Cowgirl and Her Bad Billionaire

Jake Courtland stood beside the window, looking out at the vast stretch of land filled with well-tended grasses and cattle and horses when his real estate lawyer, Mike Gableton, strolled into his private study. He swung around when he heard movements behind him. The two men stared at each other.

"Yes, any success?" he said anxiously.

"I'm sorry, Jake! She rejected the offer," Gableton said, shaking his head miserably.

Jake's face twisted with anger.

"What do you mean she rejected the offer? That's bullshit!" His voice was harsh and trembling with rage.

Gableton made a helpless gesture with his hands.

"She doesn't want the money, Jake! She doesn't want it at all. I'm confused myself." There was a kind of bewildered expression on his face.

Jake drew in a long, slow breath and grimaced. He moved away from the window and sat down heavily into his armchair. At age thirty-one, he was tall, slim, broad-shouldered, and powerfully built. He was well tanned, with swept-back black hair, a square face, an aggressive jaw, an eagle-like nose, dark penetrating eyes, and pert lips which could easily curve into a smile or snarl. He was impressively handsome, a splendid-looking athlete. He stared at his lawyer for a long moment, and finally, he said, "Mike! What is wrong with that woman? For Pete’s sake, who the hell refuses five million dollars for a bunch of horses?" he said, a surprised note in his voice.

"Her horses aren't just a bunch of horses, and you know that, Jake," Gableton said calmly. "Lisa Wolfe horses are the best thoroughbreds there are in this whole town. Even the whole of Kentucky, I dare to say. She's aware of that fact, and hence, her reason for declining your offer.

Jake shrugged indifferently.

"To hell with her and her stubbornness. I need those horses of hers. I've got great hopes for those horses, especially with the horseracing event coming up. I can make a whale of money with those horses under my care. Can't she understand that?" he said exasperatedly. He pointed a finger at Gableton. "I've got the feeling you weren't convincing enough. You didn't put enough pressure on her."

A look of pain flashed across Gableton's face.

He said in a small voice. "Jake, you know I really tried my best to talk to her. I did all I could to convince her. For God's sake, I've been talking to her for the past two months now, all in the name of getting her to accept our offer. She's just so adamant, that one. I've never met any woman as headstrong as she. I don't think anything can change her mind. Not even your money, Jake." The helplessness in his voice irritated Jake, and it showed on his face.

"Oh, don't talk like a gutless insect, man!" he said tightly. "Don't let her get to you. She's just like any other woman. A little high and mighty, of course, but she's no different from any other woman."

Gableton scoffed.

"You don't know her, Jake. I mean, you've not even met her in person."

"Does it matter?" Jake growled.

"Of course, it does. You should hear her talk," Gableton replied. "I used all the sweet persuasive words I could think of since the day I became a lawyer, and yet she didn't budge. This woman knows exactly what she wants, Jake. She doesn't beat around the bush."

Jake drew in a long, shuddering breath and grimaced. As far back as he could remember, he had heard about Lisa Wolfe, her ranch, and her thoroughbred horses. She's the wealthiest female horse owner in this town. Before he died, her old man had left her a large sum of money along with the ranch and horses. Jake had never met her, but he had heard stories about her. She was extremely beautiful, rich, young, tough as nails, and very good with horses. Some of the folks, especially the men in the town, hated her for her guts and strong will, but none of them dared to confront her.

Many suitors had asked her hand in hand for marriage, but she had rejected them all. Even though it was difficult to admit, Jake knew he was one of the men in town who loathed her. Not because of her wealth or guts but her stubbornness. He always steered clear of women who are stubborn and difficult. Women who will throw his own words back at him without blinking an eye. Women who always want to be in charge of things, making the man look like a wimp. He preferred women who swoon easily at his good looks, wealth, and prestige. Women who will do yield to all his biddings without a fuss. Regrettably, Lisa was not in the category of such a woman, and that fact made rage surge through his body. He turned his mind away from his thoughts.

"What's the next thing we should do?" he asked.

Gableton sighed heavily.

"We've got two options, Jake; we can go for old Bill Roswell horses, or we can forget about this whole thing."

Jake narrowed his eyes.

"Bill Roswell horses? What's so hot about his horses?"

"Well, Bill takes good care of his horses, just like any other rancher. I checked out his horses the other day. He's got some cool thoroughbred horses over there, horses born and bred in Kentucky just the way you like them, Jake. I told him about the offer. He's willing to sell his horses," Gableton replied.

Jake shook his head.

"I don't wanna do any deal with Bill. That man gave my old man a lot of trouble while he was still alive. Moreover, I wouldn't say I like his breeds. They can never be as good as Lisa Wolfe’s."

"Jake, this is business we are talking of. Old Bill is one of the few ranchers around here who would ever consider selling their horses. Every other rancher is gunning for the town's horse racing event. No one will dare sell their horses at this critical time." He paused and went on. "Old Bill is a remorseful man now. He has learned from his mistakes. His breeds are in excellent condition. Selling his horses to you is a great advantage for you. He's going to sell them cheap, and what’s more, you guys can use that opportunity to bury the hatchet."

Jake clenched his fists, making his knuckles white.

"I ain't burying any hatchet with that old-timer! " he said savagely. "That man was a thorn in the flesh of my father for years. He drove my old man crazy." There was a terrifying, dark look on his face now. "Even if his horses were the only ones up for selling in this world, I ain't touching them. No one can make me settle things with that old sack. No one!" he seethed.

"Relax, Jake! Relax," Gableton said soothingly. "No one is forcing you to settle things with old Bill. Hell, no one can force you to buy his horses either. I want you to realize that you don't have many options. So far, old Bill is still your surest bet to get yourself into the horse racing event. But if you don't want him, then…" He left the rest of the words unsaid.

Jake moistened his lips with his tongue.

"I wanna do some thinking," he said.

Gableton inclined his head.

"Sure! Do you want me to leave?" he asked.

Jake shook his head.

"No, stay! I won't take long" He reached for the platinum cigar case on his desk and opened it. He brought out two thick Cuban cigars and offered Gableton one. The other man took it, and they both lit up. Jake leaned back into his chair. He dragged hard on the cigar, inhaling a lungful of smoke and letting it spiral out of his mouth. As he smoked, his mind was busy with thoughts. After a long moment, he stubbed out the cigar in a gold ashtray and said to Mike, "I think the best thing is to go over to Lisa Wolfe's ranch."

Gableton stared at him as if he were crazy.

"Jake! Why do you want to go there?" he gasped.

"To knock some sense into her thick skull, of course," he growled. "I want her to know she's making a stupid mistake for not accepting the money!"

Gableton's mouth hung open in disbelief.

"For Christ’s sake, Jake, you've not met this woman before," he said. "What if you go there and say some things to her that could get her riled up? And I know you, Jake, you've got a bad mouth, and you can be spiteful when you want to be. And I know how irritable you can sometimes be. As your lawyer, I'm telling you not to go over there," he said firmly.

"I'm going over there, and no one can stop me," Jake said.

"Why don't you let us give this a day or two to think things through?" Gableton went on. "I'm pretty sure we'll come up with something nice."

Jake ignored him. He stood from his chair, picked up his jacket, and put it on. He opened one of his drawers and took out his hairbrush. He combed his hair neatly, tossed the comb into the drawers, and snapped it shut. His movements were swift and final.

"Don't tell me you are going over there now?" Gableton said, standing up from his chair.

"It's now or never, Mike," Jake said. "Tell Carl to get the Rolls ready."

Gableton looked dismayed. He knew pressing Jake further would be a waste of time. He walked out of the study, a gloomy expression on his face.

A few minutes later, Jake, dressed in a navy-blue shirt, tie, and loafers, walked into his vast living room and out of the house. He headed over to the garage, which housed a Rolls Royce Wraith, G-Wagon, Bentley Continental, and an Aston Martin Porsche. A powerfully built man, wearing a gold-colored uniform, stood beside the Rolls. His name was Carl Kindle, and he was Jake's valet. He was also a good cook, and he took care of all Jake's meals. He was discreet, efficient, and indispensable to Jake. He smiled and tipped his hat when he saw Jake.

"She's ready, sir," he beamed. "I just gave her a swift, good washing."

"Thanks, Carl!" Jake replied. He regarded the glittering body of the Rolls and inclined his head. "I won't be back until late in the evening. Prepare something light for dinner, alright, Carl?" The valet nodded his head, smiling ruefully. Jake got into the Rolls and drove out of the garage. Outside, he saw Gableton, his arms akimbo, waiting. He stopped the car and rolled down the side glass.

"I'm not going to take long," Jake said. "Will you wait for me till I get back? "

"Of course, I'll wait!" said Gableton. "I want to see how you wanna swing this."

Jake smirked.

"I'll swing it, alright! Just watch me." He pressed a button beside him, and the glass rolled up. Then, he stepped hard on the pedal, and the car surged down the ranch’s long dusty driveway and was out of sight.

*****************

Lisa stroked the body of Fiery gracefully, loving the way its soft, brown-black hair glistened. It was a beautiful mare. It was big, brown, and sturdy. Lisa had raised Fiery from when she was born to when it grew to be this beautiful mare. As she continued to stroke the mare, she raised her muzzle at Lisa. Lisa laughed softly and kissed the side of the mare's mouth. Then, she fed Fiery more hay, moved out of the stall, and rested her body against the wooden stall door. The mare shuffled forward, half-closed its eyes, and pushed out its muzzle as if to sniff her. Lisa smiled to herself. Fiery was telling her she enjoyed Lisa's company and wanted her to stay awhile longer. Lisa shook her head.

"Another time, Fiery, I've got things to do," she said softly, patting the mare softly on its head. She looked around the stable and sighed heavily. It was massive, clean, and tidy. All the horses in each stall were in good health condition. Lisa loved all the horses. They were her family. Since her father died, she had no one to talk to. She had no friends or close relatives. She was a loner. The only people she ever talked to were Sally, her housemaid, and the wranglers who came in during the weekdays to care for the horses. For that reason, and for the fact that her father had left all these horses in her care, she had come to see them as her family.

Lisa regarded the stable for a long moment, a feeling of pride and happiness surging through her, then she walked out into the patch of late afternoon sun. She entered the house, walked into her bedroom, and took off her clothes. Naked, she walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower. Then, she dried herself thoroughly and put on a red striped shirt, tight-fitting pants, and brown boots. She left the room, and just then, the sweet aroma of sizzling meat hit her nostrils. She hastened her steps and entered the kitchen. Sally, the housemaid, was bent over the gas cooker.

