail shook her head and gave a helpless laugh. “Nobody.”

“Come on. Anybody who looks at you that way is not a nobody.”

Abigail was tired of keeping all this locked tight inside her chest. She gave in to temptation. “Cone of silence?”

“Cone of silence.”

“That was my one-night stand.”

Lisa whistled low, turning to look at the doorway where Zach had disappeared. “Oh, mama.”

“You got that right.” Abigail gave a wry grimace. “He was also my midnight research project. And tonight I’m meeting him after the reception.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You okay?”

“No.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Yes,” Abigail admitted. “But I can’t.”

Lisa moved closer. “Oh, but you can.”

“I really can’t.” Abigail hadn’t gone to all this trouble to blurt the truth out to Lisa.

“I’m family now,” said Lisa. “Plus, I’m discreet. And I’m not above feeding you champagne until you reveal every single secret locked away in your little heart.” She nodded to a waiter standing just inside the doors. “You might as well do it without the hangover.”

It was tempting.

Lisa rapidly rubbed Abigail’s arm. “Tell me.”

Abigail gave in. “I lied to and betrayed my entire family.”

“You did not.”

“Yes.” Abigail nodded, looking square into Lisa’s eyes. “I did.”

“Then wait right here.”

Lisa swiftly crossed the patio, helped herself to two glasses of champagne and returned, handing one of them to Abigail.

Abigail took a swallow. “I slept with Zach. He’s that guy you just saw. Only, I didn’t know he was Zach then.”

“You’re an adult.”

“I know.”

“Was it good?”

Abigail shot her an incredulous look. “That’s irrelevant.”

“Yeah, but was it good?”

“Yes.”

“So far I’m not hearing anything particularly problematic.”

“Yeah, well, it gets better. He blackmailed me. Threatened to tell Travis and Seth-”

“Tell them what you like in bed?” It was Lisa’s turn to be incredulous.

“No. No. It was something that I told him in bed.”

“Oh, good. Though I have to admit, you had me curious.” Lisa waggled her brow. “Little Bo Peep outfit, handcuffs, whipped cream.”

“Give me a break.”

“It’s not as if you can tell by looking at a person.”

“I’m not into handcuffs.”

Lisa shrugged. “So what’d you tell him?”

Abigail was having second thoughts about the conversation. She glossed over the facts. “The important point is that he blackmailed me into helping him get a variance to his water license.”

“He got a variance?” Working in the mayor’s office, Lisa was well aware of the contentious water issues.

Abigail shook her head. “The committee turned him down. And now he wants me to try again.”

“Wow, Abby. Unless we’re talking black leather and whips, and even then, just tell him no.”

“This isn’t about kinky sex.”

“Then just tell him no.”

“There are hundreds of jobs at stake.” Abigail found herself defending Zach. “Hundreds of orphans’ jobs at stake. Because that’s what Zach does. He grew up in foster care, and he’s built this whole brewery conglomerate to give jobs to other foster kids. You should see the place, Lisa. The headquarters are in Houston, and the people who work there, well, they all but worship Zach and his partner, Alex. He’s given them all a real shot in life, given them a place to belong. And I’m the only person who might be able to help him save it.”

“What does this have to do with water?”

“They need to up production at their Craig Mountain brewery. To do that, they need water. If they don’t, it all falls apart like a row of dominoes.”

“It’s still not your problem,” Lisa told her gently.

“They’re his family.”

“And you want to help them.”

“I do,” Abigail admitted. “I know it’ll set a precedent that will hurt the ranchers. But I want to do it anyway.”

Lisa smiled. “He must be damn good in bed.”

“He is.” Abigail felt her cheeks grow warm. “That’s irrelevant. But he is.”

Lisa’s grin widened. “Then you’d better help him.”

“And betray my family.” That was the conundrum. She might sympathize with Zach, but the facts remained the same.

Lisa linked arms with her. “It’s not the worst betrayal in the world. Besides, if they kick you out of the house, I’ll take your room.”

Abigail tried to smile at the joke, but she couldn’t quite pull it off.

“Chill, Abby,” said Lisa. “The water battle will go on for a long, long time to come. And in the end, Zach’s variance will be a mere blip on the radar.”

“If I pull it off,” Abigail reminded her as they started for the door. Having met some of Zach’s employees, she truly wanted to save their jobs. “I honestly don’t know what I can do to change the committee’s mind.”

“Seth told me about all the research you did on this,” Lisa reminded her. “The paper you wrote, your presentation in Denver. You didn’t let those bureaucrats intimidate you. The Ranchers Association thinks the world of you. He also told me he credits you with getting him elected. You wrote every speech, developed every policy. You’ve been a straight A student since first grade. You’re brilliant, Abby. If anyone can do it, it’s you.”