Free Elusive Echoes by Kay Springsteen Page A

made sure of that."
    "It's not as much as I was making
hourly."
    Confusion clouded Sean's stare. "How can
that be? I know Sandy. She plays fair. She wouldn't make you
partner and cut your cash flow."
    Mel sighed. "She didn't exactly. She
wouldn't take anything from me for the partnership. Just made me
partner, signed half the bar over to me for nothing. When payday
comes, I sign half of my check back into the business as payment
for my half of the bar." And oh, she really hated making that
admission with all the questions that was going to raise.
    Sean stared at her, his frown deepening.
"Are those the terms Sandy wanted?"
    Mel quickly shook her head. "She doesn't
know about it. I've been doing the books."
    Sean tossed the newspaper onto the bar and
grabbed Mel on the shoulders. He gave her a little shake. "Are you
screwing with the books?"
    "No!" When he only raised an eyebrow. "Okay,
it's all there, documented as my monthly payment for the
partnership. I'm not screwing with the books, and I'm not taking
money that isn't mine."
    "No, you're only giving
Sandy money she doesn't need, didn't ask for, and she's going to be
mad as heck when
she goes over those books and finds it."
    Panic rose in Mel's throat. She grabbed his
hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Sean, please. Don't go to
Sandy."
    His eyes narrowed. His voice chilled. "Tell
me why I shouldn't."
    "I can't accept this partnership for free,
Sean. I can't." She heard the desperation in her own voice but
couldn't stop it.
    "It's not free, Mel." His tone had softened,
but his frown remained. "Ryan told me she set it up like a
profit-sharing deal."
    Mel stepped back and pressed the heels of
her hands to her temples in an attempt to still the throbbing.
"It's still too easy. I can't get things handed to me like that. I
can't explain, but I need to earn my way."
     
    ****
     
    Sean rocked back on his heels. He actually
understood that. It was exactly how he felt about his share of the
ranch, and was the same reason he'd chosen to pay Ryan back for his
stake in the horse rehab part of the business. He eased her hands
away from her head and tugged her close again, cradling her against
his chest.
    "Okay," he murmured, kissing the top of her
head and smoothing her hair. "Okay, I won't go to her. But you have
to."
    She pulled away sharply. "Sean—"
    "Mel!"
    Their gazes tangled, locked. Mel looked away
first.
    "You have to go to Sandy." Sean was trying
to be patient. And on the outside, he was pretty sure he was
successful. Inside, he was beginning to get all knotted up.
Something was going on with Mel. She had changed. Again. They no
longer had their little game of mutual chase going on, which had
once felt like they shared a common goal, that being a
relationship.
    Because he still needed the contact, Sean
laced his fingers through hers and settled her against him with
gentle pressure to her back. Her heart beat so hard and fast in her
chest he could feel it against his own. He held her silently,
nestling his face in her soft hair until the pounding settled into
a slower, lighter rhythm. "Go to her, Mel," he said softly.
"Explain your reasoning, and work out a plan with her. She's going
to be miffed if she finds out on her own that you've already put
several thousand dollars into this place without telling her."
    Mel's breathing slowed, steadied. Her
trembling diminished to an occasional tremor. Finally she nodded
and leaned back in his arms, lifting her eyes. His body reacted
instantly to her charged blue gaze and her change in position,
which fit her more intimately against him, but for once, if she
noticed, she didn't push the envelope.
    "I'll talk to her next week. Let her enjoy
being a mom for a few days, okay, Sean?"
    Some of his inner tension eased and he
nodded. "Okay. But you aren't getting one of those heaps. Let me
help you—stop shaking your head."
    "I'm not shaking my head."
    "You were shaking it in your mind." He
kissed her, quick and hard. "Give me your budget