given moment. That’s when you’ll need me.”
Pausing, he turned to give her a droll look. “Let’s set things straight right now, Ms. Corrales. There’s not a woman on this earth that I’ll ever need.”
Although there was no outward bite to his voice, Isabella detected an underlying hostility that took her by surprise.
“Do you have a problem with women?” she asked bluntly.
“I love women,” he answered, then grinned lecherously. “When they’re in their right place.”
Her mouth fell open as he turned and continued on his path toward the barn. Outraged, Isabella raced ahead to block his path.
Looking up at him, she said tightly, “Neal warned me that you were arrogant and possessed a temper. He didn’t tell me you were also coarse and rude.”
The goading smile fell from his face. “But at least I’m honest. That’s probably more than you can say for most of your clients.”
Once again her mouth popped open, then snapped shut. “I haven’t had a client—until you. I’m a prosecutor. Or I was.”
His brows lifted to a jeering arch. “Then I guess you’re still a prosecutor. Because you don’t have me, either.”
Her teeth ground together. She should be telling Ross Ketchum exactly where he could go and stay for a hot eternity. But if a lawyer limited her cases to only those clients she liked, she’d quickly go to the poorhouse. And in her case, beggars couldn’t be choosers. Plus, starting her private practice with a client as well-known as Ross would be a great advantage to her.
“Sorry, but Neal has already paid me a retainer.”
He shrugged. “That’s all right. Keep it for your trouble.”
He was going to let her go. Just like that. The money meant nothing to him. But why would it? she asked herself. He had more than he needed. Getting rid of her was much more important to him. But why?
Her delicate jaw hardened to a firm line as she lifted her eyes to his. “Is your problem that I’m a woman? Or that I’m Apache?” she challenged.
Something flashed in his green eyes. She was trying to figure out exactly what it was, when he muttered, “Oh hell.”
“Don’t—” Before she could say more, he took her by the upper arm.
“Come here,” he demanded.
For one instant she started to plant her heels in the ground and tell him he wasn’t going to manhandle her. But she wanted answers and insulting him wasn’t the way to get them. Besides, she thought, something was wildly exciting about having his strong fingers wrapped around her arm in such a totally masculine way.
She allowed him to lead her across the red dusty ground until they were standing under a wide overhang that shaded a row of horse stalls. Here the odors of alfalfa hay, horses and manure were pungent, but not nearly strong enough to drown out the uniquely male scent of Ross Ketchum.
“Look, Ms. Corrales, I—”
“Call me Bella,” she interrupted.
With his hand still firmly gripping her arm, he drew in a deep breath and let it out. “All right, Bella. I think it’s about time I set you straight about me. There are plenty of people around here who don’t like me for one reason or another. Some say I’m hard. Maybe I am. I admit that I expect a lot from the men who work for me. I won’t accept laziness and I don’t make allowances for screwups. I won’t tolerate whiners or shirkers. And I expect loyalty. If a man doesn’t ride proudly for the T Bar K brand, then he won’t ride for me. But most people who really know me will tell you that I’m also fair. So whether you’re red, white or blue makes no difference to me.”
She was trembling. Whether it was from his touch or his words, she didn’t know. She only knew that something about Ross Ketchum was affecting her in a way she’d never experienced before.
“Good,” she managed to murmur. “Then there shouldn’t be any problem with my being your lawyer.”
The determined glint in her eyes must have convinced him she wasn’t going to back down. After a moment he shook his head with fatal acceptance.
“You don’t give up, do you?”
She smiled. “I’m loyal, too, Mr. Ketchum. When I take on a job, I finish it. Come hell or high water. And for what it’s worth, I hope you never have to see the inside of a courtroom. But if you do, I want to be there with you.”
He studied her for long, pregnant moments. “I think you actually mean that.”
He appeared surprised, a fact that Isabella found strange. Surely the man had been offered help from time to time. Or maybe he just wasn’t used to the help coming from a woman.
“I do mean it. So you’re agreeing to let me stay on the job?”
Before he caught himself, Ross moved his hand sensually up and down her arm. When he finally became aware of what he was doing, he dropped his hold as though he was touching a hot iron.
“It looks as though I’ll have to agree,” he told her as he stepped back to put a measure of space between them. “Otherwise, I’ll be standing around wasting my days arguing with you.”
She smiled again and this time a dimple appeared in her left cheek. As Ross took in the beauty of her face, he realized he’d allowed her to manipulate him. But what the hell, she wouldn’t be around that much. Surely he could keep his hands and his heart to himself. After all, he’d learned his lesson. He’d learned that women like Isabella and men like himself just didn’t mix.
“Then I won’t waste any more of your time today,” she said and extended her hand to him once more. “Goodbye, Mr. Ketchum.”
Ross took her hand and wondered why he had the silly urge to lift the back of it to his lips.
“You might as well call me Ross,” he invited. Then blurted inanely, “When are you coming back?”
“Tomorrow. We need to talk over the details of the shooting. Will you have any free time tomorrow afternoon?”
“I never have free time, Bella. But I’ll make it.” Just for you. The silently added words in his head caused him to curse to himself.
“Good,” she said with a smile. “I’ll see you then.”
Pulling her hand from his, she turned and walked away. Ross was watching her make her way to the big house when a male voice sounded behind him.
“Who was that, boss?”
Turning, Ross bristled to see Tim, a young ranch hand appreciatively eyeing Isabella as she climbed into her car.
“That is my new lawyer.”
“Hmm. I wouldn’t mind a little trouble coming my way if I had someone like her to help me out of it.”
Trouble wasn’t being framed for attempted murder, Ross thought.
