Fiery Gemstones (A Heston Witch Novella) Read Online Free Page B

plan her sisters had come up with.
    “I can always hope that I get to handle him my way,” she consoled herself under her breath.
    “Ms Heston?”
    Preston had arrived, sans his usual entourage of flunkies which was unusual. Edna thought he went everywhere with them and found herself mildly disappointed not to see Burt again. He was dressed casually in a pair of khaki coloured slacks and a pale blue shirt. The attire made him seem a little more human but Edna knew she would never warm up to the guy. Something about him just rubbed her the wrong way, even the pompous way he called her Ms Heston.
    “ Preston, ” she said coolly, deliberately calling him by his first name.
    She could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t like it and she couldn’t care less. Still, Evie had taught her some manners at least. She gestured to the seat across from her.
    “Please, won’t you have a seat?”
    Making no apologies for his tardiness, he picked up a menu and scanned what was on offer for the day. The Happy Place served a set menu for each day with three alternatives for each course, one of which was usually vegetarian.  He took his time ordering his dinner then laid aside his menu with an air of accomplishment .
    “Well, Ms Heston, I can’t say that your call wasn’t a pleasant surprise but what made you change your mind? Did I finally come up with the magic number?”
    He looked up at Edna expectantly.
    You wish, she thought snidely. 
    He sm iled at her as if he’d heard her thoughts and they amused him somehow. She still co uldn’t get a fix on his mind and all her attempts to plant positive suggestions in his thoughts did not seem to be getting through. She couldn’t even influence his menu choices. She’d tried to make him order the salmon dish but here he was chom ping down on his medium rare steak with relish. Something was definitely strange about this guy.
    “ Er r , not actually, but you certainly caught my attention. ”
    “ Re ally? I would have thought I’d done that ages ago. ” He leered at her.
    This cannot be happening , she thought, starting to panic a little .
    “ Preston … , Mr William ,” she started.
    “ Oh no, Preston is just fine, little lady. I have a feeling we are going to be real good friends, you and I .
    Only in your dreams buster, and my nightmares.
    “ There is no easy way to say this. Red Rock Haven …”
    “ Is a wonderful piece of property and its location is perfect for what I have in mind. ”
    “ It ’ s not for sale , ” she said bluntly. “ We’ll never sell it. I think you should find another property, preferably as far away from Silverline City as you can find. ”
    She accompanied her words with one more mental push but even before he opened his mouth, she knew that it wasn’t working.
    “ Ms Heston. I don’t know what you might have heard about me but I am not the kind of guy who takes no for an answer. I have a very good feeling about Red Rock Haven . I know I am destined to own it. What I do not know is why you are trying so hard to fight the inevitable. I am trying to be fair here, to give you a reasonable price for your home , but I will not be a verse to taking it by force if I have to. I warn you, you may not like my methods very much.”
    As he spoke, Edna was surprised to find her natural response to tell him ‘Hell No’ was being suppressed . She found herself considering what he was saying.
    He had been fair, the price he was offering was actually far above the market value for the property, the money would come in handy for her and her sisters. Would it be so bad to sell the property and travel somewhere nice? Get away for a change?
    The restaurant seemed to have faded away and all Edna could see was the promise of life once she was finally rid of that monstrosity called Red Rock Haven that was hanging round her neck like a millstone. There would be palm trees, sunshine and beaches. She’d have a lovely tim e once she was free.
    What? Free