C6 An Offer For The Bad Billionaire

" I've thought of all that too. But surely you can't resist a woman like me. " She said, her eyes scrutinizing him.

" Who says? " Jake fired back. " Before you came into this room, I've taken my mind of those damned horses. What more, I don't like you. I hate everything about you, so deal with it."

Lisa's face became hard as a rock. She stared at him for a long moment, then her lips curved into a sensual smile. Slowly, she pushed back her chair, rose to her feet, and came around the desk.

" What are you doing? " Jake said stiffly, a bemused expression on his face.

Lisa did not say anything. She came near him and leaned into Jake, catching him off guard. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on his lips. Jake wanted to throw her off him. But her lips touching his had aroused a wild sexual feeling in him. He was violently stirred. They were like, for some time, kissing, and he found himself holding her luscious body and kissing her back with wild pent-up longings in never knew he had in him. Suddenly, she pulled away from him. Her face was flushed with desire, her breasts rising and falling, and her breath coming out rapidly.

" Why the hell did you stop? " Jake growled, feeling his hands clammy with sweats and his penis hard and throbbing in his pants.

" I only wanted to prove you wrong," She said huskily. " You want me, and you can't deny it. " She moved away from him and picked up her hat. Jake watched her the way a tiger would look at a rat about to sneak away from its cage. Lisa sashayed to the door and turned to look at him. " the offer still stands billionaire, think about it," and with that, she walked out of the room.

Jake watched her go in utter disbelief. He sat there for a long moment, his mind busy with thoughts. Then slowly, he picked up his phone and dialed Gableton's number.

**********************

Lisa stirred and opened her eyes as the grey light of dawn filtered through the half-drawn curtains. She lay still for some moments, thinking about the event that had taken place in Jake's office the previous day. She bit hard on her bottom lip when the thought of how they had both kissed came into her mind. It was totally unbelievable. A few years ago, if someone had told her that she would find herself in that can kind of situation, she would have dismissed the whole thing. And yet, it had happened inexplicably. She drew in a long slow breath and grimace.

After Jake had left her ranch that day, she had sat down in her room and thought critically about the situations of things. The idea of getting old and dying as a spinster scared her. Yes, for a long time, she had never thought about settling down with a man. In fact, the idea of having a child for a man was something she had ever dwelled upon. Her thought had always revolved around the ranch, taking care of the horses, and living a quiet, peaceful life. But Jake coming to her ranch had turned her mind towards some things she had never had time to think about in her life. Things like having her how child. Undoubtedly, Jake had stirred up some feelings in her. His presence had risen in her the urgent need to have a kind of companion, in a human form this time.

That was when the idea of having a child with Jake in exchange for her horses had dropped into her mind. She had thought hard about it and eventually decided that it was the best option she had. Even though the thought of losing her horses, most especially fiery, had made it a difficult decision yet she knew it had to be done. She was getting old, and time was running fast. Having flesh and blood of her own to keep her company when her horses were gone sounded like a very good idea. She would nourish the child and take care of it, just like any good mother would do. She was going to make sure the child lacks nothing. She was going to be a good mother. Even though she knew nothing about taking care of her child, the fact that Sally was going to be with her assured her that everything was going to be alright.

Lisa stifled a yawn and sat up on the bed. The thought of how she had seduced Jake inside his office came into her mind again, and a smile tugged at her lips. The son of a gun, she thought smugly, remembering the look on Jake's face. That moment, while inside his office, as she had walked towards him, she found out that it was one of the most difficult decisions she had ever come to make in her life. Seducing a man! Never in her life would she had thought she would find herself in that kind of position.

At first, she felt belittled, and somewhat offended that he hadn't found her attractive enough for him to want to bed her. The arrogant bastard had rejected her offer. That had hurt her ego really bad. But she had wanted to find out whether he had meant all those things he had said to her. And the only way to do that was to try and kiss me. Lisa's face turned a rosy pink as she remembered the way they had kissed. The kiss had aroused in her deep, pent-up longings that had been buried long ago in her body.

As they kissed, she had been sure Jake wanted her as a woman. He was only being headstrong and wanted only to make her feel bad. She chuckled when she remembered the expression on his face when she had kissed him and pulled away from him. He had looked wild and hungrily at her. The look she had seen on his face told her he wanted her the way any man would naturally want a beautiful woman. There was no denying the fact. But did she really want him as a man ?. Lisa heaved heavily. Somehow, she had a feeling she was attracted to Jake. No woman would see an extraordinarily handsome man like Jake, with the irresistible vitality that oozes him and won't be attracted. But could she ever fall in love with a difficult and stubborn man like Jake ?. No way, she told herself. She thought of those large, dark, teasing eyes of his. " No way," she aloud, firmly.

She rose from the bed and went out of the room. As she walked towards the living room, she could hear Sally moving about in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee and fried eggs hits her nose. She walked into the kitchen and found Sally fiddling with the coffee maker.

" Morning Sally," Lisa said eagerly.

Sally swings around, a warm smile plastered on her sweaty, dark face.

" Morning, missy, " she cooed. " I hope you had a good night's rest? " She inquired.

