Barbara Dunlop - An Intimate Bargain

“There you are” came Seth’s unexpected voice.

She jolted back in surprise, seeing her brother strolling into the cavernous hall.

“What on earth are you doing here?” she called out.

“I could ask you the same question.” His footfalls echoed on the stone floor of the mostly empty room.

She came to her feet, pushing back the big chair. She’d set herself up with a laptop, printer and telephone on what was likely once the master’s dining table. It was ornately carved mahogany, with pedestal legs and at least two dozen matching chairs. Right now, it was covered with everything from architectural drawings to fabric swatches and knickknacks from the tower rooms.

“I’m getting better,” she answered as Seth made it to her, pulling her into a hug.

“Glad to hear it.” He let her go, glancing meaningfully at the cluttered table. “You convalescing or running a business?”

She waved a dismissive hand over the work supplies, swallowing her guilt over focusing on Zach’s project instead of her family. “I’m just offering my opinion on a few things.”

“Hmm.” Seth looked skeptical.

“What’s up with you?” she said, changing the topic. “How are things in the mayor’s office?” And what was he doing at Craig Mountain?

“Same old, same old,” Seth answered, strolling around the table, glancing more closely at her work. “Travis said he’d talked to you yesterday.”

“I’ll probably head home tomorrow,” Abigail found herself saying. “Or maybe the next day.”

Seth took in the bandage on her arm. “How’s the wound doing?”

“Getting better and better.” She moved back to her chair, motioning for Seth to sit in another of the velvet-upholstered dining armchairs.

He took his seat slowly, bracing his hands on the carved, mahogany arms. “So, little sister, what’s with this Zach guy?”

She tried to gauge his expression, but he was too good at keeping a poker face. “What do you mean?”

“You want me to be blunt?”

“Please, be blunt.” She braced herself.

“Who is he to you? Why are you here instead of at home?”

Abigail gave a studied shrug. “He found me at the side of the highway.”

“Travis told me.”

“My arm was too sore to drive a stick shift.”

“That was three days ago.”

“Zach’s going to drive me back to the ranch soon.” Truth was, it was Abigail herself who was putting off going home. She loved it here. Zach was fun and exhilarating and amazing in bed. She found the restaurant project fulfilling, and she was trying to drag it out just as long as she could.

“I can drive you back today.”

“That won’t be necess-”

“I’m going out to the ranch anyway.”

Abigail couldn’t think of a single comeback. There was absolutely no logical reason for her to stay at Craig Mountain instead of going back to the ranch with Seth. She could hardly tell her brother she was having a really great fling. And she sure couldn’t tell him she wanted to finish planning the restaurant. It could take weeks, even months. But if she left today with Seth, she wouldn’t have a chance to give Zach a proper goodbye, to maybe figure out what happened next.

She hoped something happened next. They’d done their best to stop time once again, to steal a little fantasy with each other amongst their divergent lives. And that might be all that was happening here, a longer, but equally temporary, fling. But she truly hoped it wasn’t. She liked Zach. She more than liked Zach. She didn’t know what it felt to fall head over heels for somebody, but it had to be close to this.

“Abigail?” Seth prompted.

She blinked at her brother, struggling for the words that would buy her a little more time.

Then Lisa’s voice interrupted. She came through the same entry Seth had used. “This place is amazing!” She gaped at the high ceiling. “Did you see the grounds?” she asked Seth. “Hey, Abby. How are you doing? The mayor and I are officially checking out the newest business development in the Lyndon area.”

Abigail felt a surge of relief at seeing Lisa. Maybe Lisa could help her finesse the situation. Or at least she could help Abigail stall for a bit.

“You should definitely take a tour of the grounds,” Abigail told her brother. “While you’re here, check out the new brewery construction. It’s moving along at record speed.”

“I don’t need a tour of the grounds,” he responded.

“Well, at least look outside. If you take that staircase-” she pointed to the far end of the rectangular room “-you’ll get to the mezzanine above. The bay window down at the other end gives you a view of the lake. But if you look north, you can also see most of the construction.”

“Go take a look,” Lisa prompted, grasping the back of Seth’s chair. “You should at least see the lake and the statue of Lord Ashton.”

Seth kept his gaze fixed on Abigail. “Travis doesn’t know what to think of this guy.”

Abigail met his eyes. “That’s because Travis doesn’t know him.”

“Neither do you.”

“I know enough.”

“What are you saying?”

“Seth?” Lisa intoned from behind him. “Quit giving your sister the third degree.”

“She’s needed at the ranch.” Seth still spoke directly to Abigail.

“And I’m coming back,” she assured him.

“Good.” Seth brought his hands down on his thighs.

“Go look out the window,” Lisa prompted.

“Fine.” Seth came to his feet, tone turning sarcastic. “I don’t know why I employ such a bossy woman.”

“Because I’m a smart bossy woman.” Lisa immediately slipped into the chair Seth had vacated.

He looked down at her. “You’re not coming with me?”

“I just saw the statue and the lake.”

With a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head, Seth paced for the staircase.

“What the heck is going on?” Lisa asked Abigail, leaning forward on the table. “You’re still with one-night-stand guy?”

“I guess it’s a five-night stand.”

Lisa gave a half laugh, half gasp.

“And what’s with Seth?” Abigail returned. “He’s acting so…”

“So like Seth? ”

Abigail supposed that was true. “Does he know anything about Zach?”

“Travis told him Zach tried to get your help with the water license.”

“But he thinks I said no, right?”

“He thinks you said no.”

“And he doesn’t know Zach blackmailed me into it?”

“No, no. Not the blackmail. And not that the two of you had a one-night stand.” Lisa grinned. “Well, five-night stand. But he does know about Zach’s initial fight with Travis. And he’s pretty ticked off about that.”

“You can’t tell him the rest,” Abigail reminded Lisa.

“I’m never going to tell him the rest.”

Seth’s footfalls sounded directly above them, and they both glanced reflexively up. Abigail leaned closer in and lowered her voice. “Can you help me out here? I’m not ready to go home yet.”

Lisa’s eyes lit up. “You falling for this guy?”

“Maybe,” Abigail admitted, her face growing warm. “Kind of. Just a little bit.”

Lisa’s grin grew. “He’s living in Lyndon now. So you never know what might happen.”

Nothing was going to happen, at least nothing that really counted. Not as long as Abigail supported her family, and not as long as Zach wanted her to let them down. “It’s all brand-new. And Travis isn’t crazy about him. Now Seth doesn’t like him.”

Lisa waved a dismissive hand. “You can’t please your entire family every minute of the day.”

“I’m not pleasing anyone at all right now.” Every day she stayed here, she was letting Travis down.