Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Against the Billionaire's Will (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Love Against Odds Book 3) (8 page)

Chapter
Ten

Dawson
kept staring at the bruise over Brindle’s eye as they sat in Mr. Henry’s office. She’d tried refusing medical attention after he’d found her at the old farmhouse her father rented. No way was he going to let that happen. He had to make sure there was no internal damage. She’d gloated when the doctors had confirmed everything was fine, but he didn’t care. She could always be right and he’d always want to make sure she was okay. Yet still, looking at that bruise ignited an anger that she’d even gotten hurt in the first place. He’d make sure Trent Presley got the maximum sentence just for daring to hurt her.

And her father? Jesus. It was no wonder why that man got into so much trouble with the law. Any criminal with half a brain wouldn’t take a victim to his own house. But Dawson was grateful for it. After calling in a favor with an old buddy of his with the FBI—or so he thought he still worked for them. He’d been working some gig in an Arkansas mechanical shop—he quickly learned the whereabouts of Sid Attree, Jr. Dawson had paced as Gage assembled his team.

He never paced. He was always cool to a fault. But Brindle changed that.

She changed everything.

This woman had somehow in a matter of weeks become his world. He was still adjusting to this all encompassing feeling he had for her. That too was a new feeling—adjusting. Normally things were one way or the other. There was no in-between with him. But she was changing all the rules without doing anything but just being her. There was only one explanation to what was happening, and acknowledging that was much easier than he’d ever thought it would be.

He, Dawson Winthrop, was falling in love with Brindle Attree.

But what was even more beautiful about his budding feelings was the understanding that his grandfather had a hand in it.

“I know you planned this,” he muttered up to the side.

“Excuse me?” Mr. Henry asked.

Dawson glanced across his lawyer’s desk at the man who represented both him and his grandfather. “Nothing.”

“As I was saying,” Mr. Henry continued. “Ms. Attree, the provisions of the will clearly state that no one was to learn of your impending inheritance. Otherwise, you forfeit the right to maintain control.”

“That’s a ridiculous rule,” she said crossing her arms. “I wasn’t even the one who said anything.”

“Actually, we were both talking about it when Presley overhead.”

She glared at Dawson.

He looked at the attorney. “But I was the one who actually willingly admitted the details to a third party. Granted it was law enforcement—”

Mr. Henry slashed his hand through the air. “Doesn’t matter. I have to set up the sale of the ranch.” He turned his attention to Brindle. “You, of course, will inherit all proceeds. You’ll be a very rich woman.”

“I’ll be a horse-less woman.”

“It’s nothing personal—”

“It’s very personal. That ranch. Those
horses
are my life.”

“Be that as it may, the ranch will be listed at market value within the next sixty days.”

Dawson leveled the steely stare he’d perfected over the years onto his attorney. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll pay double the appraisal. Property values have decreased slightly, so the appraisal is more than fair market value.”

Mr. Henry’s mouth fell open, and Dawson found himself doing something he never did in his business dealings. He smiled. Sure, it was all teeth—a challenge to deny his offer—but it counted. If this smiling business worked, he’d do it more often.

“Technically you went against your grandfather’s will. I’m not sure that’s ethical—”

“That ranch is a part of my family. I’m not ready to part with it.”

Brindle gasped. “Oh my god, did you sabotage me on purpose.”

His calculated smile fell.
Well, hell.
He hadn’t thought she’d take it like that. He quickly composed himself, and said, “Of course not. I had no more knowledge about Presley listening to us than you did.”

She glared.

He smiled. “I’m thinking of focusing solely on pasture breeding. I could use a good ranch manager.”

“You want me to work for you?”

Dawson leaned back in his chair. “You don’t have to make it sound that bad. I’m a pleasure to work with, right, Mr. Henry.”

“Um, well, yes. But I haven’t agreed to your offer.”