"Hey, Sally," she said. "What are we having this afternoon?"

"Fried chicken with mashed potatoes," Sally replied in a thick Creole accent. She had silver onyx hair, and a warm, sultry smile that could make even the coldest heart melt. She was born in New Orleans and had worked as a maid for the Wolfe family since the time Lisa was little.

"Wow! I can't wait to eat it," Lisa said breathlessly.

"Don't worry, missy," Sally said. "It won't take any longer. Just go wait outside, alright?" she beamed at Lisa.

Lisa nodded happily and sashayed out of the kitchen. She walked into the living room and headed toward the bar. Just then, she heard the sound of a car. She crossed the room to the window and lifted the blinds. A car was coming up the dusty driveway at a breakneck speed. Her face creased up into a frown. ‘Was it that damn lawyer again?’ she wondered.

From behind the curtains, she waited, watching the car drive through the gateway and pull up right in front of the house. There was a brief pause, then she saw the car door open, and she felt a sudden sexual stab go through her when she saw the most magnificent man she had ever seen step out of the car. It was not the lawyer, she told herself. But who is this man? What does he want? She was angry at herself for feeling so sexually moved.

He was looking around the ranch house now, a sardonic, arrogant expression on his handsome face. She studied him closely. By the hard set of his mouth and the bold features of his ruggedly handsome face, she knew that he was going to be a hothead. A man who would like to have his say, whatever it was, and whether or not the listener would like to hear it. Well, we'd see about that. She remained motionless until she heard him walk up the porch, then she turned slowly away from the curtains when she heard the sound of the knocker.

*************

Jake lifted the knocker, regarded the old oak door and the wooden reclining chairs on the porch, and grimaced. How could the richest woman in this town be living in an odd-looking place like this?

The door opened. He looked at the woman who stood in the doorway, regarding him with large, hard blue eyes, and he felt his blood rush through him. The woman was of medium height; she had broad shoulders, a small waist, and solid hips. Her shapely breasts were defined by the shirt she wore, and her auburn-colored hair was caught back with a blue ribbon. Her complexion was creamy white, and it blended well with the color of her hair. She was the most sensational and sensual-looking woman he had ever come across. And at that moment, he felt blood rush into his loins, but his face did not reveal any of those things he was feeling at that moment. For a long moment, they regarded each other, then Jake pushed the wandering thoughts out of his mind and became all business.

"Good afternoon! I'm here to see Lisa Wolfe." His voice was deep, and Lisa had to admit it was very pleasant.

She rested her hips against the door, her arms akimbo, her eyes on him in a searching stare. She examined his well-tanned complexion, his eyes, and the shape of his well-proportioned body the way any farmer will look at some cattle he was thinking of buying. He was so goddamned attractive, she thought, her heart was beating hard against her ribs. She saw his face turning slightly red under her scrutiny, but she didn't care.

"And who are you?" she replied in a toneless voice.

The question hit Jake across the face like a punch. He had expected her to answer him right away. The harshness in her voice irritated him.

"I'm Jake Courtland," he said.

"Oh, the billionaire?" There was an undertone of mockery in her voice that infuriated him. "So, you finally showed up? That's nice. So happy you graced us with your presence." The spite in her voice was noticeable.

"What do you mean?" Jake replied, hating the way she was controlling the conversation.

"I mean, you are the one who has been bothering me for the past two months to sell my horses," she said sharply.

Jake stared at her for a long moment, bemused; then, understanding crept up his face.

"You are Lisa Wolfe?"

"Damn right, I am, Mr. Courtland," she jeered at him. "What do you want showing up here? And how the hell did you find this place?" There was contempt in her voice.

Jake stared at her for a long moment, wondering why she was so harsh to him. Then, he remembered what Gableton had said to him about her, and he smiled to himself. She was deliberately goading him to get him angry with her, thereby losing the chance of discussing anything with her. He knew that was what she was trying to do, and he was sure he would never let anyone deliberately goad him into being angry.

"Google Maps," he said casually. "Can I come in? "

She stared at him for a long moment as if deliberating within herself. Then she shrugged indifferently.

"Of course… Do come in."

Jake followed her through her well-lit hall and into the living room. He stared around the big, comfortably furnished room. The room was decorated with strong woods with solid colors. She waved him to one of the sofas. He sat down.

"I was going to have a drink before you came here. Do you care for a glass?" she said, walking over to the liquor cabinet. It was more of a question than courtesy.

"That would be nice," Jake said, his eyes moving over his body. His eyes stripped her, inch by inch, curve by curve. This woman was red hot dynamite. A beautiful virago. How come he had never seen her all this while? He felt another stirring in his loins, and he was furious with himself for feeling this way. She fixed the drinks and came over to where he sat, giving him a glass. He collected it, nodded his thanks, and sipped it. It was a rare, expensive brandy. It tasted excellent. Lisa sat on a sofa opposite him and crossed her legs.

"Now, tell me, Mr. Courtland, what can I do for you?" she said coldly, twiddling the glass in her hands.

"Drop the formality and call me Jake," he said solemnly.

"No, thank you. I'll stick with the Mr.," she said, leaving no room for argument. "I know why you are here. So, we might as well cut through the whole formality bullshit and get straight to the point."

"Alright," Jake said curtly. "I know you know why I am here. I'm just here to let you see reason concerning the sale of your horses."

Lisa's lips parted in a grin. But the smile did not reach her face.

"There's no reason to see, Mr. Courtland. You only came here, wasting your time. I'm not selling my horses. Your lawyer came by this morning. I told him all that. So, I don't know what exactly you are doing here." The finality in her voice angered Jake. He felt that if he were not careful, he would never reach any compromise with this woman.

"Will you hear me out first?" he said through locked teeth. He was not going to grovel at her feet just because of her horses, but he would make her listen to him.

She drew in a long, slow breath and regarded him for a long moment.

"Okay. I'm listening."

"Thanks," he said tightly. "As you well know, the town's horseracing event is fast approaching. This event is important to me. My father, when he was alive, always participated in it, just like his great grandfather. I intend to continue with the tradition. The only problem is that my horses are not thoroughbreds like yours. Mine are only raised for fun riding and breeding, but not for horseracing. Your horses have been reputed in this town as one of the best thoroughbreds any horse owner could ever wish to have." He paused to see if she was listening to him; seeing the calm expression on her face, he went on. "Ironically, you've never been known to allow your horses to participate in any horseracing events, which is quite absurd, if I might say. Thoroughbreds are meant for racing, not to be kept in a stall all day, eating and fattening up for nothing." He knew his emotions were getting a hold of him now, but he did not care. "They've got to work for the good foods they are fed. That's the way it should be. I've got an excellent English horse trainer who can train these horses of yours. All I have to do is call him on the phone, and he'll be in America in the blink of an eye. These horses can be trained to participate in racing events like the Derby. Chester and I intend for my horses to emerge as a winner in any of those events when the time comes. That's why I'm willing to pay five million dollars for all your thoroughbred horses. I know you must be thinking I am stupid for paying such an amount for some horses, but believe me, it's worth it." He finished, believing his words had hit home.

Lisa sat there, staring hard at him. All that time when he had been talking, she had not listened to anything he had being saying. Not because she didn't like what he was saying but because she enjoyed watching his face as he talked. There was a virile aura coming from him as he spoke, his dark eyes blazing with irresistible magnetism that seemed to reach over her where she sat. She looked at him now and saw his eyes staring hard at her, expectation written all over them.

"No!" she said.

Jake stared at her, bewildered.

"What do you mean by no?" he asked in a cold tone.

"I mean, I'm not interested in your money. I'm not selling any of my horses," she said sharply.

Jake's face twisted with anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you, woman?" he burst out uncontrollably. "For God's sakes, didn't you understand everything I'd been saying for the past few minutes?" His eyes were glittering like two pellets of ice.

Lisa gave him a cold smile.

"I understand what you are saying, alright, Mr. Courtland, but I ain't selling my horses." She paused and went on. "Can I ask you a question?"

Jake stared at her for a long moment. Then, he drew in a long, shuddering breath.

"Shoot," he snapped.

"What do you know about horses, Mr. Courtland?" she asked.

Jake regarded her, the muscles in his face tightened.

"You can ride them to anywhere you wanna go, and they can be trained for horse racing events," he said casually, wondering where the conversation was heading to.

"Is that all? "Lisa said, a surprised tone in her voice.

Jake shrugged indifferently.

"Yeah! They've got no other use than that."

Lisa stared at him, stunned.

"When last did you ride a horse?" she asked.

"Twenty-six years ago. I was five years old then," he replied in an even voice.

This time, Lisa's mouth jerked open in utter disbelief.

"You mean to tell me the last time you rode a horse was when you were five years old?"

Jake nodded vehemently.

"Yes! That's correct! Please, where are all these questions leading to?" he fired at her, hating the surprised expression on her face.

"May I ask the reason for this?" Lisa continued.

Jake shook his head.

"Something terrible happened, alright. But I'm not telling you anything. It's personal to me. You've got to understand that." He shifted uncomfortably on the seat.

Lisa stared at him, a bemused expression on her face. What had happened to him that he was so afraid to tell her?

"Mr. Courtland," Lisa began. "At this point, I can definitively say you know nothing about horses," she said blandly.

Jake's face went dark with rage.

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"I'm saying you don't know any goddamn thing about a horse," she said, ignoring the dark look on his face. "The only reason why you are for my horses is because of the money you could make from them. That's what brought you here. You don't care about those horses. You are only thinking about the money." Her words stung like him like a wasp.

"And is that a bad thing?" he fired back. "Money's got to be made, you know."

"Yes, money’s got to be made, but not out of my horses," she said. "Let me tell you something you might not know about horses. Do you know they've got similar traits as humans?" When Jake did not say anything, she went on. "They've got feelings and emotions too. And they are good listeners. Those horses in my stables are the only family I've got. They've been my companions all these years. I've been taking care of them since I was little. And I will never let you or anyone take them away from me because they were meant for some damn horse racing bullshit." Abruptly, she stood up from the sofa. "Mr. Courtland, this conversation is over. I think you should leave now."

Jake stared at her, his eyes hard and cold. The expression on his face could have frozen an ice cube. He was like that for a long moment, staring at her, not believing he had wasted his time coming to meet her. He knew there was nothing he could say to change her mind. The hardness in her eyes told him he would only be wasting his time trying to convince her to sell her horses. Gableton was right. This woman was a hard nut to crack. He felt rage surge through him at this realization, and the only thing that came to his mind was to spite her. He knew she loved those horses of hers, and that is what he was going to use to spite her. Slowly, he got to his feet and pointed a thick finger at her.

