In the Roar (13 page)
Authors: Milly Taiden
ONE
Kira Ardan glanced at the papers her brother handed her. She squinted, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Wait, you want me to what?”
“Which part of what I said didn’t you understand?” Peter snapped. “I want you to check out the land I want to buy.” His brows dipped in a furious scowl. “I heard the locals are angry that I’m tearing down some trees to set up vacation cabins.”
She frowned, ignoring Peter’s attitude and flipping through the papers she had at hand. “You haven’t even discussed this with the current owner of the land.”
He gave her a look like she was being stupid. “So? I’m offering him a lot more than that piece of shit plot of land is worth. If he’s any kind of businessman, he’ll take it.”
She glared at Peter. He acted like he was smarter than everyone else and that annoyed the shit out of her even though he was family. Thanks to her, he hadn’t been sued more than once. Her ability to smooth over ruffled feathers kept his dumbass in business.
“You know, sometimes I wonder if you and I share the same genes,” she sighed. “Peter, I can’t just show up on private property and survey it without the owner’s consent. I can get arrested for trespassing.”
Peter shrugged. “I don’t care what you do. Figure it out and get me photos of the area.”
She sat back in her chair, determined to talk some sense into her idiot brother. “You know, just because Dad put you in charge of the company Mom left to
me
, doesn’t make you smarter. This is my company.”
He raised his dark brows. “The fact he gave me control speaks of who he trusted more.”
She clenched her teeth, hating that her father had been such a jerk that she couldn’t control her own company without having a male on command. Her lawyer had been very clear. She either got married or her brother controlled Rakida Construction.
“I don’t give a shit who he trusted,” she snapped, angry at her father and brother. She stood, pushing her chair back and hearing it scrape on the wooden floor. Her glasses fell forward so she shoved them up the bridge of her nose for the millionth time. “Father only did that because he wanted to force me to get married.”
Her father had always made it clear his daughter needed a man to take care of her. Since her mother died when she was young, Kira had always been independent. It ticked off her father that his little girl didn’t want to do the things he expected out of women.
“Me getting this land deal would benefit you,” Peter declared with a mocking grin. “I don’t give a shit if you never get married. As long as you don’t, I’m in control. If you die, I get it all. Don’t get married. I’m still in charge.”
She squeezed her jaw, pain shooting from her teeth to temples. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to get married. At almost thirty-seven, she realized her expectations of men might be higher than what most men felt she should have. She fought the urge to take off her glasses if only to not see his annoying face.
“I’m not getting married just to take the company from you,” she growled. “But if I do get married,” she said, meeting his gaze, “you’re going back to your own fledgling company and leaving mine to me.”
“And until then, I get half of everything I bring into your company,” he smiled coldly. “This is what our
padre
would have wanted.”
“For me to depend on a man?
Papá
clearly had little common sense,” she said, her anger rising with every word.
Sheets of paper scrunched in her grasp as she turned to leave his office. She didn’t hate Peter. He was her brother and only acted the way he did because that’s how their father had raised him. Besides, it took too much effort to hate anyone. Kira knew she’d never made her father happy being an independent female. He expected her to grovel at his feet. He wanted power over her.
Her father’s mission was to make her marry or turn forty before she got control of her company. She only had three years to wait for the latter option and the other was not happening. Not with her relationship history.
She’d been engaged three times. Each ending with her sending her fiancé to hell. She didn’t have the patience to handle men who thought they’d change her. It started with small comments or remarks. Then it grew into full-blown commands. Kira didn’t like anyone ordering her around.
Though successful men, her exes always had a problem with something about Kira. That something was usually her weight. As a big girl with big curves, they assumed she needed someone to tell her to lose weight. Not the case. They soon realized she didn’t really care what they wanted her to look like. She was damn happy with her figure. Rolls, flab, curves and every soft little jiggle that made her who she was.
She marched into her office, ignoring everyone calling out her name and slammed the door. People always wanted to talk when she was in a murderous mood. With a sigh, she kicked off her heels and plopped into her office chair. Leather squeaking filled the room as she swiveled to face the picture window behind her desk and the forest that lay just yards from the building.
She flipped up her black-rimmed glasses into her hair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She swore she’d end up with a daily migraine if she didn’t take a vacation soon. Her temples pulsed with a dull, throbbing pain.
Her door opened. She didn’t bother asking who it was. She already knew.
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About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great, quick way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romantic comedies with lots of romance, heat, and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our boy child, and our little fur baby “Needy Speedy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to shoe shopping and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
Hey, I love to meet new readers, so come sign up for my newsletter and check out my Facebook page. We always have lots of fun stuff going on there.
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Book Four
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Scaling Her Dragon
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