Taming The CEO: An enemies-to-lovers romance (The Whitley Brothers)
Chapter Five
15%
Cami
The path was completely empty as we went deeper into the forest. When I was a kid, Mom and I used to play fairies in this area with Miriam, who had been my best friend since we were four years old. We”d only been apart when I went away to college. Miriam stayed here, and I lived in New York. She was now an elementary school teacher and had a jewelry business on the side. I tried to buy from her as often as my budget would allow. Her creations were exquisite and one of a kind.
”There aren’t any stations here anymore?” Maddox asked.
”No,” I replied. ”We used to have another one for tree climbing, but the trees were getting too thick. We had to cut too many of them, so we decided to stop at Station 11.”
”By the way, darling, we tasted some of that banana bread, and it is amazing,” Jeannie said.
”Thank you.” My heart soared like it did every time someone complimented my cooking.
When Dad told me that Maddox showed up with his grandmother, I had absolutely no idea what to make of it. But I liked Jeannie. She was a warm and sweet type of person.
We reached the tree she”d wanted to see only a few seconds later.
”This place is very peaceful,” she said quietly.
”It is,” I replied. ”It”s one of my favorite spots. To tell you the truth, I was actually a bit relieved when we closed the station here. I was afraid we’d damage the tree too much. Dad loves this white cedar, too, and was in total agreement when we made the changes. Anyway, we worked hard to preserve it.”
”You know, this part of the forest actually wouldn”t be affected when we start work,” Maddox noted.
I stood up straighter, looking at him. He was always thinking of business.
”When? That”s very cocky of you to assume, considering my dad hasn”t signed any papers.”
His nostrils flared, making me wonder if he was gearing up for a fight. Well, good, because so was I.
What exactly did he think? That if he came with his grandmother, I’d mellow out?
”It was just a figure of speech,” he said tightly.
”Do not mind my grandson,” Jeannie cut in. ”He suffers from a severe case of cockiness. They all do.”
That actually made me smile. Jeannie smiled, too, though her grandson didn”t seem amused, which only made me laugh.
”That”s good to know, Jeannie. So it runs in the family?”
”Absolutely. And they’re thickheaded, too, the lot of them. They take after my husband. When he puts his mind to something, there”s no talking him out of it.”
”Should we head back?” I asked. All of this was a bit awkward. I had no idea why they wanted to see the tree, or, frankly, why Jeannie Whitley was here at all. ”I have to welcome a new group in about five minutes.”
It actually wasn”t for ten minutes, but I wanted to hurry us along.
Jeannie nodded. ”Yes, yes. Let”s go back. We don”t want to keep you.”
I walked in step with Jeannie. Maddox was a few feet behind us, but I felt as if he was right behind me. His presence was overpowering. I”d never met anyone like him. He oozed confidence even when he didn”t say anything.
”What did you study in college?” Jeannie asked.
”English and Foreign Languages,” I said, surprised by the question.
”Did you want to teach?”
My eyes widened. ”Yes. How do you know that?”
”It was a lucky guess. Most English majors do. Did you ever get to do it?”
”No. I lost my mom shortly before graduation. Then... well, Dad... couldn”t really manage this place on his own.” Or her loss; it hit us both hard.
”Oh, my darling. That must have been difficult,” she said.
Jeannie Whitley was a perfect stranger, and yet I was telling her things I hadn”t told anyone in a long time. But I felt comfortable with her, as if I’d known her for years.
As we approached the cabin, I said, ”Jeannie, thank you for stopping by.”
”Thank you for showing us around. Not to put pressure on you, but I can see why my grandsons want this place. It’s amazing.”
I gave her a tight smile. They wanted it to tear most of the forest down, not to preserve it. That was the part that still tripped me up.
”Ready to go?” Maddox asked his grandmother.
”I need to go to the restroom first. I saw one inside when we came in,” she said. ” I probably won”t see you again, Cami, so have a great day.”
She turned on her heel and walked inside with more speed than I thought she was capable of.
Maddox, to my astonishment, started laughing.
”What”s so funny?” I asked, my guard going up again.
He turned to me. Damn, that smile is dazzling.
”Nothing. My grandmother just keeps surprising me.”
I folded my arms over my chest. ”Why exactly did you bring her? Thought she could change my mind?”
”She requested to come. I’d tell you the reasons she gave me, but I don”t think she was being entirely truthful.”
I frowned. ”What do you mean?”
He waved his hand. ”Nothing. Listen, Cami, I need to apologize for the last time we met.”
”Yes, you really should.”
His eyes flared, as did his nostrils. ”You don”t need to use that tone.”
”Oh, really? What should I do? Fall all over you?
”Yes, I would prefer that very much.”
”Are you for real?” I asked incredulously, dropping my hands.
He sucked in a breath and looked down at the ground, as if fighting to keep his temper under control.
”I can”t believe it,” I muttered. ”Out of courtesy for Gabe, I didn”t tell my father everything that went down between us at dinner. But I should fill him in so he’s aware of what kind of person you are.”
”Which is what, exactly?” he asked, voice tight.
”Someone who will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. What exactly did you think—that you could use sex to get me to sell the place?”
He tilted his head, trapping me with his gaze. ”I hadn”t thought that far, but it”s interesting that you did. Maybe I’ll add that to my list of tactics to use from now on.”
I swallowed hard. Maybe I”d crossed a line and offended him, but honestly, I just wanted him and his annoyingly sexy ass to leave the premises.
”Don”t waste your time, Maddox. Dad is still waiting for my decision. And after I share everything with him, I’m certain he’ll agree with me.”
”You’d honestly keep your father from making the best deal he can and letting him enjoy retirement just because you don”t like me?”
I bristled. ”I want the best for my dad.”
He squared his shoulders, appearing even taller. Then he opened the top button of his shirt before rolling his sleeves to his elbows. ”It doesn”t seem like it.” His brisk, annoyed gestures betrayed his calm voice. ”It seems like you’re just interested in having your way.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and stepped closer, pointing at him. ”You don”t know how hard my dad worked to set up this place, to keep it running through the years, through—” I paused because my voice wavered. ”—everything. I just don”t want to see it go to someone like you.”
He didn”t seem to have any respect whatsoever for legacy, or for doing the right thing.
”So there it is,” he said.
”You”re a very frustrating person.”
”I could say the same about you.” There was an edge to his voice now. He was coming undone. His self-control was wavering.
”Stop trying to sell this to me like you’re doing a favor for my dad.”
”No one would pay as much as we”re offering. The business isn’t worth that. It’s a small-town adventure park that can’t be expanded or franchised.”
”Yes, insulting my family”s life”s work is going to get you exactly what you want.”
He blinked. ”I’m not insulting you. It’s the truth. I don’t beat around the bush.”
”Right. I see we”re getting nowhere.”
”Clearly,” he said. His eyes were steely, but then his gaze dropped to my mouth.
I broke eye contact, looking at my toes. I felt myself blush despite willing myself not to do so. Why did I have so little self-control around him? Why did I keep reacting like this? He wasn”t the first handsome man I”d ever encountered.
But he”s the most handsome,a little voice said in the back of my head.
That was true. Still, he was also a world-class ass.
”You’re arrogant and dismissive, Mr. Whitley. Neither my father nor I do business with people like you.”
I turned on my heel, heading to the main building without waiting for his reaction.