Lisa bobbled her head.

" Yep, a terrific one," she replied.

" That's nice, " Sally said happily. " I'm preparing bacon and ham this morning. Is that fine by you, Missy? "

Lisa inclined her head.

" It's perfect. "

Sally beamed.

" Alrighty. While don't you go freshen up, while I continue with all this. By the time you are done, I'm pretty sure the breakfast would be ready to be served."

Lisa nodded, and as she turned to go, Sally called her name.

" Missy Sally ? "

" Yes, " Lisa said, turning around to face Sally.

" I'm really sorry about the way I walked into the living room when you and that handsome gentleman were together," Sally said. There was a contrite expression on her face.

Lisa frowned, puzzled, " What? " Then her face cleared when she remembered what had happened the previous day. " For Christ's sakes, you don't have to worry about that, Sally. " She gave a short laugh. " It wasn't your fault, really. You shouldn't be bothered about things like that, alright."

" I felt bad. " Sally said quietly, a demure expression on her face. " I promise I will be more careful next time, alright, Miss Lisa ? "

" There's no need for all that, Sally," Lisa said affectionately " You didn't do anything wrong. Please, for my sake, don't worry your head about little things like that, alright? " She said, smiling at the old maid.

Sally nodded vehemently.

" Alright, Miss Lisa. " She said, flashing her white teeth, rubbing her hands together happily.

" Good," Lisa said as she walked out of the kitchen. She went into her bedroom then into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, turned on the shower, shampooed her hair, took a quick bath, and went out of the bathroom. A few minutes later, she stepped out of her room dressed in yellow-colored striped shirts, tight black fitted jeans, and black boots. She walked into the living room and found the dining table well laid. There were plates of freshly made ham, bacon, eggs, steaks, and a steaming pot of coffee. She served herself, descended on the food, and washed it down with the coffee. When she was done, Sally came out of the kitchen to clear the plates away while Lisa stepped out of the house to check on the horses. Just then, she saw one of the wranglers that always comes during the weekdays to take care of the horses. He was sitting astride a big mare, a hat behind his head, the morning sun burning hard on his brown, grimed face. He alighted from his horse, tied the reins to a tree, and walked up to her. He was of medium height, fleshy and ruddy, and endowed with muscular arms and shoulders. His name was Willy Shepherd.

" Morning, ma'am," he said, tilting his hat, a pleasant smile on his face.

" Morning, Shep," Lisa replied. " How are you doing this morning? "

" Pretty good. How about you, ma'am ? " he asked.

" Never being better," She replied, adjusting the hat on her head. " How's your wife and kid ? "

" They all doing great, Miss Wolfe," he replied eagerly.

" I would like to check on the horses, ma'am. See how they are faring and all, " Shep said.

" That will be a very good idea, Shep. But I'm afraid I've got some bad news. " Lisa said in a low voice.

Shep narrowed his eyes at her.

" Bad news? " He said huskily.

" Yeah, Shep. Bad news, " She replied, heaving heavily. " You see, I won't need your service anymore in the next few days. " A look of pain flashed across Shep's face, and Lisa said quickly. " It's not only you, Shep. I won't be needing the service of the other wranglers as well."

Shepherd's face fell.

" But why Miss Wolfe, what have we done to ya? " He wailed, his voice trembling. " Me and the boys, we've been good to you, ma'am. Haven't we all ? " his voice was trembling violently now.

" You did nothing wrong, Shep. Nome of y'all did anything wrong," Lisa said rasped, unhappy to see the demure expression on the young man's face.

" Then why? Why don't you need our services no more? " He wailed.

" Because I'm selling the horses, Shep. I'm selling them off. All of them. " She said, her voice shaky. " In the next few days, the stable will be empty."

He was staring at her with painful intensity.

" You selling of the horses? " He gasped. " but why? You loved those horses. Folks in this town respected you, ma'am, for your strong willfulness about you not selling your horses. So why do you wanna sell them off? "

Lisa lifted her shoulders helplessly.

" Some unforeseen circumstances, Shep. I'm afraid I can't go into the details. " She took off her hat, dragged her fingers through her hair ruefully, and put her hat back on. " I don't wish to do this, Shep. But I've got to no choice."

Shepherd stared at her for a long moment. He drew in a long breath and bit hard on his bottom lip. He took off his hat and dragged his fingers through his wavy, sandy hair.

" What about Fiery? " He asked. " What are you going to do about her ? "

" I'm selling her too " her bottom lip was trembling so that Lisa hastily bit hard on it before he realized how near to tears he had brought her by the mention of the name of her favorite horse.

" Who is the buyer, ma'am? " Shepherd asked. " A fellow in this town? "

Lisa nodded her head but said nothing.

" He got a name ? " Shepherd inquired in a low voice.

Lisa did not want to tell Shepherd about Jake. But inwardly, she knew one way or another; the wrangler would eventually know the buyer who had bought all of the famous Wolfe horses. This was a small town, and news of things like this spreads fast. So she heaved heavily and said ;

" Jake Courtland! " She said evenly. " Jake Courtland is the buyer."

Shepherd's mouth jerked open in shock.