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“Did she actually claim it was part of the contract?”

“No! And you just said it wasn’t, so what’s the point of-”

“Did shean addendum stashed somewhere?”

“Dammit, Grant, I’d have told you if—”

“Then the only thing left is a verbal agreement”

“Hey, wait a h her teeth?”

“Courts everywhere have held that a verbal contract’s as legal as a written one—but surely you’re aware of that”

“Sure I’ve gone into a dozen deals on nothingbells started going off in Cade’s head “Is that what you think she’s going to claireement between the principals?”

“Anything’s possible, Cade She’s bound to know so about contract law—she studied business administration, didn’t she?”

All at once, the long day seemed to catch up Cade switched the phone to his other ear and closed his eyes

“So, what are you telling me?”

Grant sighed “Only that Angelica Gordon al knots for months”

“Listen, whatever she claims, nobody will believe her Nobody who knew Charles Landon, anyway”

“You’re talking about opinion, Cade I’e would believe? Bayliss said the old man wasn’t himself at the end, remember? He said—”

“To hell with Bayliss!” Cade shot to his feet, his face dark with anger “And to hell with Angelica Gordon! She’s lying”

“Yes I’m sure she is, but—”

“She’s lying, and I’ll prove it!”

Grant sighed “How?”

“I don’t kno” Cade stalked across the roo after hi to let this—this uptight, frigid broad keep us dancing around like fools while she plays her little game”

“Uptight, frigid broad, huh?” Grant chuckled “An interesting description, if ever I heard one”

“It’s accurate, and it’s probably why she’s getting such a kick out of insisting on trying to do a man’s job”

“Careful,” Grant said gently “I know you’ve been off in the wilds of Arabia the past few ot sex discrimination laws to contend with in this part of the world”

“How about stupidity laws?” Cade growled “The wo about how to run that company”

Grant’s laughter sounded hollow “She’s not brainless if she’s figured out a way to sabotage Landon Enterprises”

“She wants Gordon Oil, Grant, and it’s obvious she’ll do anything she has to do to get it” Cade thrust his hand into his sun-streaked hair “I could toss her over my shoulder, carry her off to a cabin in the Pecos and keep her there until she tells rimly

“Thata little far, don’t you think?”

Suddenly, Cade felt the heat of a blazing hearth Angelica Gordon was in his arms Her fiery copper hair streamed over her naked shoulders; her soft, rosebud mouth ollen from his kisses and her emerald eyes were blurred with desire…

“Damn”

“Cade? What’s the matter?”

Cade gave a little laugh “Nothing I just need to put so altogether”

“Look, we’ll coame plan”

“We don’t need one! She can claim what she likes, but without proof—”

“A court would have to decide what constitutes proof”

“Yeah,” Cade said There was a dull throbbing pain at the base of his skull He wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and ed the taut ain Lean on hi he can Check the files Maybe there’s a memo we missed”

“Will do”

“How long until I hear from you?”

He could al “I don’t know A couple of days, maybe”

So ht, and the throbbing pain in his head intensified