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“Those comments about me and Isaac turned me back into the enemy. Maybe not in context, but I felt the distrust in you. I heard it in the nickname, and don’t tell me it’s inked on your skin and that makes it okay. We both know it represents a divide.”
“A divide that’s now what brought us together.”
“Don’t let him divide us.”
“He’s not dividing us,” I say. “I’m not walking away this time. This time is different. You have to know that. You have to feel that. We’re together now.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You do know. I know you know.”
My cellphone rings, and I glance down at the number to find Grayson calling. I hit decline and curse under my breath. “Look, sweetheart, we need to talk but I’m negotiating the purchase of an NFL team and I have a small stake in the deal. Grayson is calling me and he knows I came here for you. He wouldn’t be calling if there wasn’t a problem.”
“You’re—wait—you’re buying an NFL team?”
“Packaging the project, but yeah. It’s a big deal for the Bennett Corporation and for me.”
“Take the call. That’s incredible. I want to know what happened with Isaac, but I can wait.”
“I’m going to call Grayson while I go to the hotel and grab my bag to move over here with you, unless you have a problem with that.”
“I’d have a problem if you were staying at the hotel. That is unless I was with you.”
“Good,” I say, walking into the living room to finish dressing. “I want you to lock up,” I add, when she joins me. “If Isaac comes back, call me and don’t open the door.” I pull on my leather jacket and walk to the front of the house where I check the locks. Harper is in the foyer when I turn around.
“Do you think he plans to come back?” she worries. “What haven’t you told me?”
“He’s running scared,” I say, taking her hand, “and when he’s scared, he acts erratically.” I lead her into the kitchen and to the back door. “I’ll explain my brother’s version of crazy when I get back.” I kiss her. “Flip the locks behind me.”
“Okay, but now you’ve made me nervous, so hurry back, please.”
“I will. I’ll be fast.” I exit the house and wait for her to shut the door, then listen for the lock to flip into place.
I’m already dialing Grayson as I settle into my leather seat. “What’s happening?”
“Julius Monroe is trying to back out,” he says, of a major player in the NFL deal. “He won’t talk to anyone but you.”
“Fuck. What’s his problem?”
“A competing bidder made a sweeter deal for him,” Grayson says.
“Who the fuck is the competing bidder?”
“You tell me,” Grayson says. “I didn’t know we’d opened up a bidding process.”
I scrub my jaw. “I’ll call him and call you back.” I start to hang up and he stops me.
“What’s happening there?”
“I’m pretty sure my brother just threatened to kill me and Harper,” I say. “If that doesn’t tell you how well this is going, I don’t know what will.”
“Isaac talks a lot of big words,” he says, knowing him well from Harvard where he and I met. “Same ol’ Isaac, or something more this time?”
“He’s scared.Reallyscared. Harper was right. She’s over her head because he’s over his head, and about to take her down with him.”
“Then bring her here,” he says. “Get her out of there.”
Harper, in New York, in my bed. That works for me. Me leaving and not knowing this is over, doesn’t work for me or her either though. “I might send her to you and then join her later.”
