Salacious Sale

By Lola White

She has no choice but to put it all on the line...

Olivia Raines is trying to make her ranch a commercial success, but the odds—and the town mayor—are against her. Her elderly neighbor is in poor health, so she turns to his grandson for help, determined to use everything at her disposal, risking even her heart, to get the security she needs.

With his grandfather's medical bills piling up, Creek Bend's mayor demanding their water rights and Big Oil offering cash on the barrelhead, Cody O'Neal admits that the sale of the Double O seems inevitable.

He has to decide which is worth more—riches, after generations of struggling for prosperity, or love, the only thing the O'Neals have ever gotten right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Jun 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781786862129

Lola White

Delve into the emotions, dive into the erotic. An extensive traveler who loves to incorporate various legends from around the world into her tales, best-selling author Lola White likes to twist reality at its edges in her stories. She likes delving into the emotions of her characters, finding their strengths and weaknesses, and seeing (and showing) how they get themselves out of whatever trouble has found them—if they can.

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Salacious Sale

ISBN # 978-1-78686-212-9

©Copyright Lola White 2017

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2017

Edited by Jamie D. Rose

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2017 by Totally Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, UK

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 2.

The Double O Saga

SALACIOUS SALE

Lola White

Book three in The Double O Saga

She has no choice but to put it all on the line…

Olivia Raines is trying to make her ranch a commercial success, but the odds—and the town mayor—are against her. Her elderly neighbor is in poor health, so she turns to his grandson for help, determined to use everything at her disposal, risking even her heart, to get the security she needs.

With his grandfather’s medical bills piling up, Creek Bend’s mayor demanding their water rights and Big Oil offering cash on the barrelhead, Cody O’Neal admits that the sale of the Double O seems inevitable.

He has to decide which is worth more—riches, after generations of struggling for prosperity, or love, the only thing the O’Neals have ever gotten right.

Dedication

For my friends and family who support me through it all, and with special thanks to my wonderful editor, Jamie Rose, for making my stories as polished as possible.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Harvard: President and Fellows of Harvard College Charitable Corporation

Rumpelstiltskin: The Brothers Grimm

Chapter One

Who are you?

Excuse me? Cody O’Neal sent a haughty gaze traveling the length of the blonde’s curvy body and tried not to let his dick get too hard.

The lady was something. With her arms crossed in a way that plumped up her breasts and her lips drawn into a succulent pout of irritation, he would have sworn he saw a shimmering in the air around her. She looked like a miniature Valkyrie guarding his grandfather’s hospital room. Cody willed his lower half to remain numb to the embodiment of a fantasy he’d had since he had been a teenager. His travel-wrinkled khakis wouldn’t hide the evidence of his attraction all that well, and the attitude rolling off the little firecracker warned him to be cautious. And he certainly had more sense than to openly lust after a woman who’d snarled at him the moment he arrived.

The lady lifted her chin and planted her fists on her hips. So help me God, if that bastard Wiggins sent you here with any goddamned papers for him to sign, I will personally—

My name is Cody O’Neal, he interrupted in his most lethal middle-school-math-teacher tone. Cody’s own irritation morphed into anger and, with a sharp wave toward the bed, he told her, Eugene’s my grandfather. I don’t know who the hell Wiggins is, just as I don’t know you, madam, so I suggest you either prove to me you belong in this room or get the hell out before security gets here.

The blonde deflated. Exhaling as color drained from her cheeks, she sank back into the chair she’d launched herself out of the second Cody had entered the room. She rubbed her face with her hand, drawing his attention to the fact that she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring or makeup. Good thing, too—she’d be a knockout he couldn’t resist with a little mascara on those mile-long lashes and a hint of stain on her bee-stung lips.

My God. She exhaled. Cody O’Neal? I didn’t know you. Not surprising, I guess. We’ve never met. You don’t really look like your pictures, though. Huh. All these years and we’ve never met.

He narrowed his eyes. No, we haven’t.

Well, you were never here, and I didn’t really start hanging around the Double O until long after you stopped coming to visit. She sighed and shook her head, then snorted rudely. "I never expected you."

