Chapter 9
WYATT
Maddie and I have been waiting for twenty minutes when I decide I’ve been pretending to sleep for long enough.
In the short space of time we’ve been in this room, I’ve become attuned to her every movement, the shuffling of papers and the steady rhythm of her breathing.
My body is on high alert, and with every inhale, I catch the sweetness of her scent. It’s been hell.
Removing my hat, I stretch out my body as the sound of her binder slamming shut filters around the room. I can’t contain my chuckle as I look over at her. “You know, I don’t need or want to steal your ideas.” Tapping my temple, I say, “I’ve got gold up here.”
She stands, setting her folder down on the seat she’s just vacated, before straightening her clothes. “I beg to differ. Seems to me like you don’t have much going on up there. Besides, I’m not likely to trust a man like you, Wilde.”
My brows drop as I narrow my eyes and stand, towering over her. “And what have I ever done to you, Hart?” I spit out her name like it’s poison on my tongue. “Last I checked, I’m the most trustworthy person in this room.”
She folds her arms across her chest, staring up at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Are you being serious?”
I inhale, holding the breath in my lungs for a second before exhaling. “Dead serious.” I take another step closer, but she doesn’t budge, seemingly unaware of my mounting anger.
“Let’s see.” She holds up one hand, ticking off her fingers as she says, “You’re an ass.
You’re clearly here because you overheard me and Rhett in the diner, which means you only want this because we do.
Which means you’re vindictive and clearly too stuck in the past to make any sense.
I wouldn’t put it past you to badmouth me in there because you have no problem being underhanded if it means you get what you want. ”
I take another step toward her. I’m so close that she has to tip her head back, just to keep her unwavering gaze on me. “I think you’ve got it twisted. That sounds like something you’d do, darlin’.”
“Me?” she huffs out in disbelief.
“Yeah, being underhanded runs in your blood, not mine. Or did you forget who your brother is? Let alone the kind of people you bring into this town.” I raise a brow, studying the pink that infuses her cheeks as she tries to keep her frustration in check.
Lifting a hand, Maddie stabs me in the chest. The contact leaves behind a pinched pain, but it’s quickly chased by a thrill of excitement. She barely has time to move away before I react, wrapping my hand around her wrist and holding her still.
“Leave Deacon out of this,” she whispers, some of her bravado slipping away as I step even closer. Our chests are close enough that they would touch if either of us were to inhale deep enough.
My voice is nothing but a deep rumble when I ask, “And what are you gonna do about it, darlin’?” There’s a hint of challenge in my voice, daring her to keep pushing, keep prodding.
I study her face. Her lips part, and her tongue darts out to wet her bottom one before slipping back inside. Thoughts I have no right to think cloud my mind until all I can picture is what it would feel like to wrap an arm around her waist and tug her against me as I capture her mouth.
Would she fight me?
Or would she lean into it and allow me to take what I want from her?
Her eyes drop to my mouth, and instead of fueling my ego, all it does is send a bolt of something I don’t want to name straight to my dick. Maddie’s lips part again, and this time she sucks in an audible breath as if she’s feeling whatever is happening to me too.
Without any thought or care for the consequences, I lean down, closing the gap.
Tension swirls between us, and I notice her body soften ever so slightly under my watch.
Her gaze continues bouncing between my mouth and my eyes, but she doesn’t stop me.
I’m so close to taking something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about for so long.
We’re inches apart, our eyes locked on each other’s, and the air is stilted around us when the door opens. I release her as if I’ve grabbed the wrong end of a hot poker and step back, putting as much distance between us as the small room will allow.
Turning toward Jim Evergreen, I try to regain some of my composure, silently cursing the woman beside me who almost made me forget exactly who she is. Not today, Hart.
Jim looks between us as he leans against his cane on the threshold. “I should have known better than to put you two in a room together. Some things don’t change, do they?”
He can’t be further from the truth. Something sure as hell has changed between me and Maddie, but now isn’t the time to look into it.
Outstretching my hand, I paste what I hope is a professional smile on my face as I cross the room. Ignoring the heat in my chest, I say, “Jim, it’s good to see you. We were just talking about Maddie’s proposal.”
He slides his worn hand into mine, his grip not as firm as I’m sure it once was. I’m grateful that he doesn’t press any further and instead asks, “Is it just you today, Wyatt?”
“Unfortunately for you, it is.” I grin at him as we shake hands, some of the tension from moments ago easing out of me.
I square my shoulders and straighten my spine when Maddie comes to stand beside me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice her slightly flushed cheeks and wonder if Jim sees it too, if he’s going to question what we were really doing before he walked in.
Maybe he didn’t see just how close we were standing.
Or that I was seconds away from stealing a kiss.
He didn’t see anything; if he did, he’d have said something. That much I’m sure of.
At least that’s what I tell myself as Maddie greets him. “It’s good to see you, Mr. Evergreen.”
“Maddie, dear.” Jim smiles, holding his arms wide, and for a fraction of a second my confidence falters. “How’s your father?”
Maddie moves into his embrace, smirking at me as she hugs him. “He’s good, as stubborn as ever.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Jim replies as he steps back.
Shit. I knew that there was history with Maddie’s father, Arthur, and Jim, but I was relying on the friendship he had with my father before he passed to be stronger.
It looks like I might have my work cut out for me after all.
Especially if I want to keep the Harts from going through with their plan.
I clear my throat, smoothing a hand down the front of my shirt as Jim brings his focus back to me. Over my dead body will Maddie Hart out-pitch me.
“Right, let’s get these meetings underway. Are you ready, Wyatt?” Jim asks, turning to face me.
I dip my chin before heading to collect my hat and replying, “Yes, sir.”
Jim leaves, and as I pass Maddie, I can’t help but say, “Good luck, darlin’.”
With a wink that she rolls her eyes at, I follow in Jim’s wake, ready to do everything in my power to keep this piece of land out of the Harts’ hands.