Page 9 of Hell Hath No Fury

The others fell silent and turned their way.

Emma hadn’t been sure if she would recognize Sonny Jones after all these years, but she spotted him immediately as the man who’d apparently made unexpected changes to the blueprints. His face was weathered, but he still had the broad shoulders and narrow hips of the football star who’d lost a college scholarship to a blown-out knee. His snug T-shirt and skin-tight Wranglers showed off every muscle, and a wide smile lit his face when he noticed her.

“Emma? Emma Anderson? Is that you?” He strode toward her.

Damn, he was still hot. Not as hot as Matthias, but close. “Yes, it’s me,” she said.

The hug he swept her up in took her by surprise. “It’s so good to see you,” he whispered in her ear.

She squirmed free, feeling Matthias’s eyes on her. “Good to see you, too.” She stepped aside and said, “Sonny Jones, meet my boyfriend, Matthias Honeywell.” It was the first time she’d introduced him asher boyfriend, but considering Sonny’s wolfish smile, she needed to draw the line sooner rather than later.

The two men shook hands. Not the usual quick grasp-and-release. Emma knew they were doing the male dominance routine of trying to crush their competition’s bones. Buff or not, Sonny didn’t stand a chance, but she gave him credit for containing any signs of pain. Nor did he shake out the hand once they released their grip.

“Boyfriend, huh?” Sonny kept his eyes on her but directed his next words at Matthias. “Emma and I go way back, you know. In fact, I believe I was her first love.”

“Firstcrush,” she corrected. “We were nine.”

“I always considered you the one that got away.”

“You’re as full of bull as always.”

Matthias cleared his throat. She glanced at him.Get back on track.

“We’re looking for Eric. Have you seen him today?”

“Baker?” Sonny shook his head. “Not since Wednesday. We had a meeting about you and your acreage.” He crossed his arms and grinned. “I understand you’re ready to sell to me.”

Emma looked around at the barren landscape. Pictured her family home ripped apart, dug up, and turned into something she wouldn’t recognize.

“As a matter of fact,” Sonny went on, “I have the agreement for the sale all drawn up and in my truck. We can sign it right now.”

“You misunderstood whatever Eric told you. I’m nowhere near ready to sell. Besides, the deed isn’t only in my name. My sister is half owner.”

“I know. I already have her signature. All I need is yours.”

* * *

Matthias watched the color drain from Emma’s face. Before she had a chance to ask, he took the lead. “When was that?”

Jones feigned being oblivious. “When was what?”

So, this was how it was going to be. Matthias lowered his voice to the timbre he knew sounded threatening. “When did Nell sign your papers?”

“Like I said. On Wednesday.”

Which wasn’t what he’d said, but Matthias let it slide. “She was with Eric.” Not a question.

“She was. We met at my office. They read over the sales agreement.” Jones turned to Emma. “She was thrilled at the idea of having something done with that property, and the price we settled on pleased her. I’m sure it will please you, too.”

The color returned to her cheeks, blazing an angry crimson. “You can’t have settled on a price without me.”

“It was my understanding that Eric was acting on your behalf. He said you were more than happy to let him tackle the headaches involved, and once I upped my offer to seven hundred and fifty thousand, he was all on board.”

“What about having me retain ten acres?”

“Sweet Emma, I would be more than happy to sell you ten acres back at a price to be determined.” He chuckled. “But at three quarters of a million dollars, I’m buying the entire property.”

Emma clenched her fists at her side, the knuckles white.