Delaney sat back down, the breath knocked from her lungs. Three million . Shed assumed they were talking about several thousand.

“If you agree to the terms, Max continued, “an adequate monthly allowance will be provided for your care and support.

“When did Henry make this will? Gwen wanted to know.

“Two months ago.

Gwen nodded as if it all made perfect sense, but it didnt. Not to Delaney.

“Do you have any questions, Nick? Max asked.

“Yeah. Does one fuck constitute a sexual relationship?

“Oh, my God! Gwen gasped.

Delaney clenched her hands into fists and turned her gaze to him. His gray eyes burned with fury, and anger thinned his lips. That was okay with Delaney; she was furious, too. They stared at each other, two combatants spoiling for a fight. “You, she said, lifting her chin and looking at him as if he were something she needed to scrape off her shoes, “are evil.

“And what about oral sex? Nick asked, keeping his gaze locked on Delaney.

“Uh ... Nick, Max spoke into the tension. “I dont think we—

“I think we do, Nick interrupted. “Henry was obviously concerned about it. So concerned he included it in his will. He turned his hard gaze to the lawyer. “I think we need to know the rules right up front so theres no confusion.

“ Im not confused, Delaney told him.

“For instance, Nick continued as if she hadnt spoken. “Ive never considered a one-night stand a relationship. Just two naked bodies rubbing up against each other, getting all sweaty, and having a good time. In the morning you wake up alone. No promises you never intend to keep. No commitment. No looking at each other over breakfast. Just sex.

Max cleared his throat. “I believe Henrys intent was no sexual contact at all.

“Hows anyone going to know?

Delaney glared at him. “Easy. I wouldnt have sex with you to save my life.

He looked at her and lifted a skeptical brow.

“Well, Max interjected, “as executor, it is Frank Stuarts duty to see that the terms are enforced.

Nick turned his attention to the executor, who stood at the back of the room. “Are you going to spy on me, Frank? Peek in my windows?

“No, Nick. Ill take your word that youll agree to the conditions of the will.

“I dont know, Frank, he said and turned his gaze to Delaney once again. His eyes lingered on her mouth before sliding down her throat to her breast. “Shes pretty hot. What if I just cant control myself?

“Stop it right now! Gwen stood and pointed at Nick. “If Henry were here, you wouldnt behave this way. If Henry were here, youd have more respect.

He looked at Gwen as he rose to his feet. “If Henry were here, Id kick his ass for him.

“He was your father!

“He was nothing more than a sperm donor, he scoffed, then he moved to the door and delivered one last parting shot before he left. “Too bad for all of us he was a one-shot wonder, he said, leaving the room filled with stunned silence.

“Leave it to Nick to make everything unpleasant, Gwen said after they heard the front door close. “Henry tried to make amends, but Nick rejected him every time. I think its because hes always been jealous of Delaney. His behavior here today proves it, dont you think?

Delaneys head began to pound. “I dont know. She raised her palms to the sides of her face. “Ive never known why Nick does the things he does. Nick had always been a mystery to her, even when they were kids. Hed always been unpredictable, and shed never pretended to understand why he behaved the way he did. One day he acted like he could hardly tolerate her presence in the same town, then the very next day he might say something nice to her, or make the boys at her school stop teasing her. And just when she would start to think he was nice, hed blindside her, leaving her stunned and gasping. Like today, and like the time hed hit her between the eyes with a snowball. Shed been in the third grade, standing in front of the school, waiting for her mother to pick her up. She remembered standing to one side, watching Nick and a group of his friends build a snow fort by the flagpole. She remembered how his thick black hair and olive skin had been such a sharp contrast against all that white. Hed worn a navy wool sweater with leather patches on the shoulders, and his cheeks had turned red from the cold. Shed smiled at him, and hed thrown a snowball at her and practically knocked her unconscious. Shed had to go to school with two black eyes, which eventually turned green and yellow before fading completely.

“What now? Gwen asked, pulling Delaneys attention from the past and Nick.

“If no one contests the will we can proceed fairly quick. Max looked at Delaney. “Do you plan to challenge the will?

“Whats the point? You made it clear that Henrys provision for me was a take it or leave it proposition.

“Thats correct.

She should have known Henry would attach conditions to his will. She should have known he would try to make her take over his business, to control her and everyone else from the grave. Now all she had to do was choose. Money or her soul. Half an hour ago she would have said that her soul wasnt for sale, but that had been before shed heard the asking price. Half an hour ago everything had been so clear. Now suddenly the lines were blurred, and she didnt know what to think anymore.

“Can I sell off Henrys assets?

“As soon as they legally belong to you.

Three million dollars in exchange for one year of her life. After that, she could go anywhere she liked. Since leaving Truly ten years ago, shed never stayed in one place for more than a few years. She always became too restless and edgy to stay in one place for very long. When the urge to move called, she always answered on the first ring. With all that money, she could go anywhere she wanted. Do whatever she wanted, maybe find a place shed want to call home.

The last thing in the world she wanted was to move back to Truly. Her mother would make her crazy. Shed be crazy to stay here and give up a year of her life.

Shed be crazy if she didnt.

The Jeep Wrangler slid to a stop a few feet from the burned remains of what had once been a large barn. The fire had burned so hot, the building had caved in on itself, leaving behind a pile of mostly unrecognizable debris. To the left, a blackened foundation, a heap of cinders, and shards of broken glass were all that was left of Henrys tack shed.

Nick popped the Jeeps clutch and killed the engine. He would have bet anything that the old man hadnt intended to torch his horses too. Hed been there the morning after the fire when the coroner pulled what had been left of Henry from the ashes. Nick hadnt expected to feel anything. He was surprised that he did.

Except for the five years Nick had lived and worked in Boise, hed resided in the same small town as his father, both of them ignoring each other. It wasnt until he and Louie had moved their construction company to Truly that Henry decided he would finally acknowledge Nick. Gwen had just turned forty and Henry finally accepted the fact that he would never father children with her. Time had run out, and he turned his attention to his only son. By then, Nick was in his late twenties and had no interest in a reconciliation with the man whod always refused to acknowledge him. As far as he was concerned, Henrys sudden interest was a case of too little too late.

But Henry was determined. He made Nick persistent offers of money or property. He offered him thousands of dollars to change his name to Shaw. When Nick refused, Henry doubled the offer. Nick promptly told him to shove it.

He offered Nick a share of his businesses if Nick would act like the son Henry wanted. “Come over for dinner, as if that would make up for a lifetime of indifference. Nick turned him down.