Seduction, Westmoreland Style - Brenda Jackson [34]
He stood and stretched, and automatically his gaze drifted across the room to the calendar on the wall. It had been four days since he’d interacted with Casey. He had made it a point to keep his distance and it seemed she was doing likewise. The woman had a way of pulling his emotions in a way he couldn’t afford to indulge.
He glanced toward his office door when he heard a knock. “Come in.”
He smiled when Durango walked in. “How are things going, Rango?”
“Fine. I dropped Savannah off at a hair salon in town and thought I’d come here to kill some time. I just saw Crown Royal. Man, he’s a beauty.”
McKinnon chuckled proudly as he sat back down. “Yes, he is and I intend for him to make us plenty of money over the next few years. I’ve gotten a call from Mike Farmer already.”
Durango’s smile widened. “News travel fast.”
McKinnon nodded. “Which is fine with me as long as it’s in our favor, and you know Mike. He wants to be the first in everything and has the money to make it happen. He’s hinted at acquiring the entire crop of Crown’s first foals, now that we’ve selected Courtship as the mare.” Courtship, a product of Thunder and a valuable Australian mare name Destiny, had already proven her worth as a fine magnificent piece of horseflesh and was known for her speed.
“And I got a call from Jamal today as well,” McKinnon said, smiling.
“Did he want to know how Prince Charming was coming along?” Durango asked, leaning against the closed door.
“Yes, and he wants me to meet with a couple of his associates who’ll be in D.C. this week. They’re interested in our breeding program.”
Durango nodded. “Will Jamal be attending this meeting?”
“No. Delaney’s condition is keeping him in Tehran for a while. They’ll attend Ian’s wedding next month but other than that, Delaney’s doctors don’t want her jet setting all over the world.”
Durango chuckled. “I can understand that since we have a lot of pregnant Westmorelands. So, will you be traveling to D.C.?”
“Yes, I leave first thing in the morning and probably won’t be back until Saturday.”
Durango nodded again. “Sounds like you’ll miss Casey’s party.”
“There’s a pretty good chance that I will.” McKinnon didn’t want to add that perhaps that was a good thing. “Would you like something to drink?”
Durango shook his head. “No, thanks. Savannah’s cooking tonight and I don’t want to spoil my appetite. You’re invited, by the way.”
McKinnon thought on Durango’s invitation. If he was invited then chances were Casey had been invited as well. He quickly decided to pass on the invitation. The last thing he wanted was to torture himself by looking across the table at her, knowing he couldn’t touch her. “Thanks for the invite but I have a lot of paper work to do before taking off in the morning.”
Before Durango could comment that his reason was a lame excuse, McKinnon quickly added, “While you’re here, Rango, can you look over the books? I’m sure you’ll find everything in order.”
“Don’t I always?” Crossing the room, Durango took a seat at the extra desk.
When they’d decided to enter the partnership they had known that horse breeding was a risky business, but the risks were now paying off. In just a few years, not only had M&D earned the respect of their colleagues in the horse breeding world, but it was showing more of a profit than either Durango or McKinnon had imagined.
“So how is Casey working out?” Durango asked a few minutes later.
“Good. She’s using a different approach that takes longer, but I have no doubt it will work. She knows what she’s doing, that’s for sure.” McKinnon decided