A Cowboy to Marry Read Online Free Page A

“That may be true in Houston. It’s not the case in Laramie.” She paused longenough to meet Holden’s encouraging glance, then asked Jeff, “Why do you want LRE so badly?” He had been calling her every few months since Percy died, asking if she wanted to sell.
    He added butter to his baked potato. “I specialize in acquiring businesses with no internet presence and taking them online. LRE would be my biggest acquisition yet. I see great potential for growth. In fact, you could stay on if you want, Libby, because I’m not going to be there more than once a week—if that—and I’ll need someone to manage it.”
    â€œThank you for the offer, but—no. I’m selling because I want out.”
    â€œYou’re planning to leave the area, then?”
    Out of the corner of her eye, Libby saw Holden tense. “Yes.”
    Jeff leaned toward her. “What about the house? Are you interested in including it in the sale? ’Cause I’m going to need someplace nice to stay when I’m in town.”
    Libby hesitated. How did she feel about that? “We could negotiate,” she said cautiously. “If the price is right, of course.”
    â€œCan I see it tonight?” Jeff asked eagerly, while Holden tensed even more.
    Ignoring his obvious disapproval, Libby shrugged. “I suppose a brief tour would be okay.”
    Victorious, Jeff smiled. “Then let’s do it!”
    They talked more as they ate. No one wanted dessert, so as soon as the check was paid, they went out to their vehicles. Libby took the lead in her Range Rover, with Jeff following in his Maserati and Holden trailing behind in his pickup truck.
    Her self-appointed protector looked even grimmer when they arrived at the house.
    The first thing that caught Jeff’s eye was the Lowell photo gallery that lined much of the foyer and both walls of the grand front staircase. “Wow.” He stopped at the framed pictures of three generations of Lowells, then he studied Percy and Libby’s wedding photo.
    â€œYou were awfully young when you got married.”
    She had been. “Twenty-two. Right out of college.”
    â€œAnd you were married how long?”
    Libby noticed Holden studying the photos, too, with the familiar mixture of grief, guilt and sadness. “Almost eight years.”
    Jeff turned back to her. “I can see why you want to sell,” he told her empathetically. “Residing here must feel like living in a mausoleum.”
    Aptly put, Libby thought.
    â€œThe tour?” Holden said, looking irritated again.
    Libby inhaled and braced herself for another slew of questions from the ambitious businessman. “Let’s get started,” she said. So I can put this evening—and the onslaught of confusing emotions—behind me.
    Â 
    H OLDEN KNEW L IBBY WAS ticked off at him. And maybe he was overstepping his bounds. But when Jeff Johnston asked to see the second floor…
    â€œNot a good idea.” Holden moved to block the way to the stairs.
    Jeff turned to Libby with a goading smile. “I thought the two of you weren’t involved.”
    â€œWe’re not,” she said, a hint of color coming into her cheeks.
    Maybe not in the traditional way, Holden thought. Butthey were linked through Percy’s memory. And he had made a promise not to let anyone take advantage of his best friend’s widow. A promise he would continue to carry out until his dying day.
    â€œActually, we are,” he stated flatly.
    Libby’s jaw dropped in shock. “I can’t believe you just alluded to that,” she said, glaring at Holden.
    It didn’t matter, he thought, because Jeff clearly believed him, not Libby. And Johnston’s obvious respect for another man’s territory would keep him from making an untoward pass at Libby, at least for now.
    â€œI’m going to head out,” Jeff said, his demeanor slightly less