Her Holiday Fireman by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Author:Kathleen Y'Barbo
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-04-04T20:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The day after Thanksgiving, the reality of her situation had more than set in. Leah hung up the phone and pushed it away. One more contractor, one more far-too-expensive quote. And yet she had to do something. Orlando had already begun work on the things he could manage, but technical repairs were beyond his level of expertise.

Tracing the edge of the antique desk, Leah closed her eyes. If only Pop were right. If she could just find enough money in the value of this one piece of furniture to fix all her troubles.

But that was silliness. Pop’s version of reality. Still...if only...

Her phone rang, causing Leah to jump. Eric. She pressed the button and greeted him.

“Got good news,” he said. “You’ve got a buyer. He wants Boo.”

“Boo? Boo is Pop’s horse.”

“I know, Leah,” he said gently, “but realistically, will Pop ride again?”

She paused to reach for her pen. “So, what’s the buyer offering for her?”

“He said he’d pay full price in cash no later than Tuesday.”

Hope welled up despite the fact she’d have to explain to Pop that his favorite horse was gone. Cash on Tuesday meant she could pay a contractor on Wednesday. With a month to go until Christmas, it just might be possible that the yearly celebration could be held on schedule after all.

“There’s a catch, though,” Eric said. “He’s asked if Boo can be boarded at your stables, at least for a while.”

“That’s it? He just wants to board her? How much is he willing to pay?”

“I think you could probably name the price, within reason. What do you think?”

A flash of red caught her attention down on the beach, and she turned toward it. There she spied Ryan Owen in dark sweatpants and a red T-shirt jogging past, his monster of a dog happily ambling at his side. Thankfully, the beast was on a leash, a fact that Baby missed as she puffed up and hissed in defense of home, hearth and the dog toy that had already gotten her in trouble the last time she stole it.

“Leah?”

“Tell your guy I’m happy to do that as long as he needs me to.” She watched Ryan disappear just past the oleanders.

“When am I going to find out who this mystery buyer is?”

“Good question,” Eric said. “When I spoke to him this morning, he told me that he’d be coming around to introduce himself soon.”

“Oh?” She spied the same flash of red again, this time walking past without the dog in tow. Baby jumped to race down the stairs, presumably to greet him. Sure enough, the fat cat ambled near to allow the next-door neighbor to rub her ears. The traitor.

When Ryan looked up at her, Leah ducked away from the window.

“So if you’re agreeable, I’ll let the guy know the deal is a go. And you can let your contractors know, as well.”

Leah sucked in a deep breath. “How did you know I needed the money for that?”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Is that...a secret?”

“No,” Leah said quickly, “of course not.

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