Bachelor Untamed - Brenda Jackson [28]
He was tempted to go over there once or twice, but had changed his mind. But that hadn’t stopped him waking up around two every morning, easing onto the porch and sitting in the dark, hoping that he would catch a glimpse of her standing by the window again. He hadn’t. In fact, the light in her bedroom never came on, which meant she was getting a good night’s sleep, even if he wasn’t.
For the last two days, he’d been lucky with his fishing rod and had caught enough for a fish fry this weekend. He wondered if Ellie would be interested in joining him. No matter what her ultimate decision would be about an affair, they would remain friends, although it was hard to be friends with a woman you wanted to take to bed.
At that moment he heard a car door slam, and wondered if someone was paying him a visit. Four of his godbrothers were here in the States and knew where they could find him, but he doubted they would come looking for him.
He stood and walked through the kitchen to the living room, to glance out the window. The car he’d heard was actually next door. Someone was paying Ellie a visit, and it was a man. He frowned. She’d said she was not involved with anyone, so who would come to the lake to see her?
Uriel squinted his eyes against the sun and saw it was Daniel Altman, the man who had been Ms. Mable’s attorney for years. Evidently, the older man needed to finalize a few things with Ellie regarding her aunt’s estate.
Satisfied this was nothing but a business call, he headed back to the kitchen to finish his dinner, refusing to admit that for a moment, his deep, dark thoughts had been those of a jealous man.
“I wasn’t aware my aunt’s estate encompassed all of this,” Ellie said, after Daniel Altman had gone over everything with her.
The older gentleman smiled. “Yes, your aunt invested wisely, and that’s a good thing, considering how the stock market has taken a beating. Other than the money she’s set aside for that scholarship at Smoky Mountain Community College, everything of hers is now yours.”
The man then shifted uneasily in his chair. “Your aunt was a very private person, and there was one business deal she was involved with where she preferred that any correspondence relating to it come directly to me. I would deliver the mail to her.”
Ellie lifted a brow. “Why?”
“I believe this letter will explain everything. It’s addressed to you, and she would update it every so often to try and keep it current,” he said, handing Ellie the sealed envelope.
He glanced at his watch and said, “I need to leave now, but if you have questions about any of this, just give me a call tomorrow.”
He paused a moment and then said, “I’ll be retiring from practicing law in a few months and will be moving to Florida. I bought a small place in Ocala. I’m getting too old to handle the harsh winters here any longer.”
She smiled. “I am happy for you, Mr. Altman,” she said, getting up off the sofa to walk him to the door. “I’m going to miss seeing you around.”
Her aunt had left her enough money to open her own financial consulting company, and she was considering doing just that, and to work from here at Cavanaugh Lake.
Mr. Altman turned to her and said softly, “I considered your aunt a close friend as well as a good client, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
Ellie’s smile brightened. “Thanks, Mr. Altman.” And I believe I speak for my parents as well as myself when I say that we have appreciated your friendship and loyalty to my aunt over the years. She always spoke highly of you and indicated you always provided outstanding service.”
She thought she actually saw the man blush when he said, “I did my best.” He then quickly opened the door and left.
Ellie stood at the door and watched him hurry to his car, and couldn’t help wondering what that was all about. For some reason, she thought Mr. Altman had begun acting rather strange. For