"You know you must be damn crazy for tossing away five million dollars for some damn horses that ain't worth shit," he seethed.

Lisa turned white. She felt a sudden rush of fury sweep her. Jake saw the angry glint in her eyes and smiled to himself. It was working.

"I'm not crazy!" she spat out. "And those horses are not damned. Don't ever say that. You can call me anything, but don't talk about my horses that way. Got it?" Her eyes were glittering at him like wet pebbles.

Jake shrugged indifferently.

"Nope! I don't get it at all," he said blandly, and he went on, ignoring the cold tightness of her face. "For me, I still believe you are crazy. I wasted my time coming over here. Who gives a shit about some damned thoroughbreds that don't even know jack about racing anyway? To hell with you and your damned horses."

He didn't even see the slap coming. Her palm exploded on the side of his cheek, and the sound was like the bursting of a paper bag.

"Get out!" she yelled, pointing to the door. "Get out, you big-headed fool, or I won't be sorry for what happens next! Get out! "

“You are no different from any other woman,” he growled. “You are just so goddamned stubborn, that’s all. Other than that, you are no different.” Then, he did something Lisa would have never expected him to do, something which shocked her. He pulled her against his chest, his arms sliding around her, holding her tightly in his arms. “I could kiss you senseless right now, and you wouldn’t do a damn thing,” he said, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

Lisa felt her color rise. The heat of his palms burned through her shirt into her flesh, and she shivered violently.

“You wouldn’t dare...” she said breathlessly. “You wouldn't do such a thing.”

“The hell I can’t,” he said, and he moistened his lips with his tongue.

That action made her legs go weak. The look in his eyes told her he meant to kiss her, and he was going to do it. She tried to say something, but her throat was paralyzed. Her heart was pounding hard against her ribs, and the muscles of her thighs were fluttering. She would have loved to push him away, but at that moment, her hands felt as heavy as lead. All she could do was stare back into his eyes, holding on to him. He bent his head, and as she braced herself, they both heard movement. Automatically, their heard turned toward the direction. Sally had come into the living room. In her hand was a tray filled with plates of food. Jake and Lisa pulled away from each other instantly.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Wolfe. I didn’t know you had a visitor. I only came to tell you lunch is ready,” the old maid babbled, a worried expression on her face.

Lisa felt her throat thicken, and she swallowed hard.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said quickly. “Mr. Courtland was just about to leave.” She glanced at Jake. She was surprised to see his face calm and expressionless. It was as if nothing had happened in the last few minutes or so. Who the hell is this man? Jake was saying something now, and she quickly turned her mind away from her thoughts.

“I'll be on my way now. Please, do think about our discussion. My offer still stands,” he said, staring hard at her.

“Mr. Courtland, I…” Lisa began but stopped abruptly when she noticed he was no longer paying attention to her. He was looking at Sally now.

“ That sure smells nice, ma’am.” He beamed at Sally. “I'd have loved to have a taste, but I gotta run. Got some things to do.” And without even looking at Lisa, he turned and walked out of the house in easy, long strides.

Lisa watched him go, and she swallowed hard. When he smiled at Sally, he had looked even younger and more handsome than ever.

“Oh Lordy, Miss Wolfe,” Sally gasped. “Who is he? From the day I’ve been on this ranch, I’ve never seen a fine specimen of man on two legs as that one. Who is he?”

“Jake Courtland!” Lisa answered in a small voice. Slowly, she walked towards the window and lifted the blinds. She watched as Jake slid into his car, whipped the car around with the expert skill of a good driver, swung the car onto the dirt road, and drove hard and fast out of the ranch. She remained motionless until the sound of the car engine had died away. Then slowly, as she turned away from the window, a plan was already forming in her mind.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The time was past nine. Jake was inside his office, in his armchair, a thick cigar burning anxiously between his fingers, his face expressionless. Earlier that day, he had woken up early, took a quick shower, and breakfasted on a sumptuous meal prepared by Carl. And now, as he sat inside his office, he was thinking hard about what had happened at Lisa Wolfe's ranch the other day. The way things had turned out had shocked him.

All he had had in mind was to go out there and convince her to sell her horses to him. Unfortunately, she had rejected his offer, and worse still, he had found himself attracted to her. He remembered how he had held her in his arms and the way her smoky blue eyes had stared at him. Damn! He could never forget that look in her eyes. He had never wanted any woman the way he had wanted her at that moment. He put the cigar between his lips, dragged hard on it, and exhaled a thick smoke that spiraled to the ceilings. He knew if the maid hadn't come in when she did, he would have kissed her. Not because he could do it but because he had really wanted to. But why? Why would he want that? For Christ's sake, he just met her, and with everything he had heard about her, he knew he could never love that kind of woman. The look he had seen in her eyes came into his mind again, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Damnit! Why was she so goddamned beautiful? He was angry at the way he was feeling. Sexual desires… feelings… love… he didn't want that! A woman would never have any permanent place in his life.

Right now, all he wanted was some good thoroughbreds, which would help him win in the horse race events, add more respect to his name in the town, and bring more money to his coffers, he thought. The thought of loving a woman, especially a tight ass, strong-headed woman like Lisa Wolfe, riled him up. He shook his head. It could never work. The other night, when he had returned to the house and had met Gableton waiting for him patiently in the living room, the look on his face had told the lawyer the meeting with Lisa had been unsuccessful. Gableton did not say anything to him. He had only smiled knowingly and gave him that look that said "I told you so" before walking out of the house.

Jake had muttered a curse. He hated it when he could not have his way with things. Why was Lisa so stubborn about selling her horses? Why couldn't she see things from his point of view? He sighed heavily, took the cigar out of his mouth, and stubbed it out in the ashtray. Well, there's nothing I can do about it. If she's not going to sell her horses to him, he can forget participating in the horse racing events. He shrugged indifferently. He would rather forget about keeping up with his family tradition and the money he was going to make from the racing events than grovel at the feet of a woman all for the sake of some horses. He leaned into his armchair, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Just then, Carl came into the room, beaming. Seeing the demure expression on Jake's face, the smile disappeared. That was one thing about Carl. He always knew when his boss was in his happy mood or no-nonsense mood.

"Mr. Courtland," he said in a calm voice.

Jake looked up.

"Yes, what is it, Carl?"

"There's someone who would like to see you," he said.

Jake narrowed his eyes.

"See me?" he said. "Who is it?"

"A Miss Wolfe," Carl said.

Hearing the name Wolfe, Jake's eyes bulged out of its sockets in shock.

"Are you kidding me, Carl?" he said huskily.

"Not at all, sir," Carl affirmed. "I could never kid about such a thing."

"Where is she?" Jake said anxiously.

"Right outside the house, sir. She said she wouldn't come in unless you came out to see her."

Lisa? Here? What the hell was she doing here? Had she changed her mind about selling her horses? A feeling of excitement surged through him. Yes, that must be it. She had given in after all. Excitedly, he stood up from his chair, came around the table, and followed Carl out of the study, through the stairs, then out of the house.

Lisa Wolfe sat astride a mare. She had on a blue striped shirt tucked neatly into tight-fitting white slacks and black boats. A cowboy hat sat elegantly on her head. She looked tough and sexy as she sat on the mare, and Jake felt a sudden tightness across his chest.

"Miss Wolfe, this is a surprise," Jake said, a suppressed excitement on his face. "I knew you were going to change your mind. You changed your mind, right?" he said, not as a question but as a matter of fact.

"Of course, I changed my mind," she replied in a hard, clipped voice. She turned her head away to scrutinize the ranch house, then with a nod of approval, she turned her eyes back on him. "But there's a catch."

A little frown creased Jake's face.

"A catch?" he said bemused. "Are you talking about the money I am offering?"

She gave him a cold, blank stare.

"This is not about the money, Mr. Courtland. This is about something else."

Jake stared at her for a long moment. He had a feeling he was not going to like what she was going to say.

"Look, Miss Wolfe, I think it would nice if we discussed this in the house," he said.

"Of course!" She dismounted from the horse.

Carl, who was standing beside Jake and had been watching his boss and the woman the whole time, moved towards the horse. Lisa offered him the reins. He took them and led the horse towards a big orange tree to tether her to it.

Jake led her into the house, then into his study. He waved to the client's chair. She sat in it, took off her hat, tossed her glossy mane of black hair from her shoulders, and crossed her legs. Sitting in the chair, she had the air of a woman who was very sure of her beauty.

"Would you care for a cup of coffee?" Jake asked her.

"Yeah, that would be nice," she answered.

Just then, Carl came into the room. Jake turned to him.

"Would you get Miss Wolfe a cup of coffee, please?" Jake said. Then, he turned to Lisa. "How do you want it?"

"With lots of cream and sugar," she answered calmly.

"You heard that, Carl," Jake said.

"I'll get it right away, sir," Carl said, and he went out of the room.

Jake settled down on his armchair. He took out a cigar from a platinum case, lit it, drew in smoke, and exhaled deeply. Then he looked at Lisa. Her blue eyes were staring hard at him, scrutinizing him.

"Miss Wolfe," he began. "I'll like to know what this catch is all about."

"I might say you wouldn't like it when you hear it," she said casually.

Jake grinned.

"Let me be the judge of that," he said. "I want to be certain of something. Do you mean to say you really wanna sell your horses?"

Lisa nodded her head.

"Yes," she replied.

Jake stared at her in disbelief.

"Forgive me, but I find that hard to believe." He took the cigar from his mouth, letting it burn between this fingers. "I mean, my lawyer has been disturbing you for the past two months now. I believe the money am offering was too good to refuse, is that it?"

Lisa laughed, and her eyes told him she was genuinely amused.

"I don't need your money, Mr. Courtland. You should know that already." She sighed. "After you left yesterday, I did a lot of thinking. And I came up with a deal. A deal that would favor the two parties, which is you and I."

"What deal is that?" he asked.

Just then, Carl came into the room. He settled a tray on the table and slipped out of the room. Lisa picked up the mug and sipped the coffee. Jake watched her, impatience gnawing at him.

"Mr. Courtland," Lisa said, placing the mug back on the tray. "I want you to understand something. The only way you can get those horses of mine is only if you agree with the decision I came up with. If you agree with it, I won’t collect the money you are offering for the horses. I don't need your five million dollars. Are you listening?"

