Free More Than Willing by Laura Landon Page A

Just mark my curiosity up as another of my unforgivable sins.” He dropped his booted foot to the floor and leaned forward in his chair. “How financially successful were the profits from last year’s brewing season?”
    Maggie sucked in a deep breath. “It’s no secret that last year’s profits fell short of the previous year. There are always one or two unforeseen expenses that take one by surprise, and the brewing industry is very competitive.”
    “How many tied properties does Bradford own?”
    His question surprised her. Not many outside the brewery industry realized the importance of buying as many local inns as they could to guarantee places to deliver their product. But how many outlets a brewery owned was something that no one ever talked about. Grayson Delaney especially should know how inappropriate his question was. “That’s hardly any of your—”
    “There’s a chance the King’s Crown can be purchased for the right price.”
    Maggie’s jaw dropped. “How do you know that?”
    Delaney leaned back in his chair and smiled his wolfish grin. “One of the tavern maids with whom I was…visiting, spilled her sad tale.”
    Maggie felt her cheeks blaze . Instead of Grayson Delaney showing some contrition, he smiled even broader, as if he were pleased with the reaction he extracted from her.
    He cleared his throat and reassumed his natural pose. “To make a long story short, the lass was understandably upset after she overheard Mr. and Mrs. Briars discuss their desire to move from Harleymoor. It seems their only daughter married a man of means and wants her mama and papa to live close by. She’s even found a home for them near her.”
    “I can’t believe it. Mother offered to buy the inn several times but Briars repeatedly refused.”
    “Your mother?”
    “Well, Father went to talk to him, but it was Mother’s idea.”
    Grayson Delaney’s mind seemed to evaluate the information she’d just let slip. “Maybe the time wasn’t right then. It may be now.”
    Maggie’s mind whirled with plans. “How much do you think Briars will want for the King’s Crown?”
    “I have no way of knowing until I talk to the man.”
    “You! What makes you think I’d allow you to talk to Mr. Briars?”
    “Who else is there? Charlie Murdock?”
    She bit her lip.
    “Henry Tibbles?”
    Maggie avoided looking at him by moving her gaze to the opposite side of the room.
    “Maybe you’d consider Fletcher. He’s an expert with the horses but I’m not sure how good he’d be at convincing Briars to sell the King’s Crown.”
    Her fingers ached and she eased her clenched fists. She’d found so little tolerance for a woman in the business world.
    “This is an opportunity that has to be seized now or you will lose the chance to buy a valuable outlet for the ale you produce.”
    Maggie wanted to shout that she knew she had to act quickly. But what could she do? She doubted Briars would take any offer from a woman seriously. Not many men would.
    “Do you expect your father to return shortly?”
    His question startled her and the knot in the pit of her stomach dropped. “No, I don’t expect him any time soon.”
    “Then let me help you.”
    “No!”
    “Why not?”
    “Because…” Maggie couldn’t continue. How could she explain that she couldn’t allow him into her world? Something about him presented too great a danger to her.
    Maggie rose from the sofa and stepped over to the window. She pulled back one side of the heavy velvet drapes and watched the big flakes of snow that fell.
    She needed time to come up with an alternate plan and she didn’t have it. The moment rumors circulated that Briars was interested in selling, there would be a half dozen breweries offering to buy the King’s Crown.
    “You need me.”
    His voice was soft and warm and wrapped around her like a heavy woolen shawl. “I don’t want to,” she answered, and meant it.
    “I know.”
    For a long time neither of them spoke. He seemed