Like I said, Cody bit out, he’s my grandfather. Now—

Where the hell have you been? He had the damned stroke a month ago! Once again, the lady bounced to her feet, a new surge of anger flushing her face. Where were you then? Better yet, where is his son? Your father, I presume?

Not that it’s any of your business, of course, however, my father is out of the country and I came as soon as I could.

A month later? Hell, he’s been in physical therapy for two weeks already.

Having had just about enough of the conversation, Cody straightened his tie with a hard yank. I know. I get progress reports. Lady, I think it’s time you told me exactly who you are, and if you tell me you’re a nurse, I’ll—

She waved her hand but didn’t offer it to him. Olivia Raines. My family owns the ranch that adjoins the Double O.

I see. The Raines clan had been the O’Neal family’s somewhat-friendly rivals for generations, ever since Cody’s great-great-grandfather had waived stud fees in exchange for the water rights to the stream that crossed both properties. Cody didn’t know much about ranching and couldn’t care less about his run-down ancestral home, but he was a history buff. The O’Neals had an interesting lineage. And what exactly are you doing here, Miss Raines?

Visiting a friend. She crossed her arms. "What are you doing here?"

The anger bubbling in Cody’s veins grew a degree hotter. I’ve come to check on my grandfather and get his affairs in order. He dismissed her with a nod. Thank you for your visit. Have a good day.

The little firecracker proved stubborn. She didn’t move. "His affairs? What, exactly, does that mean?"

Cody shrugged. Means he had a stroke. He can’t stay on his own anymore and this rehabilitation center isn’t a long-term option. At best, he’s got another two months or so before the insurance company transfers him to a state-run facility, and I would rather him be in a nice place where the staff is well-trained and friendly. There’s an assisted living home near my residence that—

You’re out of your mind! The color flooded the lady’s cheeks again, bringing out the blue of her eyes. Eugene will never let you stuff him into some nursing home. And no matter what you think of the staff, he won’t be happy. If he leaves Creek Bend, he can’t walk his own land. He can’t—

He can’t do that, anyway, Miss Raines. Thank you for your concern, but he can’t take care of himself, and Creek Bend is too far away for me to come to his aid.

Get a nurse!

On my teacher’s salary? Cody dragged in a breath and bit his tongue. His problems weren’t available for this woman’s entertainment. "I, as Eugene’s family member, feel that I know better than you what the situation calls for."

"Well, you don’t know better than me. You haven’t even seen him in nearly a year, while I’m here every day. Olivia lifted her chin. He’s doing remarkably well in therapy and his medical test results have been wonderful."

You’ve been getting progress reports, too, have you?

Of course!

Cody moved closer to the bed where his grandfather slept. Relaxed as the elderly man was, the drooping of the left side of his face was more pronounced. Eugene’s head was elevated, with a tube in his nose and some machine beeped softly nearby, but his color was good and his breathing even. That was better than Cody had feared he’d find.

"Being family, he stressed again, I’m sure my reports have been more in-depth."

Being a part of this small town for my whole life, I doubt it, she shot back. Gossip can have a great amount of detail, you know.

Well, then I suppose it’s a good thing I’ll be putting my grandfather somewhere more discreet!

"Putting him somewhere? He’s a man, not a plate!"

But like a plate—a very fragile plate, Miss Raines—he needs looking after by professionals. He needs someone nearby to care for him and make medical decisions on his behalf—something you do not have the authority to do.

Cody was surprised when Olivia deflated. Exhaling loudly, she ran a hand over her face and through her hair, lifting her pretty eyes toward the ceiling. It almost seemed as if she blinked back tears, too.

Look, she gasped. "I’ve been taking care of him, you know? You weren’t here, your father wasn’t here and Eugene needed help."

Oh. Cody eased his defensive stance somewhat. Well, thank you for that.

I didn’t do it for you and I didn’t do it for anyone’s gratitude. A mean glint reentered the lady’s eyes as she caught him in her sights once more. I did it because I like Eugene. Because he taught me how to ride all those damned horses on my ranch, and he taught me how to drive a car, fix a flat tire, balance my budget and— She stopped, inhaled audibly and continued. All the things my father never got to before he died.

"So, you’re saying you have a vested interest in his welfare