Rough and Rugged: A Meet Me In Milwaukee Charity Anthology

Chapter Five

Sam and I spent the next week alternating between his place and mine. Though his bed was more luxurious—a giant king with a skylight above it—he loved the cozy vibe of my cabin. We’d gotten into a routine of making dinner for each other, followed by a game of cards or backgammon. The stakes were mostly sexual, which was more fun than I could have imagined. There were times when I wanted him to win, knowing what he had in store for me.

I’d never felt this way with anyone—talking for hours, having passionate sex outdoors, and sharing my artwork without fear of being ridiculed. I’d only been back to Fresno once, to pick up more clothes and art supplies. Unfortunately, I’d been greeted by a harsh dose of reality. Waiting in my mailbox was a hefty credit card bill that included Farley’s last visit to the vet, a new set of brake pads, and my annual subscription to Photoshop. The total amount was almost two thousand dollars.

Worse yet, I’d made the mistake of telling my mother I was in town. She’d offered to treat me to lunch, only to berate me for living like a hermit. Her reaction had been so negative that I lost the nerve to tell her I’d decided to move into the cabin permanently. Though I owed her nothing, her disapproval always stung.

When I woke this morning in Sam’s arms, I wasn’t thinking about family obligations. We were in my bed, lying beneath one of Grandma’s quilts. I snuggled closer to Sam, hoping I could persuade him to linger. He had a few pieces due for a show, and he’d vowed to spend the day in his studio.

With a rumble of laughter, he kissed the top of my head. “Are you trying to tempt me into staying?”

“Maybe?” I peppered his burly chest with kisses. “Am I succeeding?”

“Don’t you have work to do? Yesterday, you said you wanted to go through all the boxes in the bedroom closet.”

I groaned. “There’s so much there—old clothes, antique jewelry, faded romance novels. I thought Grandma gave up most of her stuff when she moved here, but I was wrong.” I’d probably end up donating the bulk of it, but I wanted to see if there was anything worth keeping.

“Maybe you’ll find more bear shifter romances,” he teased.

“The only bear I want is right here.” I reached down and stroked him, gratified at the feel of his hard length in my hand.

“Mmm. Such a naughty girl.” He pulled me closer until I was flush against him.

Before I could grab a condom from my nightstand, Farley started barking. Odd. Usually, he just scratched at my bedroom door when he wanted to go out.

At the sound of vehicles pulling onto the gravel drive, I bolted up in bed. “Someone’s here.”

“Were you expecting anyone?” Sam asked.

“My friend Julia said she was going to visit, but not until next week.” I hopped out of bed, grabbed my shirt from the floor, and pulled on a pair of shorts. When I got to the kitchen, I peeked out the window. A giant SUV and a black BMW with the license plate W1NNER were parked next to the cabin.

My asshole cousin was here.

Facing Brayden first thing in the morning wasn’t a pleasant prospect, but I wanted to get it over with. I opened the door and stepped onto the porch. Farley followed me, tail wagging in excitement, and headed for the creek.

Brayden was dressed in a polo and khakis like he was ready to hit the links. At the sight of me, he threw back his head and laughed. “Wow, Maggie. Three weeks here and you’ve already let yourself go. You look like shit.”

I ran my hand through my hair, which was a tangled mess, thanks to last night’s hijinks with Sam. But I had nothing to be ashamed of. “I just woke up. So if you can spare me the bullshit, is there something you need?”

Eden emerged from the car and joined her brother. Like him, she was tall and whippet-thin, with striking cheekbones and jet-black hair. “Brayden came to check out the property. I’m just along for the ride.”

“I’ve got a buyer who’s interested in snapping up the entire twenty-five acres,” Brayden said. “He wants to build a retreat center up here. We brought our pal Jean-Louis to take pictures.”

The door to the SUV opened to reveal a guy our age, clad in black and carrying a huge camera bag.

“I didn’t authorize the sale of my land,” I said. “Or did you forget Grandma left it to me?”

Sam came up beside me and placed his hand on my shoulder. He scowled at Brayden. “Is there a reason you’re bothering Maggie?”

Eden beamed at him. “Well, hell-o there.”

Brayden snorted. “Nicely done, Maggie. You’re here for three weeks, and you’re already fucking the local himbo. Didn’t take you long.”

Could my cousin be any more of a dick?