Jake sat up in his chair instantly, his interest piqued.

"I'm listening, alright," he said solemnly.

Lisa examined her well-manicured fingers for a moment.

"I want a child, Mr. Courtland," she said finally. "Most importantly, a son. You are going to give me a child."

Jake's mouth jerked up. If he was shocked by what Lisa had said, he couldn't hide the surprise expression on his face.

"You want a child?" he asked, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes bulging out of its sockets.

"Yes, a son precisely," Lisa affirmed, staring back at him defiantly.

Jake's face lost its color. He stared at Lisa as if she were crazy, then seeing the defiant glint in her eyes, he knew she had meant what she had said. At first, he wanted to tell her to get out of his office, but he stopped himself. His instinct warned him to be careful and to take things easy with her.

"I still don't understand you, Miss Wolfe," he said gently.

"What's there to understand?" she said impatiently. "All I want is for you to give me a child. This is not about marriage or anything that has to do with happily ever after. This is purely business. That's all."

Jake stared at her, puzzled.

"But surely, there are many ways you could go about this," he said with an encouraging smile. "For instance, you could adopt."

Lisa shook her head.

"No! I want my own child," she replied curtly. "My flesh and blood. All I want is your seed in exchange for those horses. It sounds absurd, but I prefer that to taking money from you. As you know, those horses are the only family I've got left, and since I am going to be giving them out, then I need someone to love and cherish so that I won't be lonely. I need someone to take their place in my heart. That's how I came up with the idea of a child. And that's all there is to this business. I'm gonna take care of the child. You needn't worry about the upkeep or anything. I'll handle everything myself." There was a fierce determination in her voice now. "All I want is your seed, that's all."

Jake dragged his finger through his thick hair.

"How are we going to do this?" he asked.

"How? Do you even need to ask that?" she blurted out, staring hard at him. "You are going to have sex with me, of course. See yourself as a kind of sperm donor. Only this is not about sperm donation. There would be consummation in this. I want you to look me in the eyes when you pour your seed inside of me. I want that," she said, her blue eyes glittering.

Jake shook his head, still confused. He had heard all sorts of crazy stories, but this was the winner for him.

"But why me? Why not someone else?" he said.

Lisa moistened her lips with her tongue.

"You are good-looking, sophisticated, and a billionaire. What’s more, you come from a wealthy and highly respected family. I couldn't settle for less. That's why I choose you."

Jake drew in a long, slow breath.

"What if the child turned out to be a girl? Have you considered that?”

"Yes, I've thought about that," she replied. "You don't need to worry. If it turns out to be a girl, I'll take care of her all the same."

Jake sighed.

"I'm sorry, Miss Wolfe. But you are talking with the wrong man. I don't wish to have a son, especially with that kind of arrangement. It's like saying you want me to father a bastard proudly. If I want a son, I will get myself a woman I'll love and cherish with my whole heart. That woman would be the mother of my child." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but your idea isn't my way of going about that."

"Don't stupid, Mr. Courtland. This is your only chance of getting those horses you wanted so much," Lisa said harshly. "Do you think I wish to go ahead with this? I would have talked about you getting married to me; that way, the child would know his father, but the idea of settling down with a man has never entered my head."

"Don't you think you being selfish here?" Jake said tightly. "You are only thinking of your own selfish needs. What about the needs of the child? Any child would want to know his or her father. Moreover, any good father won't like the idea of having a child somewhere without not wanting to perform his fatherly duties."

Lisa bit her lip.

"I've thought of all that. But there's nothing that I can do about it," she said.

"What if I don't want you as I woman?" Jake growled. "What if I can't bear the sight of you?" he said bitingly. "What if the thought of making love to you repulses me? Have you thought about that?"

Lisa smiled, and it angered Jake that she could be so nonchalant about an issue like this.

"I've thought of all that too. But surely, you can't resist a woman like me," she said, her eyes scrutinizing him.

"Who says?" Jake fired back. "Before you came into this room, I've taken my mind of those damned horses. What’s more, I don't like you. I hate everything about you, so deal with it."

Lisa's face became hard as a rock. She stared at him for a long moment, then her lips curved into a sensual smile. Slowly, she pushed back her chair, rose to her feet, and came around the desk.

" What are you doing?" Jake said stiffly, a bemused expression on his face.

Lisa did not say anything. She came near him and leaned into Jake, catching him off guard. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on his lips. Jake wanted to throw her off him. But her lips touching his had aroused a wild feeling in him. He was violently stirred. They were, for some time, kissing, and he found himself holding her luscious body and kissing her back with wild pent-up longing he never knew he had in him. Suddenly, she pulled away from him. Her face was flushed with desire, her breasts rising and falling, and her breath coming out rapidly.

"Why the hell did you stop?" Jake growled, feeling his hands clammy with sweat and his penis hard and throbbing in his pants.

"I only wanted to prove you wrong," she said huskily. "You want me, and you can't deny it." She moved away from him and picked up her hat. Jake watched her the way a tiger would look at a rat about to sneak away from its cage. Lisa sashayed to the door and turned to look at him. "The offer still stands, billionaire. Think about it." And with that, she walked out of the room.

Jake watched her go in utter disbelief. He sat there for a long moment, his mind busy with thoughts. Then slowly, he picked up his phone and dialed Gableton's number.

Lisa stirred and opened her eyes as the grey light of dawn filtered through the half-drawn curtains. She lay still for some moments, thinking about the event that had taken place in Jake's office the previous day. She bit hard on her bottom lip when the thought of how they had both kissed came into her mind. It was totally unbelievable. A few years ago, if someone had told her that she would find herself in that can kind of situation, she would have dismissed the whole thing. And yet, it had happened inexplicably. She drew in a long slow breath and grimace.

After Jake had left her ranch that day, she had sat down in her room and thought critically about the situations of things. The idea of getting old and dying as a spinster scared her. Yes, for a long time, she had never thought about settling down with a man. In fact, the idea of having a child for a man was something she had ever dwelled upon. Her thought had always revolved around the ranch, taking care of the horses, and living a quiet, peaceful life. But Jake coming to her ranch had turned her mind towards some things she had never had time to think about in her life. Things like having her how child. Undoubtedly, Jake had stirred up some feelings in her. His presence had risen in her the urgent need to have a kind of companion, in a human form this time.

That was when the idea of having a child with Jake in exchange for her horses had dropped into her mind. She had thought hard about it and eventually decided that it was the best option she had. Even though the thought of losing her horses, most especially fiery, had made it a difficult decision yet she knew it had to be done. She was getting old, and time was running fast. Having flesh and blood of her own to keep her company when her horses were gone sounded like a very good idea. She would nourish the child and take care of it, just like any good mother would do. She was going to make sure the child lacks nothing. She was going to be a good mother. Even though she knew nothing about taking care of her child, the fact that Sally was going to be with her assured her that everything was going to be alright.

Lisa stifled a yawn and sat up on the bed. The thought of how she had seduced Jake inside his office came into her mind again, and a smile tugged at her lips. The son of a gun, she thought smugly, remembering the look on Jake's face. That moment, while inside his office, as she had walked towards him, she found out that it was one of the most difficult decisions she had ever come to make in her life. Seducing a man! Never in her life would she had thought she would find herself in that kind of position.

At first, she felt belittled, and somewhat offended that he hadn't found her attractive enough for him to want to bed her. The arrogant bastard had rejected her offer. That had hurt her ego really bad. But she had wanted to find out whether he had meant all those things he had said to her. And the only way to do that was to try and kiss me. Lisa's face turned a rosy pink as she remembered the way they had kissed. The kiss had aroused in her deep, pent-up longings that had been buried long ago in her body.

As they kissed, she had been sure Jake wanted her as a woman. He was only being headstrong and wanted only to make her feel bad. She chuckled when she remembered the expression on his face when she had kissed him and pulled away from him. He had looked wild and hungrily at her. The look she had seen on his face told her he wanted her the way any man would naturally want a beautiful woman. There was no denying the fact. But did she really want him as a man? Lisa sighed heavily. Somehow, she had a feeling she was attracted to Jake. No woman would see an extraordinarily handsome man like Jake, with the irresistible vitality that oozes him and won't be attracted. But could she ever fall in love with a difficult and stubborn man like Jake? No way, she told herself. She thought of those large, dark, teasing eyes of his. " No way," she aloud, firmly.

She rose from the bed and went out of the room. As she walked towards the living room, she could hear Sally moving about in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee and fried eggs hits her nose. She walked into the kitchen and found Sally fiddling with the coffee maker.

" Morning Sally," Lisa said eagerly.

Sally swings around, a warm smile plastered on her sweaty, dark face.

" Morning, missy, " she cooed. " I hope you had a good night's rest? " She inquired.

Lisa bobbled her head.

" Yep, a terrific one," she replied.

" That's nice, " Sally said happily. " I'm preparing bacon and ham this morning. Is that fine by you, Missy? "

Lisa inclined her head.

" It's perfect. "

Sally beamed.

" Alrighty. While don't you go freshen up, while I continue with all this. By the time you are done, I'm pretty sure the breakfast would be ready to be served."

Lisa nodded, and as she turned to go, Sally called her name.

" Missy Sally? "

" Yes, " Lisa said, turning around to face Sally.

" I'm really sorry about the way I walked into the living room when you and that handsome gentleman were together," Sally said. There was a contrite expression on her face.

Lisa frowned, puzzled, " What? " Then her face cleared when she remembered what had happened the previous day. " For Christ's sakes, you don't have to worry about that, Sally. " She gave a short laugh. " It wasn't your fault, really. You shouldn't be bothered about things like that, alright."

" I felt bad. " Sally said quietly, a demure expression on her face. " I promise I will be more careful next time, alright, Miss Lisa? "

" There's no need for all that, Sally," Lisa said affectionately " You didn't do anything wrong. Please, for my sake, don't worry your head about little things like that, alright? " She said, smiling at the old maid.

Sally nodded vehemently.

" Alright, Miss Lisa. " She said, flashing her white teeth, rubbing her hands together happily.

