Read The Barons of Texas: Jill for Free Online Page B

gold watch band. “Well?”
    With a regretful expression, he spread out his hands. “I’m inclined to hang on to my land.”
    “I see.” Once again she stared at him. When she was on top of her game, she was as good as he was at masking feelings. Today, though, he could tell she was thinking about last night. Abruptly, she reached around the chair and closed the folder. “Then we’re at a stalemate. There’s no sense in continuing to talk about offers and counteroffers. This meeting is over.”
    “Not quite.”
    “If I’m not willing to sell and neither are you, then I don’t see what else we can talk about.”
    “What about working together?”
    Her brow crinkled. “You mean develop our properties together?”
    He nodded. If she agreed, it would give him more time with her to work on his main goal, which was to change her mind about her plan to marry Des Baron. If he couldn’t, the worst thing that could happenwas that he would still make millions. Plus, he now had his second plan in place.
    She shook her head. “I never take on a partner in any project I’m involved with. You should know that.”
    “I do. But I also know that, as far as I can see, that practice is not grounded in practicality.” She started to say something, but he hurried on. “I know, I know. It was what your father taught you and your sisters. But think about it, Jill. With that many acres, plus a shared vision of what we want, we would be a force to be reckoned with. Besides offices and retail stores, we could add entertainment facilities and housing. And you know as well as I do that if we work in unison on the design, configuration and spacing of green belts, the city will smile benevolently on us and grant us any permit we ask for.”
    “I don’t do things that way, Colin.” She rounded the chair and sat down again.
    “I think the problem is more that you don’t know how to work with anyone else.” He slowly smiled. “Come on, Jill. You’re already one of the largest land barons in Texas, plus you own enormous amounts of property around the globe. It’s not as if your reputation would be ruined if, just this once, you joined up with someone else. In case you haven’t noticed, very few people work alone anymore. Besides, just think of the fun we’d have.”
    “Fun?” For several moments her gaze fastened on his smile, his lips, his dimple. Then she seemed to catch herself. “My sister Tess sold out to another oil company in her last venture and in the process lost millions. That’s not going to happen to me.”
    “It wouldn’t if we formed an alliance. In fact, itwould put us in a position to make more than we would if we worked separately. Besides, you and I both know that Tess didn’t sell out . She made a great deal. And anyway, that was an entirely different situation from this one.” His voice softened. “She made that deal for love. That wouldn’t be the case with us, would it?”
    She frowned. “No, of course not.”
    “Well, then?”
    “No, Colin.”
    “You know what? I think that ‘no’ of yours is automatic, as so many things are with you.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “All I’m asking is that you not dismiss my idea out of hand. Think about it.” He pushed himself up from the chair, leaned forward and placed the bound folder on her desk in front of her. “This holds a few ideas I’ve sketched out. Study them with an open mind, and I think you’ll see the benefits of working together—an open mind being the key. Whether you want to, though, is an entirely different matter.” He reached out and lightly stroked his fingers down her cheek. She flinched. “Take care,” he murmured with a smile, then straightened and headed for the door. He walked as slowly as he could. The last thing he wanted to do was draw her suspicions. He had his hand on the doorknob when she stopped him.
    “Wait. There is, uh, one more thing I’d like to talk with you about.”
    He exhaled a pent-up breath, then