Adam (Farraday Country Book One)

Chapter Twenty

"You can't keep moping around the house." Meg's mom stood in the bedroom doorway, her hands fisted on her hips. "I know things look pretty bleak, but your father and the authorities have uncovered at least two overseas bank accounts and are still digging up where Jonathan hid the rest of the money stolen from his clients' accounts. There'll be a loss but not as bad as it could be if this had gone on for years."

Meg nodded. She was glad the feds had also recovered the money hidden in the trunk and that her father's clients would be able to recoup a good portion of their investment, but she really didn't feel like talking about it.

"Margaret Colleen." Her mother stomped into the room and stopped at her bedside. "It's time to move on. Jonathan Cox, or whatever his name is, is not worth all this brooding."

On the computer screen, Meg scanned the details of the real estate contract in front of her. The first thing she'd done was hire a Realtor to put the condo on the market, and, in less than twenty-four hours, she had multiple offers. Bless the booming Dallas real estate market. Even though she'd lost some money selling the Ferrari, her stellar diamond ring and other trappings Jonathan had bought on her credit—like their Paris, France, honeymoon—the bidding war price for the condo looked to put her in the black again. Not by much but it was nothing to sneeze at.

"Did you hear me, young lady?" Scowling, her mother crossed her arms in frustration. Any minute now she was bound to start tapping her toe.

"I'm not moping, Mom. I'm taking care of business." And maybe wondering for the billionth time what Adam was doing at this same moment.

Her laptop dinged with an instant message. From Abbie. That woman had been a great boss, and, since the Jonathan debacle had come to a head, she'd become an even better friend. Happy for the distraction, Meg clacked away at the keyboard.

ABBIE: Did you hear about Myrtle Yantz?

MEG: No. What?

ABBIE: Grandbaby number two is on the way. She's decided she's not coming back to Tuckers Bluff.

"What kind of business?" her mother asked.

ABBIE: Her house just went on the market.

Really? Meg looked at the offer price on the condo. The real estate markets in Dallas and Tuckers Bluff were worlds apart. Planets apart.

"Well?" her mother repeated.

ABBIE: Can't imagine who would want to buy that big old thing. Needs so much work.

As the glimmer of an idea took root, a smile tugged at one side of Meg's mouth, spreading the grin to the other side of her lips until the fully formed idea had her tossing aside her laptop and springing from bed.

"The best kind of business, Mom." Meg kissed her mother on the cheek and whizzed around her, repeating over her shoulder. "The absolute best."

Behind his desk, pen in hand, Adam made a futile effort to finish his paperwork. Lately, working on the animals was the only time he was able to stay on task. At his desk or helping out at the ranch, with a will of its own, his mind kept circling back to Meg. And over her, under her or just about any place two people could fit. Not for the first time he considered how impossible it would be to turn his life upside down and follow the woman to Dallas.

"It works better if you actually put the pen to the page." Becky came into the room and dropped into one of the two chairs flanking his desk.

"I know."