" Good," Lisa said as she walked out of the kitchen. She went into her bedroom then into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, turned on the shower, shampooed her hair, took a quick bath, and went out of the bathroom. A few minutes later, she stepped out of her room dressed in yellow-colored striped shirts, tight black fitted jeans, and black boots. She walked into the living room and found the dining table well laid. There were plates of freshly made ham, bacon, eggs, steaks, and a steaming pot of coffee. She served herself, descended on the food, and washed it down with the coffee. When she was done, Sally came out of the kitchen to clear the plates away while Lisa stepped out of the house to check on the horses. Just then, she saw one of the wranglers that always comes during the weekdays to take care of the horses. He was sitting astride a big mare, a hat behind his head, the morning sun burning hard on his brown, grimed face. He alighted from his horse, tied the reins to a tree, and walked up to her. He was of medium height, fleshy and ruddy, and endowed with muscular arms and shoulders. His name was Willy Shepherd.

" Morning, ma'am," he said, tilting his hat, a pleasant smile on his face.

" Morning, Shep," Lisa replied. " How are you doing this morning? "

" Pretty good. How about you, ma'am? " he asked.

" Never being better," She replied, adjusting the hat on her head. " How's your wife and kid? "

" They all are doing great, Miss Wolfe," he replied eagerly.

" I would like to check on the horses, ma'am. See how they are faring and all, " Shep said.

" That will be a very good idea, Shep. But I'm afraid I've got some bad news. " Lisa said in a low voice.

Shep narrowed his eyes at her.

" Bad news? " He said huskily.

" Yeah, Shep. Bad news, " She replied, heaving heavily. " You see, I won't need your service anymore in the next few days. " A look of pain flashed across Shep's face, and Lisa said quickly. " It's not only you, Shep. I won't be needing the service of the other wranglers as well."

Shepherd's face fell.

" But why Miss Wolfe, what have we done to ya? " He wailed, his voice trembling. " Me and the boys, we've been good to you, ma'am. Haven't we all? " his voice was trembling violently now.

" You did nothing wrong, Shep. Nome of y'all did anything wrong," Lisa said rasped, unhappy to see the demure expression on the young man's face.

" Then why? Why don't you need our services no more? " He wailed.

" Because I'm selling the horses, Shep. I'm selling them off. All of them. " She said, her voice shaky. " In the next few days, the stable will be empty."

He was staring at her with painful intensity.

" You selling of the horses? " He gasped. " but why? You loved those horses. Folks in this town respected you, ma'am, for your strong willfulness about you not selling your horses. So why do you wanna sell them off? "

Lisa lifted her shoulders helplessly.

" Some unforeseen circumstances, Shep. I'm afraid I can't go into the details. " She took off her hat, dragged her fingers through her hair ruefully, and put her hat back on. " I don't wish to do this, Shep. But I've got to no choice."

Shepherd stared at her for a long moment. He drew in a long breath and bit hard on his bottom lip. He took off his hat and dragged his fingers through his wavy, sandy hair.

" What about Fiery? " He asked. " What are you going to do about her? "

" I'm selling her too " her bottom lip was trembling so that Lisa hastily bit hard on it before he realized how near to tears he had brought her by the mention of the name of her favorite horse.

" Who is the buyer, ma'am? " Shepherd asked. " A fellow in this town? "

Lisa nodded her head but said nothing.

" He got a name? " Shepherd inquired in a low voice.

Lisa did not want to tell Shepherd about Jake. But inwardly, she knew one way or another; the wrangler would eventually know the buyer who had bought all of the famous Wolfe horses. This was a small town, and news of things like this spreads fast. So, she sighed heavily and said, "Jake Courtland! Jake Courtland is the buyer."

Shepherd's mouth jerked open in shock.

" Jake Courtland? The billionaire? " He said, his voice laced with surprise. " Why, but that man needn't buy any more horses. He's got a whole lotta them on his ranch. The story around here is that the man doesn't know jack about them horses. What's he buying them horses for anyway? "

" Business," Lisa said blandly.

Shepherd lifted his eyebrow.

" Business? " he said. " You mean he still wants to acquire more horses with all that money he's got? "

Lisa shrugged indifferently.

" I wouldn't know what Jake Courtland as in mind concerning the horses. All I know is that he is interested in buying them and am selling," she replied in an even tone.

Shepherd stared at her for a long moment. He had a feeling Lisa was hiding something, but he was not sure what it was.

" Did he force you, ma'am? " He said.

Lisa narrowed her eyes at him.

" Force? What do you mean by that? "

" I mean, did he persuaded you to sell them? " He urged on. " Because I know that man. He's a real stubborn son of a bitch; pardon my words, ma'am. So damned headstrong. He always wants to have things his way. " When Lisa did not say anything, he went on. " I guess he must have persuaded you. I know how stubborn you also can be, Miss Wolfe. You know folks around here talk about how pretty and high mighty you are about things. " He was looking at her slyly now. " But if a man like Jake Courtland had come for your horses, knowing how much you love them horses, you would never stand a chance against him. That man has a way of getting anything he wants " he was grinning knowingly at her now.

Lisa's face lost its color, anger surging through her. She did not know which infuriated her, the fact that he was right about Jake or the stupid smile on his face. She was about to fire back at him when they both heard the sound of a car coming fast on the long, dusty driveway towards the ranch. They both swung around. Lisa squinted her eyes. Her face lit up when she recognized Jake's, Rolls Royce.

" Who the hell is that? " Shep slurred, taking off his hat and squinting his eyes. " Looks like the devil himself on wheels."

Lisa did not answer him. They both stood like that, waiting until the car came up towards them and pulled up right in front of the ranch. The door swung opened, and Jake Courtland and Mike Gableton stepped out of the car. Lisa's throat went dry at the sight of Jake. He was dressed in a white t-shirt, chinos, and black boots. His face was hard and cold, and his eyes were pellets of ice. And yet, he still looked devastatingly handsome, and she felt a wave of emotions washed over her. Gableton wore a fawn suit with a hat on his head. There was a relaxed expression on his face. They both walked towards Lisa and Shepherd.

" Howdy, miss Wolfe? " Gableton said affectionately, tilting his hat at Lisa and Shep.

Lisa cleared her throat.

" Hello, Mr. Gableton," she said evenly. Her eyes turned to look at Jake. But he was not even looking at her. There was a deadpan expression on his face as he looked at Shepherd, who was standing beside her. Why was he looking at Shep like that? She asked herself. Was he jealous of Shep? Was he thinking something was going on between her and the young man? No. A man like Jake could never have any ounce of jealously in him and but who knows, she could be wrong.

Shepherd also mumbled some incoherent words, his eyes staring hard at Jake. The look on his face showed that he knew who Jake was.

Jake met the young man's gaze with a cold, blank stare. Turning hot under his gaze, Shep turned his eyes away from Jake to look at the Rolls glittering under the sun.

" Miss Wolfe, are you free? " Mike Gableton inquired. " Mr. Courland and I would like to have some words with you. "

Lisa stared at Gableton for some moments.

" Alright! " She said and turned to Shepherd. " Shep, go check on the horses, alright. I'm going inside to talk with these gentlemen."

For a few seconds, Shepherd stared at her stupidly. His eyes shifted uneasily from Jake's face to Lisa and back to Jake again.

" You sure you'll be alright, ma'am? " He said in a strangled voice. " I could stay if you want " the offer to stay with her in case she might need him if Jake and his lawyer were going to be a bother was definable in his voice.

" Do what she says, damnit! Go take care of the damned horses, man! " Jake bawled at him.

Shepherd needed no further urgings. He bobbled his head nervously and scurried away. Lisa watched him go, her lips twitching with anger. She turned to Jake.

" You needn't shout on him that way. " She snapped, looking at him reproachingly. " He was only trying to look out for me, especially with that kind of look you are wearing on your face. " She said harshly.

Jake scoffed, but he did not say anything. Gableton sensing the hostility going on between them quickly said, "I think we should all go in. I don't know about you guys, but this sun is burning me up."

Lisa nodded her head. She turned around and began to make her way into the house. Jake and Gableton exchange glances and then followed suit. They all entered the house. Lisa waved them to a sofa. Jake and Gableton sat down on the sofa. Lisa sat on a chair opposite them.

" Care for a drink? " She asked them.

Gableton shook his head.

" Nah, I'm alright," he said.

" Can I smoke? " Jake said, his face expressionless.

Lisa shrugged indifferently.

" Sure, you can. " She said.

Jake grunted and brought out a pack of cigarettes from his pockets. He shook out one, lit it, and drew in smoke. Seeing they were all settled, Gableton sat forward on the sofa, staring at Lisa.

" Miss Wolfe, " he began. " Mr. Courtland told me about your offer. That's precisely why we are here. As you well know, I'm Mr. Courtland's estate lawyer, and it's my responsibility to make sure certain things are in place in any of Mr. Courtland's business deals. I hope you understand? " When Lisa nodded, he went on. " Good. So, Mr. Courtland told me about the offer you made. Mr. Courtland and I had a long discussion about it after you had left his office yesterday. I'm only here to make sure the deal is sealed, and each party involved in the agreement agrees with the terms of the deal. " He finished, heaving heavily.

Lisa moistened her lips with her tongue.

" Mr. Gableton, there's nothing for you to be worried about. I meant everything that I had told Mr. Courtland. I'm not interested in his money. All I need is a son from him in exchange for my horses. That's all there's is to this whole deal. Or is it that you gentlemen can't just wrap around your head about the fact that a woman knows what she really wants? " She said, looking at Jake and Gableton quizzically.

Gableton gave a hard, barking laugh.

" Of course, Miss Wolfe. Mr. Courtland and I do not have any qualms about your decision. In fact, after a serious discussion with Mr. Courtland, he has agreed to go ahead with the plan, " Gableton babbled. " Sweet, isn't it? " He said, rubbing his hands together.

" He as? " Lisa said indifferently. " How nice of him. " She jeered, looking at Jake, who was dragging hard on the cigarette. They both regarded each other for some time, and finally, Lisa turned her eyes away from him. " I'm irresistible, and no man in his right senses won't want to make that kind of a deal with a woman like me. " she went on, a mocking tone in her voice.

" Better watch the way you run of your mouth, " Jake said tightly, thin smoke spiraling out of his mouth. " I can still call off this whole deal."

Lisa gave him a cold smile.

" No, you won't. " She said solemnly. " You see, in this deal, I am the one at the receiving end, not you. You know this. And I know this. And don't pretend as if you don't know what I'm talking about."

" What the hell is that supposed to mean? " Jake lashed out. " If you really think I'm happy with this whole deal, think again, woman. I won't be pushed around by a woman just because she's got the moves to call the shots."

Lisa scoffed.

