Bad Boy Billionaire: F#cking Jerk 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

engine. Before shifting into gear, I checked around me, thinking I might see Harper and take her to town with me.
    No such luck.
    Alone, I drove into town, nerves jangling. I was too busy praying there was insurance to listen to the radio. In fact, my mind was so occupied I pulled up in front of Hardin’s office before I even realized it. I cut off the car and scurried up the front steps.
    Inside, I checked in with his receptionist and took a seat to wait. My heart was thumping hard and fast. My palms sweating. I wished Clay or Harper had been able to come with me. I could use some moral support. Of course, I could’ve waited until Clay woke up to do this. I knew he would have come with me. Gladly.
    If only I wasn’t so frickin’ impatient.
    But impatient I was. And so I would have to face this alone.
    The little bell above the main door tinkled, and naturally I glanced that way to see who had arrived.
    Of all people, it was Carrie, Clay’s sister. She snapped a quick look my way before checking in with the receptionist. Then she took a seat one chair away from me and beamed, “Hey. Fancy meeting you here.”
    “Yes,” I agreed.
    “Glad to see you survived.”
    “Survived what?” I asked. Had news of the fire traveled that fast already?
    “Being the live-in nursemaid to my moody brother, of course. The last time I saw you, you were taking over my post at his bedside.” Carrie tipped her head. “What did you think I meant?”
    “Oh yes. That’s right. I forgot. I thought you meant…well, haven’t you heard?”
    She scrunched up her pretty face. “Heard about what?”
    “Someone set my house on fire last night.”
    “No! I hadn’t heard. Which surprises me. News travels so fast around here.” Leaning toward me, she set her hand on my knee. “That’s awful! What happened? You say someone set your house on fire? Do you know how did it? Are you okay?”
    “Yes. I’m fine. I wasn’t home. It was arson. But I don’t think there are any suspects yet.”
    “Why would someone do such a thing?”
    “I wish I knew the answer to that. In fact, that’s why I’m here. To see if there was an insurance policy on the property. I thought it might have been set so someone could collect an insurance payout.”
    “Hm. I doubt that. Knowing real estate law like I do, random people can’t take out policies on property they don’t own. So if there is a policy, either you or my brother would be the beneficiaries. Nobody else.”
    “That’s what I thought.”
    “Sorry. But I’m glad to see you’re okay.”
    The receptionist announced from her desk, “Miss Pierce, Mr. Hardin will see you now.”
    I stood, smoothed my sweaty palms down my thighs.
    “Good luck,” Carrie said, giving me a reassuring smile. “I hope you find the culprit.”
    “Thanks.”
     

    Twenty minutes later I was breathing easier. As executor of my aunt’s estate, Hardin had been responsible for purchasing a new property insurance policy when my aunt died. The house and its contents were covered. I would be receiving a check within the next few weeks.
    That was a huge relief.
    But then he dropped a bomb on me.
    I was on the verge of losing the ranch and the rest of my aunt’s estate.
    All of my troubles—the shortage of help, my lack of experience--had led to the ranch’s rapid financial decline. And it would be almost impossible to turn it around. Making matters worse, it would take weeks to receive the funds to buy the equipment that had been destroyed in the fire. Plus I would have to rebuild almost half the barn and replace several months’ worth of feed and straw. In the meantime, I would be forced to pay weekly payments to the neighbor for housing and feeding our animals.
    It wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t going to save it. I could see that now.
    I’d lost it. All of it. Already.
    Stunned by the bad news, I exited Hardin’s office. Carrie was waiting where I’d left her--in the lobby. I acknowledged her with a nod and