Dawson cut his gaze to his attorney. “You will. And when Brindle is ready, we’ll negotiate the sale of the ranch back to her.”

Brindle grabbed his arm. “Wait. You’re gonna sell it to me? What if I can’t afford—.”

“You will,” Dawson said. Even if she bought it at fair market value, she would still have millions in the bank since she would actually earn double its value. She’d be able to buy it and still keep a large chunk of money. Not that she would need it. He had every intention of showing her the world. He shifted in his seat, hiding the small package in his coat pocket.
Starting with this right here
.

“I—well, I guess it’s settled then.”

Dawson stood. “Draw up the papers. I want it handled immediately.”

Mr. Henry nodded before standing to leave the room.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Brindle whispered heatedly at him.

“Righting a wrong,” he said gently. And then because he didn’t want any confusion, “And making sure you’re always going to be a part of my life.”

“Why?” she asked slowly.

“Because I’m sort of falling in love with you, and I don’t want to do it alone.”

She sucked in air, and he took her momentary shock to steal a kiss. She returned it, and he loved the feel of her mouth on his. It was a feeling he’d never tire of. He gently pulled away, dropped a few pecks on lips because he just couldn’t stop himself, and then pulled out the package from his pocket. He handed it to her.

“What’s this?”

“I want to show you everything. The world.”

“Dawson,” she said though smiling lips. “You don’t have to show me anything.”

He cracked a smile. “That’s so not true, sweetheart. Now open it.”

She gently tore the paper and immediately started laughing before she got it all the way opened. It wasn’t as extravagant as a ranch, but he felt it was quirky enough to be incredibly romantic. He just hoped she felt that way, too.

“A deck of cards, really?” she asked holding them up. “Figured it’d be something related to the ranch.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. “You’re already getting a bunch of horses. Besides, I can’t let my woman go through life not knowing how to shuffle.”

“Mmm. Is that supposed to be some kind of metaphor about learning to love the cards we’re dealt?”

He pulled back and frowned at her. “Of course, not. I love the hand I was dealt. Life gave me you.”

“Aww, that’s the sweetest thing anybody has ever said to me.”

“Plus, you really need to know how to shuffle. I’m embarrassed for you that you don’t—”

“Dawson,” she said through a laugh, cutting him off, and then kissing him. He ran his hand through her hair as he held her to him, nibbling at her lips, and wondering how soon he could book their flight to Vegas for an up close lesson on shuffling.

It’d have to be soon. Maybe then he’d tell her he named the foal Brindle’s Billionaire Shuffle.

* * * * *

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Melody Anne’s Billionaire Universe Launch Authors

Desiree Holt
Melanie Marchande
Marian Tee
N. Kuhn
Casey Hagen
Stephanie Haefner
Mandy Harbin
Yvette Hines
J.A. Coffey
Judy Angelo
Liliana Rhodes

Love Against Odds Series

Against Company Policy

Against The Wall

Against The Billionaire’s Will
(Melody
Anne’s Billionaire KW crossover)

The Bang Shift

Before The Bang Shift
(Prequel/Omega Team Crossover)

Brody
(Book One)

Hunter
(Book Two)

Blade
(Book Three Coming
Summer
2016

Shelby
(Book Four Coming
Fall
2016)

About the Author

Mandy Harbin is a 
USA Today
 Bestselling and award-winning author of several books across multiple romance genres ranging from contemporary to paranormal romance. She is also the number one bestselling author in teen romance under the pen name M.W. Muse with her popular Goddess Series. She is a Superstar Award recipient, Reader’s Crown and RWA Passionate Plume finalist, and has received Night Owl Reviews Top Pick distinction many times. She studied writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, earned several degrees, and even pursued an MBA until she realized becoming an author did not have to remain an unfulfilled dream. Mandy is a PAN member of the RWA and serves on the board of her local chapter. When she’s not penning her latest book, you can find her hanging out online where she loves to connect with fellow readers.

www.mandyharbin.com