Sam released his grip on me and took a few steps toward Brayden. When he spoke, he used his growly bear voice. The kind that could either be sexy or terrifying, depending on how he wielded it. “Watch how you speak to her, asshole.”

Brayden stumbled backward and wiped his brow. “Relax. I’m not here to steal her inheritance.”

“Like hell you aren’t,” I spat out.

“Jesus, Maggie, I’m doing you a favor,” Brayden said. “I know your place in Fresno is a shithole, and you barely make a dime off your so-called art. But I just got an offer that could make you rich. Invest it properly and you’ll never have to worry about money again.”

“Why should I let you handle the sale?” I asked. “If someone wants to buy the property, I could cut out the middleman and sell it myself.”

Brayden raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, right. If you did that, you’d lose out, because you don’t know shit about real estate. But I’d make it worth your while.”

When he told me how much I’d receive from the sale, I thought I’d misheard him. Until he repeated it with a gleam in his eye. The amount was so staggering it was hard to believe.

“I don’t get it,” I said. “I realize this area is beautiful, but…”

“Most of the land around here is owned and managed by the Forest Service or the federal government,” Brayden said. “But you own twenty-five acres of gorgeous, unspoiled territory. It’s an incredibly valuable commodity.”

While I didn’t want to betray Grandma, the thought of all that money was like a drug. It could give me more financial security than I’d ever dreamed of.

Brayden flashed Sam a smarmy grin. “If you’re interested in selling, we could check out your place, too. The more land, the better.”

Sam clenched his fists. “Never.”

“Anyway, we’re gonna have a look-see, and Jean-Louis is going to take photos,” Brayden said. “Maggie, I could use a cup of coffee.”

“Sure, I can make some.” Still reeling from the impact of his offer, my earlier fury had ebbed away. “I’ve got blueberry muffins, too. I baked them yesterday.”

“No on the muffins. Gotta watch my carbs.”

I retreated into the kitchen with Sam following me. Once he closed the door, he turned on me, his expression stormy. “You’re not making him coffee, are you? The guy’s a jerk.”

“It’s fine,” I muttered. “I need some anyway.”

“What about his offer? Are you seriously considering it?” Sam’s voice came out rough and accusatory.

His hostile tone made me cringe. But this was my life, not his. He might be a world-class sculptor whose work sold for thousands, but I was a starving artist who could barely pay her bills. “Maybe? I’m not sure yet.”

“How can you sell this place? It’s not what your grandmother would have wanted. She left you the cabin so that you’d keep it as is. You told me you love it here.”

“I do, but I hate being broke.” I wrapped my arms around myself, overwhelmed by the feelings coursing through me.

“It won’t be that way for much longer. You own the cabin free and clear, and you’re gradually making a name for yourself as an illustrator.”

Too ashamed to face him, I looked away. “It’s not just that. When I went into Fresno last week, my mom told me I’d let down the entire family. Not only am I barely getting by, but I’m also living in the mountains like a hermit. It’s a pathetic excuse for a life.”

“No offense, but she’s full of shit. You don’t believe her, do you?”

I didn’t want to, but she always managed to get under my skin. “I don’t know. I just hate feeling like a failure. When I got last month’s credit card bill, I wanted to cry because there’s no way I can pay it off in time. Brayden’s offer could change my life.”

I filled the coffeepot with water and scooped some grounds into the filter. As the rich scent of coffee filled the air, I waited for Sam to respond.

When he spoke, his voice was weary. “I’m sorry it’s been so hard, and I hate that your family doesn’t see you for the amazing woman you are. But if you sell the land, I think you’ll regret it. Whoever buys it will develop the property and overrun it with a bunch of rich assholes.”

“They might not be that bad. A retreat center could attract people who want to connect with nature. Maybe they’d appreciate their surroundings.” When his expression didn’t soften. I gave a sad little shrug. “Sorry, but I need to look after myself.”

As soon as the words were out, I regretted them. If I gave up this cabin, I’d be giving up Sam, too. Though we’d only known each other for three weeks, I already felt like he was my soulmate.

He turned away abruptly. “Then I’ll leave you to it.”

“Wait. Please.” I wanted to tell him how much I cared about him, but he was already headed for the door.

“Good luck with the sale,” he said.

Then he left, slamming the door behind him.