" Don't take that tone with me, Mr. Courtland. What are you so worked up for anyways? " She seethed. " You get the horses, and I get my son. So, what's your itch? More still, you still get the cookie! "

" The cookie? " Jake fired at her, perplexed. " What's that supposed to mean anyway? "

" I mean, you still get to make love to me, dumb ass. " Lisa spat out. " You don't even know how damn lucky your dumb ass is. For your information, you will be the first man ever to get the chance to make love to me! " she said, heaving heavily.

" What? " Jake gasped. He and Gableton exchanged glances.

" Miss Wolfe, " Gableton stuttered. " Do you mean you are…….are…."

Lisa waved her hand impatiently, cutting him off.

" You don't have to sweat it, lawyer. I'm a virgin. A damned rich one at that. Mr. Courtland is going to fucking a damned, rich virgin woman. The only one in this small town. My type is fucking rare. So, tell him to be nice to me, alright," she said, her blue eyes glittering like ice pellets.

A deafening silence, you can hang a hat on hung around the room. They all stared at each other; no one moved. No one talked. After a few moments, it was Jake that broke the silence.

" Oh, God! You've got to be kidding me " He gasped, an expression of total disbelief on his face.

" I'm not kidding, Mr. Billionaire. " Lisa gritted out. " Burn everything I've told you into your thick skull and stop with the cocky attitude; it makes me sick."

Gableton stunned by what he had heard, said in a shaky voice.

" Miss Wolfe, can I have the papers drawn up for this deal? Mr. Courtland would like to take ownership of the horses as soon as possible. "

" Of course. I'm ready to sign any papers. " Lisa said. " I also don't want any delay in this. The sooner we get over this deal, the better it would be for me."

Gableton drew in a long, relaxed breath.

" Great. I'll bring the papers probably this evening or first thing tomorrow morning. Then after that, we'll bring the trucks to load all the horses into it. Is that alright with you? " He asked, looking at her. When she nodded, he went on. " Then I believe you and Mr. Courtland can meet privately to discuss how you guys are going to seal the intimate part of the er…….er………" he was finding it difficult to complete the rest of the words.

" Don't worry, Mike, " Jake said, cutting in. " I'm pretty sure Miss Wolfe and I will definitely find a way to settle that specific area. " He said, looking at Lisa, a jeering expression in his eyes. She ignored him and turned to Gableton.

" Thanks for your help, Mr. Gableton. I'll be expecting the papers. " She said, giving him a little smile.

Gableton nodded vehemently.

" Well, I think we are through here, Gableton, " Jake said as he rose to his feet. He looked at Lisa. " I'll see you soon, Miss Wolfe. " He turned to Gableton. " I'll be in the car. " And with that, he walked out of the room, in long easy strides. When he was gone, Gableton turned to Lisa.

" Ignore all his haughty behaviors, all right. Behind all those cocky, standoffish attitudes, he's a good man with a good heart. " He paused and went on. "You see, Jake had a troubled childhood. What made it worse was the death of his father. He never had the chance to meet his mother. She died while giving birth to him. So please see him as a sort of rough diamond, alright. " He drew in a long, slow breath. " I promise you, Miss Wolfe. You will never regret making this deal with Mr. Courtland. This deal will work out alright. Trust me on this. "

Lisa nodded and swallowed hard. She could see In the lawyer's eyes the stark respect he had for Jake Courtland.

" I understand all you've said, Mr. Gableton. And thanks for making this worked out alright. " She stretched her hands, and they both shook hands. Gableton tilted his hat and walked out of the room.

Lisa watched him go, and she stood there, thinking and silently offering a prayer to God that she hadn't made a stupid decision to bed a man like Jake Courtland.

*************

The time was past eight. In his study, Jake Courtland was sitting on his armchair, going through some livestock paperwork when Mike Gableton strolled into the room.

" Hey Jake," He said. He was wearing a well-tailored suit and in his hands was a portfolio containing some documents. There was a look of suppressed excitement on his face.

Jake looked up from the paperwork.

" Hello, Mike, how you doing this morning? " He said.

" Pretty good, Jake," Gableton beamed. " We nailed it, Jake. I got the papers right here. I took the documents to her this morning, and she signed them. The horses are yours. All of it. "

Jake sat forward in his chair.

" She signed it? " He asked, interestedly.

" She did, Jake," Gableton replied. " All her horses belong to you now. As I said, I got the papers right here. "

" Let me see that, " Jake said eagerly.

Quickly, Gableton sat on the client's chair, slid open the portfolio, took out all the documents, and thrust it to Jake. He collected the documents and scanned everything. Seeing everything was in place, he grunted his satisfaction.

" Well, I'll be damned, " Jake said, heaving heavily. " This woman sure means business."

" She sure does, " Gableton replied, beaming. " I'm still bewildered by all this, Jake. It looks so unreal. Who would have believed that things can be as easy as this? "

Jake shook his head.

" Just like you, Mike, am also in awe. I mean, we've been begging this woman for the past couple of months. Now, look at the way everything turned out to be? Now that those horses are mine, no one can stop me from coming out first in that damned horse race " he was beaming now.

" The only person you got to worry about is Bill Ross horses," Gableton said. " his thoroughbreds have been known to perform excellently well in all the town's racing events. I heard one of the folks in this town who he's also interested in the coming horse race events he's going to buy Old's Bill horses. With the Wolfe's horses participating in the race alongside Old Bill's horses, this year, it's gonna be one hell of a horse race for the folks in this town.'

Jake snorted.

" To hell with Old Bill horses. The Wolfe's horse is going to do wonders. All they need is a good trainer, and boom, the sky's the limit. That's why we are going to use an expert trainer in training those horses. Don't worry, Mike; everything is gonna be alright. " Then he sighed heavily. " Seriously, Mike, it will take me quite some time to get used to this whole thing. " He dragged his fingers through his hair. " Well, women can be funny sometimes. One moment, they are telling you no, and the next…… " he raised his hands helplessly.

Gableton laughed.

" You are right, Jake. Women can be quite funny sometimes. " He paused and went on. " The only thing that remains is for you to sign. You will see where you are to sign on those documents. After you've signed, I still need to take the papers to her to cross-check the whole signature thing, and that's all. The deal is finally sealed. " he pointed to the documents in Jake's hands.

" What about the horses? " Jake said.

" That's no problem. I've sent some boys with trucks to the Wolfe's ranch. The horses should be here before sundown. " He paused and went on. " Will you like to check out the horses when they've arrived? "

Jake shook his head.

" You know me, Mike. I'm not interested in some damned horses. All I'm concerned about is winning the race. Will you be around to handle the whole thing when they bring them? "

" Sure! " Gableton quipped. " Though I've got some things to do this morning. Just holler when they are here, alright? I'll be here in a jiffy."

" That's good, " Jake said. Then he shook his head again, smiling." I still can't believe this, Mike. All this looks like a dream to me. " He adjusted himself comfortably on the chair. " Damn! To think I would ever have the privileged to own the Wolfe's family horses. All of it! Who would have believed that? " He was talking excitedly now. " Not even my father, God bless his soul. Damn it, Mike! I made my old man proud! Can't you see? I wish he could see me right now. " he said, grinning sheepishly now.

" Yep, Jake. You made your father proud alright, " Gableton inclined. " Anyways, I'm happy that everything worked out just the way it did. I'm hungry, Jake. Got anything to eat around here? "

" You know, I've not eaten my breakfast this morning, " Jake said. " Let me ask Carl whether breakfast is ready " he thumbed a button on a switchboard beside him and spoke into it. " Carl, is breakfast ready? "

Carl's voice, clear and crisp, came through the speakers.

" It's all ready, sir. The table is all set. "

" Thanks, Carl. I'll be down in a minute," Jake said and lifted his head to look at Gableton. " Table is set. Let's go."

Gableton and Jake got to their feet and walked out of the room. They walked through the spiral stairs and strolled into the living room.

Jake led Gableton to the dining table. When they got there, they met Carl, dressed in his immaculate valet attire, a smile on his dark face. The table was well laid. The food on the table consisted of bacon, scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, sausages, cheese, hash brown and baked beans, bread, jam spreads, coffee, and fruit juice. It was like a breakfast buffet.

The two men settled down into the dining chairs.

Carl served them, and when he was done, he disappeared into the inner rooms. Jake and Gableton began to eat. The bacon and eggs were excellently done, and the coffee was perfectly brewed. The two men ate silently, each trying to quench the power of hunger in him. After the meal, they both pushed the plates away and leaned back into the chairs. Carl came out of the room and cleared the plates away. Jake took out a cigar case and a gold gas lighter from his pockets. He offered Gableton a cigar. The two men lit up.

" You know something Jake," Gableton said, drawing smoke into his lungs. " I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about this whole thing between you and Miss Wolfe."

Jake lifted his eyebrows.

" What is it about? "

Gableton sighed heavily.

" I'm just thinking about the consummation part of the contract. " He said breathlessly. " it's being given me a lot of concern."

Jake drew in a long, slow breath.

" You know something, Mike, I've been doing a lot of thinking about it myself. That's the only thing that bothers me about this whole deal. I mean, why can't that woman just collect the money we had offered her? Why can't she? " He shrugged his shoulders helplessly. " Is she that desperate for a child that she would want to exchange her horses just to have a child? " He said quizzically. " Seriously, Mike, this is totally beyond me."

Gableton released a thick smoke into the ceilings.

" I don't know what to say, Jake. But like you said, women can be pretty funny sometimes. Whenever they want something, they have this uncanny way of getting it. " He sighed heavily. " But one thing I know for sure is that Miss Wolfe is one hell of a nice lady. "

Jake narrowed his eyes at Gableton.

" How the hell do you know that? " He growled. " A nice lady, my ass. Imagine this woman tormenting us for months all because of some damned horses. And finally, when she has agreed to sell it, she brought this kind of shitty condition into the deal; I think you should think again about that nice word that you used, " Jake said, a look of anger on his face.

Gableton nodded his head.

" You are right; I shouldn't have used the word nice considering everything we had pass through with her " He moistened his lips with his tongue. " But something tells me, she's all nice and warm, you understand what I'm saying? Forget that cold look you see on her face. I have the feeling she won't give you any problem at all. That's if you play your cards right."

Jake looked at Gableton, stunned.

" How do you know all these things you are saying, Mike? Where did you get all these ideas from anyways? "

" I don't know, " Gableton said casually. " I just have the feeling that's all."

Jake pointed a thick finger at him.

