“Never?” My shock comes out in my voice.
“No.” His response is as instant as his mood swing.
I follow him inside, wondering why he would own a car without driving it. I don’t bring it up again.
Earthy and masculine, a bachelor definitely lives in the expansive single-story ranch house. While the décor lacks feminine touches—mainly browns and tans, the home is beautiful. An enormous stone fireplace dwarfs the living room. Barn rafters overhead elongate the cathedral ceilings.
We continue into the kitchen, where he sets his phone and keys on the sideboard. Erinn skips into the room, her smile lighting up the entire space. “Henry’s here. Can I go ridin’?”
“Sure, Bean,” Battle answers. She spins on her heels and leaves as he yells, “Wear your helmet.”
“I will,” she calls back.
“Who’s Henry?” I ask.
“He keeps the place runnin’ and takes care of the cattle,” he answers. “You hungry?”
“Not really.” Curiosity has taken over my appetite. He avoids every question about himself. While I want to take it personally, I don’t. “Why don’t we do a little work first. Where’s your office?”
He grins. “You’re lookin’ at it.”
“Oh. Let’s get started then,” I say, taking a seat on one of the stools at the large bead board and granite island.
“I’ll get my paperwork,” he says and leaves.
I drop my head on the counter. What am I doin’ here? Spending time with this man will be the death of me. I want him in a way that isn’t possible. This has to be punishment for something I’ve done, like ignoring my father and breaking up with Wyatt.
A heavy panting comes from the other side of the wall, as if someone’s run a marathon. I get off the stool and walk slowly toward the sound. As I make my way through the door, I scream. The high pitch echoes off the walls as I clutch my chest.
A dog the size of a small horse looks up at me with large black eyes.
“Well, hello there,” I say, holding my hand out and praying it’s friendly. The dog sniffs my hand before collapsing to the floor at my feet. So, Battle does have a dog. “You must be Roy.” I kneel beside him.
His tail thumps loudly into the wall as I pet the soft black fur on top of his head. Stark white fur lines his nose and chest with areas of brown patches. He peers up wi
th gentle eyes, like he’s thanking me for the attention.
I hear Battle’s footsteps before he says, “I see you met Roy.”
“He’s a sweet boy,” I say, standing up. Roy scratches his paw over my foot. I glance down and smile. “What kind of dog is he?”
“A Bernese Mountain Dog. He’s great with the cattle.” Battle looks down and says, “Aren’t you boy.”
I swear Roy smiles at Battle.
“Is that all you have?” I ask, noticing the small file box he holds with one hand.
“This is all of it.”
I follow him back into the kitchen and resume my spot at the island. He places the box in front of me and removes the lid.
When I glance inside, I find it half full and a single pile—no folders or labels. I shake my head and pull out several pieces of paper from the top, noticing they’re cashier’s checks for sums upwards of six figures. I drop them back inside the box, my eyes landing on a thick envelope. I pick it up and drop it the second I realize it’s filled with cash.
“I told your boss I needed help,” Battle says, a nervous edge to his voice.
I stare at the contents completely baffled. “You don’t have a bank account? Why?”
“I closed it recently.”