‘She has no right to El Corazon, Conor. None whatsoever! You know it as well as I do.’
Arden heard what had to be the sound of Condor’s expelled breath. ‘Of course I know it,’ he said.
Her hand flew to her mouth. She hadn’t been foolish enough to think that Conor would have suddenly decided he was happy that Felix had left the ranch to her, not even now that they’d fallen in love, but there’d been such anger in his words, such bitterness...
Linda’s heels tapped sharply against the floor and Arden shut her eyes, imagining the brunette stalking towards Conor.
‘Then do something about it.’
‘I can’t,’ Conor’s voice was flat and without expression.
‘What do you mean, you can’t? I knew better than to ever dream Felix would leave El Corazon to me, but surely—surely—we both expected he would leave it to you! Instead, he scribbles a meaningless note and leaves your rightful inheritance to this—this woman who you admit is little more than a tramp?’
Arden fell back against the wall, her knuckle caught between her teeth. No, she thought, no, this couldn’t be happening. Linda was upset, and Conor was trying to soothe her. Any second now, he’d tell his cousin to shut her mouth, to be careful what she said about the woman he loved.
‘You’re wrong,’ Conor said sharply, and Arden almost sobbed with relief.
‘I am not wrong! He was senile!’
‘Come on, Linda, we both know he was as sharp as a tack.’
‘Our attorneys will prove otherwise.’
‘Our attorneys will grow rich in the attempt.’ Conor’s footsteps stomped across the hardwood floor. ‘They’re the only ones who profit in cases such as this.’
Arden’s eyes widened. That was what Conor had said before, when he’d told her how he’d tricked Felix into giving up the cloud forest. It had seemed so clever then, his ability to get something from someone who didn’t want to give it.
No. No, that couldn’t be where this conversation was heading... An iron fist formed in her stomach.
‘I see,’ Linda said icily. ‘So, this woman forces herself into our lives, convinces Felix that she cares for him more than we do—’
‘She probably did,’ Conor said with a little laugh. ‘But then, she didn’t know him as well as we did.’
‘The point is, she stole El Corazon out from under your nose. Por Dios, Conor, what will become of me?’
Conor sighed. ‘I’ll take care of you, querida. I always have, and I always will.’
‘And this woman will walk off with the finca?’
‘Her name is Arden.’
‘Arden.’ Linda fairly spat the name. ‘A gringa name! It makes me ill even to say it!’
‘Perhaps. But you’d better get used to saying it.’
‘Why should I? You’ve just told me, you’re not going to fight her in court, as you should.’
‘No, I’m not.’ Conor paused. ‘I’m going to marry her, instead.’
‘Marry her? This—this fortune hunter? Conor, mi amor, have you lost your mind?’
Conor laughed. ‘On the contrary. I’ve only just found it.’
‘Please, tell me this is a bad joke! I know you want El Corazon, but surely not so badly that you would tie yourself to this—this scheming gringa!’
‘Linda.’ Conor’s voice was gentle. ‘Sit down and I’ll explain.’
‘You don’t have to explain. I’m not an idiot. You’ll marry her and gain the finca.’