" You had better write off all those stupid ideas from your head. " He snarled. " That woman is going to be one hell of a pain in the ass. I'm pretty sure of it. The earlier you understand that, the better it would be for you."

Seeing the flash of anger on Jake's face, Gableton raised his hands helplessly.

" Alright! Don't sweat it, okay? " He said blandly.

" I ain't sweating it, boy, " Jake said evenly. " I'm just telling you the facts. "

The two men were silent for some time, each busy with his own thoughts. Then Gableton said, "So where will the whole consummation thing take place?”

Jake, who was lost in thought that moment, looked at Gableton quizzically.

" You lost me there for a moment, Mike. What did you say ? "

" I'm talking about the consummation part, Jake. Where are you guys doing it? " He was smiling at Jake, a sly expression on his face.

Jake stared at him for some moments, then understanding crept up his face.

" Oh, you still talking about that! " He said, scratching his head, a sardonic expression on his face. " I don't know. We could get a motel for that. Probably a cheap one. Or since she likes horses, we could have sex in one of her empty horse stalls. Imagine shagging a girl inside a stable. That would be fantastic, don't ya think? " he was smiling devilishly now.

" Don't be such a douchebag, Jake, " Gableton admonished. " That woman is the richest woman in this town. She deserves better, Jake. You could get a first-rate hotel for things like this. More so, you could even bring her here If you want? "

Jake narrowed his eyes at him.

" Here? What do you mean here? "

" Here, of course! " Gableton said. " I'm talking about your house. This house! "

Jake stared at him for a moment; then, he drew in a long, slow breath.

" Well, I never thought of that. " He said, a frown creasing his face " Would she like to come here? I mean, seriously, if you ask me, I wouldn't want her here with me. "

Gableton shook his head.

" Listen to me, Jake. For this deal to really worked out, you guys have to meet halfway. Got it? You guys have to listen to each other. Try to accept each other and be ready to meet each other's needs just like real couples do. You dig? " He paused to see if Jake was listening to him, satisfied he went on. " There's more to this whole deal than you thought, Jake. This is for real. You are the man, and you've got to act like one. "

Jake drew in a shuddering breath.

" Is it this serious, Mike? " he said exasperatedly.

Gableton nodded his head.

" I'm afraid it is. You see, the whole thing rests on your shoulders. For all this to work out fine, you, as the man, have a lot to do. When are you guys meeting to talk about the whole thing? "

Jake thought about the question for a moment.

" Well, I'm thinking of taking the documents to her this evening. Then maybe we'll talk about how I am going to fulfill my other end of the deal."

" Great! Listen to this, Jake," Gableton said. " My feeling is that she's going to come up with some wants and needs, you know what I am saying? Like some kind of condition or something. She's gonna tell you; she needs this and that. She wants you to do this and that for her. My advice is this, listen to her, alright. Try and meet all her demands. It's the least you could do for her. " he said, leaning back into his chair.

Jake's face twisted with anger.

" I won't be a wimp if that's what you are saying. Meet her demands? What the hell did you take me for Mike, Santa Claus? " He barked. " You think I've got the time to be pleasing some woman? Do you think I am happy about this whole deal? Especially with the condition involved? Do you think I want to have a child, my first child, in this kind of manner? " Think again, Mike. Think again! " his eyes were alight now like huge fireballs.

Gableton smile uneasily.

" I'm not saying you should be a wimp. " He began. " All I'm saying is try to make her feel as comfortable as possible. Put your pride or any grudges you might have against her aside. That woman saved us from tossing out a whopping sum of five million dollars. The least you can do is make her feel as happy and as comfortable as possible. After the whole thing is settled, then you can both part ways, and you'll be free to do whatever you like. Just take it easy, alright, Jake " there was a pleading look in his eyes now.

Jake regarded him for a long moment. Then he drew in a shuddering breath and smiled ruefully.

" Look at you, Mike," he said, grinning. " I could have sworn you are in love with that woman."

Gableton smiled now, happy to see that the angry look had disappeared from Jake's face.

" I'm not in love with her, Jake. I'm just looking out for you just like any reasonable lawyer will do," he said simply. " Especially one that is paid well," he added, grinning.

" Hmmm, and that's that, " Jake said casually. " Anyways, I've heard everything you've said. I will try to work things out with her, alright? " He said, spreading his hands.

" Alright! That's my man," Gableton said, grinning. " I think we should celebrate after all this. Don't you think? "

" Hmm, celebration sounds nice, " Jake said. " But like you said, after all this! "

" Good! " Gableton said. He looked at his wristwatch and grimaced. " I've got to go, Jake. Gotta run some errands."

" Sure, let me see you off," Jake said.

They both stood up from the chairs, walked out of the house, and strolled to where Gableton had parked his Mustang. He pulls the door open and ducked into the car.

" I'll call me immediately the horses are here alright; I will come here as fast as I can, " Gableton said.

" No problem, " Jake said. " Just be expecting my call."

" Take it easy, Jake, alright, and think about what I told you, " Gableton said, and he fired the engine, waved at Jake, and the car sped away out of the ranch.

*************

The time was past seven. Jake stepped out of his bedroom, fully dressed in a blue shirt tucked neatly into white slacks that matched with brown loafers. On his hairy wrist were a gold Rolex watch and gold chain bracelet. In his hands were the portfolio documents,

He strolled into the living room and found Carl waiting for him patiently.

" I'm going out this night, Carl. " He said. " I'll be back late. Don't prepare anything for me."

" Alright, sir," Carl said, beaming.

" Is the car ready? "

" Yes, sir," Carl said.

" Alright, let's go," Jake said.

Swiftly, Carl opens the door, and Jake stepped out into the night. The night was hot and airless, and the big, white moon illuminated against the sky was as white as the face of a dead man. They both walked into the garage. Carl quickly slid towards the Aston Martin and opened the car door.

Jake slid into the car.

" Don't wait up for me, alright, " He said as he fired the engine, backed out of the garage, and drove hard and fast out of the ranch. As he drove to Lisa Wolfe's ranch, he thought about what he would say to her. He wondered how she was going to feel seeing him standing there with the documents in his hands. Jake sighed heavily. This was not going to be easy as he had thought. Maybe if she had collected the money, possibly things won't be as tricky as it is. But why the hell would she want a child this way? He asked himself. Jake did not know about women's needs or wants, but he knows every woman wants to have a child with a man she truly loves. But not Lisa Wolfe, his mind fired back at him. How can a woman decide to have a child in exchange for some horses? He wondered. Is she that desperate to have a child? Maybe with time, he would be able to figure out certain things about her. Then his mind switched to the time in the afternoon when they had brought the horses.

Gableton had come back to the ranch earlier than expected and had handled everything perfectly well. The horses had been a total of 50 in numbers when they had counted them, and they had loaded all of them into the stables, each horse into its stall. Then Gableton had immediately placed a call to the English trainer coming from England to train the horses. Jake sighed. Everything was going just as they had planned. Then his mind went to what Gableton had told him earlier that day. He wondered what conditions Lisa might want to bring him. Worse still, how could he ever satisfy a woman like Lisa Wolfe? Jake shook his head miserably. All this was beyond him.

He gripped the steering wheel and stamped hard on the gas pedal. The car surged forward on the hard road, sailing through the night like a blackfish inside the water. A few minutes later, he was at the Wolfe's ranch. He pulled up in front of the ranch house, cut the engine, and slid out of the car. He looked around the ranch. Through the windows blinds, he could see that the light was up in some of the rooms. That moment, he found out that his heart was beating fast, and he wondered why.

He walked up the small porch steps, drew in a long, slow breath, and rapped on the front door. Few seconds later, the door opened, and he found himself staring at the face of the plump, black maid. There was a look of surprise on her face as she looked at him.

" Oh, it's you, " Sally said, grinning. " Good evening, sir. "

Jake cleared his throat.

" Good evening, I'm here to see Miss Wolfe," he said evenly.

" Miss Wolfe is not in the house, sir. She's in the stables, " Sally said.

Jake lifted his eyebrows.

" Stables, you say? " He asked.

" Yes, sir," she answered.

Jake looked at her, puzzled.

" What's she doing there? " He inquired.

" She told me she wanted some time alone. " Sally said. "That's all she ever told me."

Jake folded his arms across his massive chest, thinking hard and fast about what the maid had told him. Then he said, "I'd like to see her this night. It's really important. Would you mind if I go to the stables to check on her?”

Sally regarded him for a long moment, her eyes looking at him searchingly. Satisfied with her scrutiny, she said, "That's all right, Mr. You can go see her. The stable is right at the back of the house. It won't be hard to find. Or would you like for me to take you there? "

Jake shook his head.

" Don't worry, ma'am. I'll find it myself. " He said. " Thanks. " And he moved away from the door, walked down the few stairs, and began to make his way towards the back of the house. The hard white light of the moonlit his way and he was able to find the stable. He walked into the stable. It was vast, neat, and well-lit. The smell of fresh hay piled on top of each other in the corner of the stable wafted into his nose.

Jake stood there, in the middle of the stable, looking around. Just then, his ears pricked when he heard a sound, like someone crying in one of the stalls. He waited and listened carefully. Yes, it could hear it clearly now. Someone was definitely crying inside one of the stalls. His eyes ran through the lines of the neatly arranged stalls. But he didn't know where the sound was coming from.

" Miss Wolfe! " He called out. " Miss Wolfe, are you in here? " He was greeted with a deafening silence. " It's me, Jake Courtland. I've brought the papers with me " Still, there was no answer. Jake stood there, his hands akimbo. What the hell was going on? " He wondered. He had been pretty sure he heard someone crying inside of the stalls. He was about to start checking the stalls one after the other when one of the stall doors swung open, and Lisa Wolfe stepped out of it.

Jake's mouth went dry. She was wearing a tight-fitting shirt with black pants and cowboy boots. Her black hair was disheveled with strands of hay. Her eyes were red and huge, and her wet face told him she had been crying, and despite all these, she looked so gorgeous that he wanted nothing other than to take her in his arms and hold her, but he stilled himself.

" Are you alright? " He said, looking at her.

Lisa stared at him for a long moment as if not believing he was actually standing there. Then fear, anger, and surprise jumped into her eyes.

" What are you doing here? " She said, a bite in her voice. "how do you know I was here? "Her eyes, like chips of ice, glared at him accusingly.

"Your maid told me you were here, "Jake said casually. " I brought the papers for the final cross-checking. It's right in my car."

" I'm not interested in it," Lisa said curtly. " I've already signed. So, I don't think I need to recheck it."

