Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Sawyer
What a freaking day.
I have so much work I need to do. So much that needs my attention, especially after the drama of last night. But I need to do the right thing for Clint.
Also, I want to see Dakota.
I pull into her driveway, already feeling that knot in my chest. Clint’s been a wreck all night, and I’ve got to make sure Dakota knows what’s going on, just in case she’s wondering if Clint’s ghosting his son.
I’ve seen him shut down before, and it’s always the same. Quiet, brooding, pushing people away until he figures things out on his own.
But this time, it’s different. Clint’s not rejecting Charlie. He’s just lost.
He doesn’t want to lose his ranch. I understand that. No one wants to lose High Ridge. But it’s obviously hitting him the hardest.
There’s another car outside when I arrive. A sleek, shiny one.
I squint at the black SUV parked next to Dakota’s car, the one with tinted windows and an air of polished importance. The kind of car that’s got “money” written all over it.
What the hell is Thomas Buck doing here?
I know Dakota was originally going to sell this place, but haven’t things changed now? Isn’t she considering staying?
I hate the idea that she might go.
Shit.
I shake my head, trying not to make assumptions. I don’t want to get all caught up in scenarios that aren’t even happening. I need to know for sure.
So I knock on the door.
“…yes, I understand, Thomas, I just…”
The door cracks open, and I freeze. Dakota looks frazzled, as if she’s been caught up in a whirlwind. Her hair’s a little messier than usual, and there’s a flush on her cheeks that doesn’t look joyful.
More like someone caught in a tight spot.
“Sawyer. Come in, I’m just in a meeting for a moment.”
I take a hesitant step inside, the door shutting softly behind me. But before I can get a word in, I hear Thomas’s smooth voice from the other room, the kind of voice that makes my skin crawl.
“…so, Dakota, let’s get all this paperwork signed, and then we can move forward with the sale.”
My blood runs ice cold as Dakota’s cheeks flame red. I glance at her, but she won’t meet my eyes. Her hands, nervously twisting a dish towel in front of her, betray how uneasy she is. Is she really just going?
What about Clint? Didn’t he just learn that Charlie is his? And what about everything that happened with all of us?
I part my lips, wanting to put a halt to all of this before it spirals out of control, but of course, this has nothing to do with me.
But I can’t seem to resist.
Her eyes flick up to meet mine, but there’s a mix of emotions in her gaze—confusion, uncertainty, guilt. She doesn’t say anything at first, and I can feel her silence settle between us.
Before she has a chance to respond, Thomas smiles like a man who’s used to getting what he wants, and it takes everything in me not to let my fists clench. He extends a hand, the one that’s been trying to get its greedy fingers on the ranch for years.
“Sawyer,” he says. “Always a pleasure.”
The smile he flashes is tight, forced. He’s trying to put me in my place without saying it outright.
I force myself to shake his hand, keeping my grip firm. “Thomas.”
“Just discussing the paperwork with Dakota. We’ve come to a mutually beneficial agreement, haven’t we, Dakota?”
His words are smooth, but the emphasis on “mutually” is a jab. He’s staking a claim.
I glance back at Dakota, whose eyes are still darting around, avoiding me. I can tell she’s uncomfortable. Hell, it’s obvious. And I can’t stand it.
“I thought you were still thinking about staying, Dakota.”
Thomas looks at me, clearly assessing the situation. “Ah, so you haven’t heard yet? Dakota’s made her decision. We’re just finishing the formalities.”
I feel a knot tighten in my stomach, a hot rush of frustration flooding my veins. My mind is racing.
If this goes through, if she sells now, after everything, then what does that mean for Clint? For Charlie?
What the hell kind of future can they have if she moves away?
But I can’t let it show. I can’t let them see how much this is shaking me.
“I didn’t know she’d decided yet,” I manage to say, trying to stay calm. “You sure about all this, Dakota?”
She hesitates, her lips pressed together. “I’m trying to work things out.”
I want to believe her. I really do. But something in her expression is making it hard. She looks torn. There’s a piece of her that’s already left, already given up on this place.
Before I can press her further, Thomas interjects again, laced with condescension. “Well, it’s been a long time coming. I’m sure Dakota knows what’s best for her and her son. A fresh start somewhere else might be just what she needs.”
I grit my teeth, but I don’t let it show. I know what Thomas is doing.
He’s trying to manipulate her, trying to convince her this is the right choice.
But what really gets under my skin is the way he’s saying it. He thinks it’s already a done deal. He’s already won.
“I’m not so sure about that,” I say.
I glance at Dakota, but she’s still looking away, her hands clutching the towel as a lifeline.
Thomas gives a small laugh, his eyes glinting with something darker. He leans closer to Dakota, his voice lowering to a more intimate tone, and I start to feel a real sense of panic building in me.
“Once we get this all squared away, Dakota, you’ll see how much easier life can be without this stress. No more worrying about this building, no more headaches.”
I can practically feel his words pressing down on her. The way he’s playing the game, manipulating her weaknesses.
Dakota isn’t the same woman she was when she first got here, though. She’s stronger than this. She has to be.
But then he says something that makes my blood turn cold.
“Maybe you need to set up a meeting with me and Clint as well, Sawyer.” Thomas pauses for effect, his gaze shifting to me, waiting for a reaction. “The ranch is worth more to me than you guys, I’m sure.”
It’s a punch to the gut. My mind flashes back to the signs of damage around the ranch. The slow destruction of everything Clint and the others are trying to keep afloat.
And now, hearing those words from Thomas, I can’t help but wonder if he’s somehow involved.
I take a breath, doing my best to keep it together. But inside, I’m a storm, every instinct telling me something is wrong.
“I think you’ve already done enough damage, Thomas,” I snap. “You’ve been trying to buy this place for years. Don’t pretend you have everyone’s best interests at heart.”
The tension in the room thickens, but I’m not backing down. I’ll be damned if I let him take what’s not his to take.
Dakota straightens up, takes a slow breath, and I can almost see the resolve settle over her like a heavy cloak.
“Thomas, I think that’s enough for today,” she says. “I’ll finish going over the paperwork in the office when I’m ready.”
Thomas’s smile falters, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes, but he quickly masks it with that insufferable smirk of his.
“Of course,” he barks coldly. “Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready to move forward.”
He straightens up, dusting off his suit as if he’s ready to leave, but before he goes, he gives me one more glance. One that feels more like a warning than anything else.
“And Sawyer, when you’re ready to set up a meeting, I’ll be more than happy to do so.”
Asshole.