The Heartbreaker Read Free Page A

sudden arrival. Time was supposed to dull emotions, but one look into the knowing depths of those brown eyes and she was battling the same feelings of longing she’d fought most of her life. He would have to show up right now—unshaven, tousled and sexier than ever. She wondered if he’d killed the jaguar whose tooth hung on a leather thong around his neck. He seemed to bring the primitive lure of the jungle with him into the shop, but then, life had always been more exciting when Mike Tremayne was around. Despite his rotten character, she would always love him, which was something neither he nor Alana would ever find out.
    Mike made no effort to create small talk with Colby, and that was fine with her. Instead he continued to wander around the studio examining her work. He’d been a fair stained-glass hobbyist as a kid, Beth remembered. Her father had helped them each make sun-catchers as Christmas presents one year, and Mike had turned out to be pretty adept at the process. Once he’d become a teenager, though, he’d abandoned the hobby as being too sissy. Alana had given it up, too, leaving only Beth, who’d become her father’s apprentice. At times she’d envied Alana and Mike their freedom, but she’d cherished the special relationship she had with her father and Ernie, too.
    She ripped the top page off the notepad, came back around the counter and handed it to Colby.
    â€œI don’t really need these, you know,” he said. “I’m convinced the cutter is good.”
    â€œBut you still don’t know how good. Having you talk to our customers will let you know that. I don’t want to discuss the cost of leasing the patent until you’ve checked with these people.”
    â€œAll right. I’ll call your references. But you’re the one who told me the cutter has to get back in production immediately.”
    Her smile was grim. “I think we can wait another twenty-four hours.”
    â€œThen you’ll be ready to sign the papers if I come back tomorrow night?”
    â€œI still have to convince Ernie that this is the best course of action, but assuming I do, yes, we can probably finalize everything tomorrow night”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll convince Ernie.”
    â€œWe’ll see.” She’d love to have another option, but she couldn’t afford the going rate any other machine shop would charge her for the work.
    Colby held out his hand. “Shall we say seven tomorrow night? We can celebrate with dinner, if there’s anywhere in Bisbee that has acceptable food.”
    Beth made the handshake brief. She really didn’t like this guy. “We have some of the best restaurants in Southern Arizona,” she said.
    â€œIs that right? I never would have guessed. Well, see you tomorrow night, then.” He started toward the door. “Good meeting you, Tremayne.”
    Mike waved an acknowledgment as Colby headed out the door. Then he turned toward Beth. “What rock did you find him under?”
    â€œHe works for a Chicago outfit called Handmade that’s trying to establish itself in the hobby market. When Ernie and I first started selling the cutters, they saw our video on the home shopping channel and contacted us. At the time, we weren’t interested in their offer to lease the patent and take over the manufacturing. Butnow—”
    â€œNow it would be even more stupid. Dad says you have a winner.”
    â€œWe need another six months, Mike.” She glanced outside as Colby’s rental car pulled away from the curb. Now she was totally alone with the man who had betrayed both her and her sister in a single evening. “I can’t wait for Ernie to recover and start making the cutters again. Our credibility will be destroyed if orders show up late. Besides, even if we could wait, I don’t think Ernie should continue working at this pace, considering his bad