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his own thoughts and talk for a while. “So, did I pull you away from anything important?” It’s an idle question, just a conversation starter , Will thought.

    “Nothing is more important than you,” Eli said.

    He stared at Eli, not sure if he’d heard him correctly, then decided he must have been speaking sarcastically.

    “I suppose you’re right, considering I’m $500,000 worth of collateral.” He sighed thoughtfully. “I’ve never had a dollar amount placed on me before. I was hoping to ring in a little higher, but $500,000 is significant,” he stated softly.

    “I would gladly have paid ten times that amount to have you here,” Eli said, but he kept his eyes on the road. Will couldn’t read him. He sounded serious, yet it had to be a joke.

    “Then I guess you got a bargain,” he said cynically.

    He turned to look at Will directly with a big warm smile that softened everything about him. “That I did.”

    Will wished Eli would quit playing with him and say what he really meant. He seemed to be alternately nasty and then nice. It was impossible to read or understand him, and it was equally impossible to stop thinking about him.

    “If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop at Adam Gerard’s. I have some business to attend to that I was unable to deal with earlier.” Eli’s tone indicated that he was the reason.

    Will nodded. “That’s fine.”

    “His ranch is just south of mine.” Eli removed one of his hands from the steering wheel and placed it on Will’s knee, indicating a familiarity that Will was far from reciprocating as he glared at the intruding appendage. “Adam’s a horse trader and has made claims that the current Thoroughbreds he has purchased are the best to arrive this year.”

    “I’d love to see them,” he stated enthusiastically.

    Eli turned and looked at him with renewed curiosity. This was the first time Will had shown any real interest in anything. Will maintained his reserve, his distance, and his disinterest at all times, except when they were kissing, of course. He was pleased with Will’s response to his suggestion and the look of excitement he saw in his eyes. Will loved horses. Eli should have realized that when Will was sitting watching Steven lead the big, black Thoroughbred around the yard. He was so fascinated by the animal that he hadn’t even heard him enter the room. He smiled to himself, knowing that he’d found his hook.

    They arrived at the Gerard ranch shortly before six o’clock. Elijah pulled into a long, gravel drive that ended in front of a large, two-story house. The ranch was a working ranch much like Eli’s, but it lacked the extra care and attention that was plain throughout the Hunter estate. There were no flowers or shrubs, no landscaping of any kind that Will could see. The house was in need of a fresh coat of paint, and the grounds were worn and neglected. The horses, though, were magnificent. Elijah took his arm as they walked together toward the large fenced-in yard adjacent to the stable. There were three men standing together, leaning on the gate. They watched as Elijah and Will approached. Their surprise was obvious in their expressions, which they quickly tried to suppress. They were expecting Elijah, but never had they observed him escorting a man, especially not to a business meeting. He was holding Will’s arm, and he looked to be especially pleased with himself. They said nothing until Elijah introduced them.

    The older man was Adam Gerard, and the others were two of his ranch hands. They all shook Will’s hand and stated how pleased they were to meet him. Shocked was more the word, but they tried not to let it show. He didn’t seem like Elijah’s type, they were all thinking, whatever type that was. He seemed to be sweet and shy, definitely not someone they would normally link with Elijah Hunter. He was handsome but not gorgeous. Elijah could probably have any man or woman he wanted. He was cross and difficult and