Acquiring Trouble Read Free Page A

that majority . I f you can't, then work directly with the president . Depending on what you find out in your investigation , I’ll give you authority to go up to thirty million if you need to. I want that company, one way or the other."  
    Boy, today was going to suck for David's executive assistant. It was Sunday at five in the morning and she could feel his blood pressure rising over the phone. She started a new section in her notes as David ranted about no- good stupid farmers with crops for brains.
    "Who's the owner and what do we know about him?"
    " A tight ass named Miles Davies." Morgan's head swam as the sudden image of her high school crush crashed upon her memory. "I can't find out too much on him besides that he went to Texas A& M and graduated with a B.S. in Agricultural Studies. Then he went on to Purdue to get his MBA in Agricultural Management. Immediately upon graduation he enlisted in the Army. When he got out he started this company. That's all I got on him. I couldn't get anything out of what he did in the Army or where he served. Although, I guess it doesn't matter. A nerd like that would be placed in some command center to play with his computers and files."
    A nerd? No, Miles' wasn't that. Yes, he was smart. B ut you could never look at a man like that and think all he did was shuffle files. Even at just eighteen he was more of a man than any of the men she'd dated since. There'd been lawyers, doctors, financial advisors, a personal trainer , and even a very flexible yoga instructor with better hair than hers . Still, Miles always eclipsed them. T he memories faded as the years passed , but the feel of that kiss never did. She'd dream of it only to be awoken by him telling her he would never date a gi rl like her. Now here she was in a luxury condo with a sports car and no one to wake up with. No one to share it with.
    "Morgan! Morgan, is the re a problem? Do I need to hand this over to Tad instead?"
    "No David. I'm fine. I was just taking notes." She refocused on her tablet and took a calming deep breath , taught to her by the flexible yoga instructor , to clear her mind.
    "Good. I want you to get started on this immediately. And Morgan…"
    "Yes?"
    "You better make this happen."
    Morgan placed the phone on her nightstand and flopped back down on her bed. Why did the mention of his name turn her into a scared self-conscious teenager again?

 
Chapter Two
     
    Miles had followed Marshall to the dirt turn off that led to his home in the early morning hours after Marshall wrapped up the crime scene. His brother was doing a terrific job as s heriff. Miles made a quick sandwich and sat in the leather chair overlooking the farm. The large windows glowed as the sun rose over the ro lling hills of the countryside.
    Miles finished his sandwich and rose to check the locks on all the doors and windows. He set his alarm system and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He knew every creak of the floorboards, every background noise from the air conditioner or refrigerator, and every sound that was out of ordinary. His house was still and quiet, an d that was the way he liked it.
    He entered his room and locked the door before taking off his suit coat and tossing it on the upholstered chair. He yanked his tie fr ee , strode across the room stripp ing his shirt off , and flipped on the bathroom light
    A large glass shower took up the majority of the brown and cream tiled sidewall . He unbuckled his belt and freed the button of his slacks before turning on the hot water. Miles pulled his cell phone and wallet out of his slacks before stepping out of them. The shower was the one place where he felt he could relax. He had had multiple showerheads installed. A glass door and the large window in the bathroom allowed him a view of his fa rm.
    Miles opened the glass door and was about to step in when he heard his phone vibrate. It was probably his mother reminding him of family dinner. For each of his thirty - six years they