Jake inclined his head.

" Alright. I'm only here because my lawyer told me you might want to check out somethings in it. But since you are satisfied…….." he shrugged indifferently. " So, tell me, why are you crying," he asked

A dark gleam jumped into Lisa's eyes.

" What's your business if I'm crying? " She snapped at him.

Jake raised his hands to make a helpless gesture.

" You are right. It ain't my business if you cry or not. " He said. If she was going to be goddamned difficult, then so be it. He had a feeling she was either angry at him or something else. Either way, he wasn't sure what it was, and he didn't care.

" I think you should go! " Lisa continued. " I don't want you here. I don't know why you are here anyway. To cause me more grief? " she spat out the words at him.

Her words stung Jake like the bites of a wasp.

" What the hell do you mean by that? " He said tightly. " I told you I came here for you to go through the documents for final clarification. It's not that I wanted to be here in the first place."

" Then what are you still doing here? " She lashed out. " I told you already I don't need to clarify anything. I'm satisfied with the whole arrangement. So, what the hell are you still doing here? "

" Hey, you don't have to shout the roof down, alright, " He said, hating how she was looking at him spitefully. " I didn't cause you any grief. And I'm not the one that put you in this condition. So, watch the way you throw your words at me. I get pissed off easily. "

Her eyes glittering like wet pebbles, her chest rising and falling, Lisa moved up to him and stood in his front. She pointed a well-manicured finger so that her finger was staring right directly at his face.

" You've got some nerves showing up here; you know that," she seethed. " When I need you to fulfill your end of the deal, I will come and meet you. But for now, stay the fuck off my ranch. I don't want to see your lousy ass around here. Got that tough guy? "

Jake regarded her for a long moment. Then he smiled, but it was not a nice one.

" You don't get to call the shot, alright? " He said evenly. " I'm not a fucking pinata or puppet. I'm a man. I'm Jake Courtland. And you've got to respect me, alright " his voice was loud and harsh.

" I shouldn't have made that deal! " Lisa said in a voice scarcely above a whisper.

Jake stared at her in utter disbelief.

" What the hell is that supposed to mean? " He lashed out.

" You heard me right, " Lisa replied breathlessly. " I shouldn't have made that deal, especially with a man like you, Jake Courtland. You are going to cause me nothing but trouble, and I don't want that. "

Jake's face twisted with anger.

" I don't fucking believe this," he snarled. " Are you suddenly having regrets now? Do you want your fucking horses back? is that what you are saying? " He moved closer to her now so that they were just a mere inch apart from each other. " If that is what you are saying, then I'm sorry to say, a deal is a deal. You heard me right! There's no going back in this. You and I are going with this deal all the way. Did you hear me? " He bent his head so that he was staring directly into her eyes. " I'm going in all the fucking way, miss virgin," he leered at her.

Jake must have been expecting her to slap him because as her hand flashed up to strike him on his face, swiftly, he caught her hands and jerked her to his massive chest.

" You have always been a hot dynamite," he growled. " Anyways, you've met your match." His eyes were burning into hers now.

" Let go of me, " Lisa said, struggling frantically in his arms. " I'll make sure you pay for this……I'll make sure you pay you insolent oaf.…….. " but she couldn't finish her words because two big hands clasped her face between their palms, and dark, stormy eyes watched her mouth with a burning intensity for a moment before he spoke.

" Why can't you just shut up for once " Jake whispered. There was an unsteadiness in his voice, a huskiness deep in his throat that was tremendously affecting. " I want to kiss you," and his mouth clamped hard on her lips.

Lisa tried to push him off her, but his lips on her mouth made her senses reeled. She felt strength suddenly go out of her legs, and for support, her hands slid up and went around his neck. They stood like that, kissing hard, moaning into each other's mouth.

As Jake kissed her, he felt her relax against him, and he could feel the heavyweight of her huge breasts burning into his chest. Blood rushed into his loins as he held her closer to his body. They both held onto each other the way you held on to a lifebuoy, sensations coursing through their body. After a while, Jake pulled away slightly from her. Their breath was coming out raspy, and their chest was rising and falling. Jake stared into her eyes. The burning sensation there makes his blood move through him.

" Damn, Miss Wolfe," he said huskily. " That was one hell of a kiss."

Lisa was staring hard at him now, but she did not say anything. Her hands were still wrapped around his body, and the thought of moving away from him did not enter her head.

" You know, you are one hell of a woman. " Jake continued, oblivious to the look on her face. " One moment, you are cold another, you are hot! No wonder so many men in this town are scared of you " his dark eyes were teasing her now.

" And are you not one of those men? " She said, staring hard into his dark eyes.

Jake shook his head.

" I ain't scared of no one, " He said casually. " Not even a woman like you that is made of fire and ice."

A little smile tugged at the lips of Lisa.

" Fire and Ice? " She jeered at him. " I would prefer steel. I'm a woman of steel."

Jake, seeing that she was genuinely amused, inclined his head.

" Alright, and that one too. Fire, Ice, and Steel," he said, tasting the words in his mouth. " What a great combo. "

" So, what do you want us to do now? " She said.

" Well, I actually came here for you to check the documents. But since that part is settled. I guess we can do other things. "

Lisa raised her eyebrows.

" Other things? Like what? "

" Other things like going out for dinner," Jake said, checking his wristwatch. " We could go to a nice seafood restaurant and eat. "

" And? " Lisa urged him on.

" And we could talk. " Jake said. " You know, talk," he emphasized on the last word. " Or do something else."

The look in his dark eyes told her what he meant by doing something else, but she was not going to egg him on that.. She stared at him for a long moment, then she shrugged.

" Alright," she said. " But I don't feel like talking tonight. I'm not in the mood. We could just eat. I'll be okay with it."

Jake inclined his head.

" Anything you want," he said, smiling at her. " I know an excellent seafood restaurant. You are going to love it. " And he pulled away from her, grabbed her hands, and together they both walked out of the stable.

The night was a little cold now. Jake led Lisa to his car. He opened the front off-side door for her, and she slid into the car. He closed the door and came around the car, opened the door, and slid behind the wheel. He fired the engine and drove them to an expensive restaurant situated on a lonely strip of the beach in the town. They both entered the restaurant, and the maître d head came to them, bowed slightly, and led them to a secluded booth.

Jake ordered king-size lobsters, shrimps, caviar crushed in the ice, and a champagne bottle. All through the meal, he noticed that the patrons were looking towards their way. Some covertly, others openly. Jake was not bothered by all these. Although he did not recognize any of the faces staring at them, he felt these people knew who he and Lisa was, which was the reason for the suspicious gaze.

Jake ignored them. He concentrated on his meal, and sometimes he would sneak a peek to look at Lisa's face. But her whole attention was on the food. Jake wanted to ask her why she had been crying. He had a feeling something must have happened to make her cry. But seeing the pleasant expression on her face as she ate the food, he had no intention of bringing up something that might spoil her mood.

After the meal, the waiter came to take the plates away, and Jake cleared the bills. Then he drove Lisa back to her ranch house. When they go there, he pulled and turned to her.

" How was it? " He said. " Did you enjoy yourself? "

" Tremendously," she said. " I really appreciate this, Jake. " And as he sat there, he felt excitement surged through him at the thought of her calling him by his name.

" I'm happy to hear that. " Jake said, looking at her, marveled at her raw beauty.

" Jake," she began. " Forgive me, but there are some things I won't be able to say directly to your face concerning the deal we made. "

" Are you still backing out? " Jake asked, puzzled.

" No, no," she said hastily. " I mean that there are some conditions I'd like you to be aware of before we start the whole thing between us. "

Jake nodded his head, smiling inwardly as he remembered everything Gableton had said to him that morning. His lawyer had been right. This woman had surely come up with her demands.

" Okay, I'm listening," he said to her.

" I wrote everything right here " she dipped her hand into her back pockets and brought out a white envelope. She thrust it to him. " I was going to mail this to you tomorrow morning. But since you are here, you can go through it alright. It's important you read it and adhere to it for things to work between us " there was a pleading undertone in her voice.

Jake stared at the envelope for a long moment. He wondered what was inside it.

" Alright, I'll do that," he said finally.

" Thanks. Good night, Jake," She said. Then she opens the offside door, and as she was about to slide out, Jake grabbed her hands.

" Wait! " He said.

She turned her head to look at him.

" What is it? " She asked.

" I know it's so stupid for me to bring this up right now. But can you tell me why you were crying this night when I saw you in the stable?"

" Do you really want to know? " Lisa said, turning fully in the seat to look at him.

" Yes, I would like to know, " Jake answered solemnly.

Lisa drew in a long slow breath.

" Well, I want into the stable this evening, and for the first, since the day I've known right from wrong, I didn't find any horse in there. The realization hits me so hard. " her voice was trembling now. " I missed all the horses, must especially Fiery. I couldn't believe that she's finally gone. "

As she sat there, talking, Jake could see she was fighting it so hard to hold back her tears, and at that moment, he felt pity for her. So much that he wanted to hold her in arms and reassure her everything was going to fine.

" Anyways, a deal is a deal, right," she went on and gave a half-hearted laugh.

" If you know you are not comfortable with this deal, Wie can call it off," Jake said solemnly. " Forget everything I said in the stable. In fact, to hell with the signatures. Even though I really want to participate in the horse race, I don't want to do that at the expense of someone's else happiness."

" No, no, the deal still stands alright. We don't have to cancel anything," Lisa said, the words tumbling out of her mouth.

Jake regarded her for a long moment.

" Alright. as you wish," he said finally. They were both silent for a long time, then he said again. " Can I ask you something? "

She nodded.

" Do you mean everything you said that time when we were in the stable? "

Lisa looked at him for a long moment.

" No! Not at all," she said simply. "I didn't mean a single word."

At that moment, Jake wanted nothing other than to take her in arms and kissed her senseless. His hands came up to slid around her, but Lisa shook her head, knowing his intentions. Jake's hand hung in the air.

" Please, " she said, her eyes suddenly filled with tears. " Some other time, perhaps. I've got so many things to think about all this," and she gave him one last long look, slipped out of the car, and slammed the car door.

Jake watched her go, and he moistened his lips with his tongue. He did not believe a woman like Lisa Wolfe could show emotions, worse still, crying. To him, she was the toughest woman he had ever known. Well, he still had a lot to learn about her. He looked at the envelope for some moment, then flick it onto the dashboard, fired the engine, and drove away.