The Price of Passion (Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches 1)

“Why do you bother to answer the phone when you’re driving?”

“Why do you call me when I’m driving?”

“Because you’re always on the move. When else am I going to reach you?”

“Good point.” She was always busy. Running the numerous charities that the Wingate Corporation supported was pretty much a 24/7 job. She spent most of her time driving to businesses to wrangle donations or meeting with supporters. “Okay, what’s up?”

“Family meeting at the house.”

“What?” She steered around a curve in the road, straightened out and demanded, “Why? We just had a meeting two weeks ago. I’ve got appointments to keep.”

“Believe it or not, little sister, we all do.”

Fine, he had a point. The Wingate family didn’t simply sit around and count their money. Their biggest company, WinJet, was huge, having outgrown Texas many years ago. Her brothers, and cousins Luke and Zeke, did most of the heavy lifting there.

“Right. So what’s going on?” She barely noticed the scenery flying past as she whipped her beloved BMW convertible down the road. And though she was managing to hold a conversation with Sutton, her mind was still on Camden. Unconsciously, she lifted one hand to her mouth, as if she could still feel his lips on hers. And, really, she could. It was as if he’d branded her.

“Mom called the meeting.”

“Mom?” Ever since the death of Beth’s father, Ava Wingate had stepped back from the company. She’d gone to Europe for an extended stay, along with one of her oldest “friends,” Keith Cooper. How Mom was oblivious to the fact that Keith was clearly in love with her, Beth couldn’t figure out. Then again, maybe Ava didn’t want to know the truth.

“Did she say what the meeting’s about?” Beth asked, concentrating on the road again.

“No. All she said was, attendance is mandatory. Hell, she’s even got Piper coming in from Dallas for it.”

“Okay, that makes no sense.” Her mother’s younger sister, Piper Holloway, wasn’t even a part of the company.

“Yeah. Look, all I know is Baz called to tell me about the meeting and ordered me to spread the word.”

“Ordered?”

He laughed. “You know Baz. He’s always ordering everybody around. Part of his charm.”

True. Their oldest brother had stepped into the void left behind when their father, Trent, died two years before. Sebastian had a tight grip on the company and under his leadership, Wingate Enterprises, with WinJet in the lead, was growing like it never had before.

“Fine,” she said, just managing to bury the sigh. “When?”

“Now.”

“Damn it!” She pressed harder on the accelerator. “I’m about twenty minutes out. Baz will have to be patient.”

“Sure,” Sutton said with a laugh. “That’ll happen.” After a pause, he asked, “Where exactly are you?”

Her mouth worked because she didn’t want to say the words, but then told herself she had nothing to be ashamed of. “I’m on Old River Road.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” Sutton’s voice was amused as he added, “Isn’t that where Camden Guthrie’s ranch is?”

“How do you know that?”

“Everybody knows that. What I don’t know is why you went there.”

“It’s not what you’re thinking.” Beth winced. She’d known people would start talking about the two of them again.

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”