The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife Read Online Free PDF

I’m not usually like this, I swear.”
    Taking pity, she interrupted him. “I’m sorry, Jordan.” He looked so nice. He acted so nice. Nothing like Stephen. “I’m not the exception, I’m married.”
    His eyes searched her left hand for a ring she’d yet to put back on. “I didn’t realize.” He glanced up to the building. Sands Enterprises Acquisitions and Mergers emblazoned boldly across the front. “Your husband is a lucky man,” he said, his voice faltering, a slightly dejected scowl replacing where the smile had just been.
    She flitted a smile, hoping he didn’t feel too bad. One day too late, she thought bitterly. One day and she might have gotten to know this man. Instead she’d have to play wife to a man so intolerable, so cruel that she felt nothing but anger and bitterness in his presence.
    “My husband would be jealous if he saw you here with me,” she finished meekly. “Thank you for the insurance information, I’ve got to get going.” Pangs of regret caressed cruelly through her.
    “I would be just as jealous,” he said, finally. His fingertips touched her shoulder in a comforting gesture. “Have a nice day, Mrs. Sands.”
    At least the day can’t get worse, she thought as she got back into her car.

Chapter Three
    This day couldn’t get much better, Stephen realized as he finished up the appointment with his three o’clock. Simpkins Limited had agreed to sell…for a generous sum, of course, and now in a few minutes Stephen would meet with Jordan Giles and buy Giles out as well.
    Wonderful, wonderful day. First Cassie, now this.
    “I won’t sell,” Jordan Giles said a few minutes later as he came into the office.
    It’d taken two years to line up this deal. Giles was the last hold-out. Stephen had to treat the man with kid gloves or everything he’d accomplished could go to the wayside. And for what? A guy who owned a flower shop in the middle of an industrial sector? Sure, it’d become industrial long after Giles moved in, but that building was the key to Stephen re-developing the entire area.
    No, not him. He only had to acquire it. But if he wanted to finish the deal, he needed everyone on board.
    And that included the flower shop owner.
    “I’ve thought about your offer,” Giles continued, “but I don’t want to sell. I’m happy in that location. In fact, since the other businesses started moving out, my business has boomed.”
    “How is that?” Stephen asked, wary of the response, as he sat behind his desk. “I imagine you’re getting rather lonely down there in that part of town.”
    Giles took the seat across from his. “Just the opposite. I’ve lost the industrial noise. The pollution. My parking has never been better. I’ve added two more trucks to my deliveries and expanded to online sales. I should thank you.”
    It had been such a nice day. Not initially, but certainly toward the end. “Mr. Giles. I realize you think holding out might get you more money, but it won’t. This is the top offer. The next step will be to take you to court and try to convince a judge you should sell. And I don’t think you can afford that.”
    “Can you?”
    Stephen smiled. “I can tie you up in court dates for so long that your grandchildren will still be paying the attorney fees. Do you really want to go down this road?”
    He stood. “I appreciate your time, Mr. Sands, but I can see we’re not going to find a middle ground here. Why don’t you let me take my chances, and you can take yours. I can see the publicity now. Sands Enterprises acquires Giles Gardens in hostile bid . Nice publicity. Should play well into the wholesome image of the Sands family name, don’t you think?”
    No, Stephen didn’t think. In fact, if he weren’t so invested in this project, he’d tank the whole thing. Sure, it’d gone well at first, but these final hold-outs were cutting into his bottom line. Deeply. And if Jordan Giles did plan to rake the family name through the mud, this