Nathan.
Bella turned.
He wore black.
No hat.
No ranch coat.
Just a dark suit.
He stood far enough away to give her choice.
“You said you wouldn’t.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t come inside.”
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the grave.
“Your mother didn’t know me.”
Bella waited.
“I didn’t want people wondering why I was there instead of thinking about her.”
The answer struck deep.
“So you waited outside.”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
Nathan stepped closer.
Still not touching.
“How was it?”
“Awful.”
“Good funeral?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds contradictory.”
“It is.”
They stood silently.
Bella whispered:
“I thought paying would make this part easier.”
Nathan looked at her.
“It didn’t.”
“No.”
“Money only fixes money problems.”
She laughed weakly.
“That should be engraved somewhere.”
“I’ll have Victor…”
He stopped.
Bella’s expression changed too.
Victor.
The ranch problem returned.
Nathan noticed.
“I shouldn’t have said his name.”
“It exists either way.”
He looked toward the horizon.
“Paul hasn’t been found.”
“And Victor?”
“At ranch.”
“Acting normal?”
“Perfectly.”
Bella wiped her eyes.
“That is suspicious.”
Nathan almost smiled.
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“Did you find Thomas Vale?”
“No.”
“Then we go back.”
“You just buried your mother.”
Bella looked at the grave.
“Yes.”
Then at Nathan.
“And she paid for an accounting degree I haven’t used properly once.”
He understood.
Bella continued.
“She would be furious if I ignored stolen cattle after all that tuition.”
Nathan’s mouth curved.
“What kind of woman was she?”
“Terrifying.”
“Good.”
Bella smiled.
“She would have hated you.”
“That seems fair.”
“No.”
Bella looked him over.
“She would’ve pretended to hate you for six months.”
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
“Then?”
“She liked men who paid their bills.”
He laughed.
It was the first time Bella heard him laugh fully.
Not a smirk.
Not a rough breath.
A real laugh.
It changed his face.
Made him younger.
Less dangerous.
That frightened her more than his reputation.
Because attraction was easier when a man remained a symbol.
Harder when he became human.
Victor Hale greeted Bella politely when she returned.
Too politely.
“I heard about your mother.”
“Thank you.”
“If you need additional leave…”
“I’m all right.”
His gaze lingered.
Bella noticed.
“You’ve been helping Mr. Drake?”
There.
Not accusation.
Fishing.
“With house records.”
“House records?”
“Yes.”
Victor smiled.
“What kind?”
Bella smiled back.
“Towel inventory.”
For one second he almost believed her.
Then he laughed.
“I forgot you worked housekeeping.”
People always did.
That was useful.
Victor continued toward Nathan’s office.
Bella watched.
Then went to her own workstation.