Sara Orwig - The Ransomes - Matt, Nick and Katherine

Olivia gazed into space, mulling over Matt Ransome’s offer. She had to accept, but as much as possible, she wanted it on her terms, not his.

She opened the catalog and turned to the section on pre-law, her major, and for the first time allowed herself to think of the windfall Matt Ransome was providing. If only it was exactly as he said and there were no hidden agendas, no strings attached and no unpleasant surprises ahead for her. She could move to the Ransome ranch and quit her job! In the early hours of morning, the whole offer seemed surreal, and she suspected that as soon as she settled on the ranch, Matt would want to sleep with her. He was appealing, sexy and generated sparks in her the way no other man had.

Forget it, she told herself, knowing she would not go from one brother to another. “If I accept his offer, I vow I won’t have sex with Matt Ransome,” she said aloud, trying to stop remembering the tingles she had when she gazed into Matt’s blue eyes.

Forcing her thoughts off Matt, she wondered about her future and his offer. Was there anything she could do to get Matt’s proposition more on her own terms?

The next morning her palms were damp from nervousness as she drove through an open gate and passed a sign announcing the Ransome ranch. In minutes she turned a bend in the ranch road. Ahead spread houses, a barn, a corral, pens and outbuildings. A pumping windmill stood near a stock tank filled with water.

When she drew closer, she looked at an intimidating, sprawling stone ranch house with a shake shingle roof. It was surrounded by immaculate, lush green lawns and a profusion of flowers in well-tended beds that all proclaimed the wealth of the owner. She had never lived in a house that looked as grand as this one. Swallowing hard, Olivia couldn’t imagine herself suddenly part of the Ransome family.

A rail fence enclosed the yard and two live oaks gave inviting shade that failed to calm Olivia’s nerves. On the porch the hanging pots of yellow bougainvillea, scarlet gaillardia and purple impatiens added a dreamlike feeling. This could be her new home. She couldn’t fathom it.

Adding to her jittery nerves and disbelief, Matt Ransome came striding outside. In a white T-shirt, jeans and western boots, he looked muscled, tough and electrifying. Without saying a word he created a high voltage magnetism. The sight of him did nothing to calm her nerves.

He motioned her where to park in front of a six-car garage. When she climbed out, she was conscious of her cutoffs and her white T-shirt.

“Hi there,” Matt said in a deep voice as he took a box from her car. In his T-shirt that revealed sculpted muscles and his tight jeans, his sensuality jumped a notch. One look in his eyes confirmed that the sexual appeal between them burned as hot as ever. When she stepped out, she looked up to see him gazing at her waist.

“You don’t look pregnant,” he said.

An inner voice told her to keep everything impersonal with Matt, but she couldn’t do what she knew she should. “I guess it’s because I’m tall,” she replied breathlessly, mindful of how close he stood. She barely knew what she said to him. He should move away. She should step aside. Instead, she gazed up at him while her heartbeat continued to accelerate.

Silence between them carried sparks. When his attention lowered to her mouth, her pulse drummed. As he gazed at her, the blatant, scalding desire in his eyes heated her.

“No physical relationship comes with this package,” she repeated.

“It damn well doesn’t,” he replied, sounding half angry. “I don’t ever want to get involved again except in the most superficial manner. You and I absolutely don’t need entanglement between us.”

“That’s something we can agree on. It would help if you’d move away.”

Something flickered in the depths of his eyes before he leaned around her to pick up another one of her boxes.

“I’ll get your things and then I’ll show you around. Have you quit your job?”

“No, I haven’t. I figured whatever we decide to do, I’ll work tonight.”

Matt straightened up and she saw the hard look back in his features. He shook his head. “You quit today. You don’t owe them anything and you shouldn’t be there one more hour.”

“I thought you weren’t going to meddle in my life,” she said, trying to curb her temper.

“Where the baby is concerned, I’ll interfere. That nightclub isn’t healthy. They’ll manage without you.”

“Look—”

“No, you look,” he said quietly. “The bar’s atmosphere isn’t healthy. They’re going to get along without you. If we have a deal, part of it includes you taking care of yourself and your unborn baby.”

Where sexual tension had spun tightly between them only moments ago, now friction set sparks flying. She glared at him, yet she suspected she would get nowhere if she argued the rest of the day.

“Why do you want to wait tables so all-fired badly?” Matt asked her.

“I don’t. That isn’t it.”

“There you are.”

She put her hands on her hips. “I’m here tentatively. We haven’t agreed on what we’re going to do. I haven’t accepted your offer. We need to discuss it before you start taking complete charge.”

“Let me show you around, let you select your room and then we’ll sit down and see if we can’t come to terms,” he said, lifting the last box and putting it under his arm. “Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to everyone who works here. Mrs. Marley is the housekeeper and cook. You’ll meet her at the end of the week. She’s here two days a week. Fridays, she cooks. Saturdays, she cleans. My dad lives down the road from me. She’s at his house Monday through Thursday.”

Olivia nodded.

“Wait a minute,” Matt said and set a box on her car. Following Matt’s gaze, she watched a tall, sandy-haired man approach and shake hands with Matt.

“Olivia, this is our foreman, Sandy McDermott,” Matt said easily. “Sandy, meet Olivia Brennan who will be staying with us a while.”

“I’m glad to meet you, Sandy,” she said, extending her hand and smiling.

“Happy to meet you, Miss Brennan. Glad to have you here.”

“It’s Olivia, Sandy. Call me Olivia.”

Sandy nodded. “Nice meeting you, Olivia,” he said, turning to talk to Matt. Olivia listened while they discussed cattle and a world she didn’t know. Matt was quick and decisive and more relaxed than when he was dealing with her. As soon as Sandy told them goodbye and left, she and Matt headed for the house.

She was aware of Matt walking close beside her. Her jittery nerves kept her on edge, and she wondered what she was getting herself into.

Once again Matt took her arm and she drew a deep breath. She hadn’t known him twenty-four hours, yet his slightest touch set her ablaze. She couldn’t fathom the chemistry. She had known other handsome, decisive males and she had had no trouble dealing with them and no difficulty ignoring them. Until now. Even Jeff with all his charm had never carried the electricity of a bolt of lightning the way Matt did.

She wondered again what she was getting into if she accepted Matt’s offer that was a windfall in her circumstances. She was heartily glad to be out of the bar and away from lustful men. At the same time, she wanted this bargain to be partially on her terms. Her queasy nerves jangled when she thought about her plan and her requests. She had no idea how Matt would react. The knowledge was constantly with her that she was taking a risk by making her own demands because if she accepted his offer and he did what he said and kept his bargain, her life would improve beyond her wildest dreams.

He held the door, following her inside an enormous kitchen with oversize windows. Sunlight streamed into the room that held maple cabinetry, granite countertops, a marble floor and maple furniture. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a patio and a pool with sparkling blue water.