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Chisel-face inclined his head, and she wished that the idiot wasn’t wearing sunglasses in the ood to hear that you think local facilities h--you know, equipative techniques"

"We’ve worked across the country--and abroad," she said coolly, "and we have always maintained excellent work relationships in every area"

"That sounds hty fine!"

Darcy was startled when the voice came from behind her She turned to see that the pool player who had been called Carter had come up behind her He was taller than she had realized; she was fairly tall herself at five nine, and in her heels, she had another two inches He wore a beard and reen eyes And beneath his worn flannel shirt, he seemed to be in exceptional condition She did, however, feel as if she had completely stepped back in tieneral Jeb Stuart, having stepped off his horse and into the local tavern He stared at her with a strange sincerity as he spoke "Too ht theht be the right one Ms Tremayne, I’ve seen your face all over on billboards, too You just may be the one"

"Thanks," she mur, but she’d never felt a time warp such as this before "You know," she said quietly, "my company isn’t really headquartered more than two hours away"

"A popular face," Chisel-face e A model Hm Maybe they sent you down to manipulate Matt Stone Not a bad idea? I mean, could you possibly really be the business end of this deal? You are an exceptionally fine-looking Yank--even with a packet of degrees from NYU"

Darcy felt fury suddenly take root in every li with the locals! Like hell! She’d had it Everything she’d learned in college, in business, and in life, fled her mind, and her te "And I’entlemen, that the rest of the world has entered the twenty-first century The Civil War was lost during the nineteenth We’re all one big country now, you ton DC--where I’oes on there"

"DC," Chisel-face rinned at his fellows "I’ll bet the old boys considered it just one and the same as this area, eh boys?"

She rose, hands planted firmly down on the table, and assessed him coolly Words seemed to spit from her before she took the tiet to return your rather backward co for a total asshole You really will excuse me In truth, none of this, me, my credentials, my job here--is any of your business I need to discuss aze to sith disdain over the lot of the heels to the door, where she turned back "By the way, just for your information, the South lost the war If any of you happen to see Mr Stone, perhaps you’ll be good enough to let hi"

As she stared at theback at her The an to smile

"What?" she demanded

"Oh," he said, "I think Matt Stone definitely knows you were here"

"Really?" she grated "And why is that"

Chisel-face spoke up "Ms Tremayne, I am Matt Stone"

Adam Harrison would have handled it all nified and smooth But of course, if Adam had felt that he’d cast hied to gain respect immediately, noin her

"Well, I’m sorry that I can’t say it’s been a pleasure, since you’ve done nothing but amuse yourself at my expense, Mr Stone And if you destroy this opportunity, it won’t hurt me in the least My employer is the man who deems your house important"