Hattie’s arm presses against my side, and it’s the only reason why I loosen my grip slightly.
This isn’t her fault.
She didn’t know what she was getting into with this gladhanding fuckstick. I only hope she doesn’t fight me on this as I face him down.
“Daley,” I clip, keeping my voice calm, like I’m not about to lose my shit. “Don’t you have a family—a wife—to get back to?”
“Aw, why so serious, Blackthorn?” he drawls.
Hattie stiffens.
I have to unclench my jaw.
“I don’t want her missing out on anything important. We have other people to talk to,” I tell him.
“She’s good. And hey, Ethan, I’m sorry as hell about the old man. He lived an incredible life. So many wins, up and down the coast.” He’s shitty enough to frown like he’s genuinely upset while my insides blaze with grief that has nowhere to bleed. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without his insight.”
No lie.
I’m sorry as hell I didn’t sign on to Blackthorn Holdings sooner. Then maybe inhuman slimeballs like Daley never would’ve been mentored by Gramps, handing him the keys to a rapid career climb.
His rise has been shady from the beginning. I don’t believe for a second thatinsighthas gotten him this far.
When I don’t respond, Hattie steps forward.
“Thanks, Cooper. We appreciate it,” she says. “Don’t we, Ethan?”
Daley flashes her a million-dollar smile. Almost literally—the man must’ve spent six figures on dental work and jaw surgery.
The first time I saw him, years ago when he was just an intern, he had crooked teeth. One hundred miles from the modelesque smile that’s plastered on all of his ads.
No wonder Hattie blinks like she’s dazzled. Should’ve warned her to borrow some fucking shades from Margot’s collection.
What Gramps saw whenever he brought him on as an understudy, I don’t know.
“Thanks, Hattie,” he says before he turns to me. “You’ve got a good one here, Ethan. Look after her, will you?” He grins. “Wouldn’t want to lose her. Make your granddad proud.”
Is that a threat?
I almost snarl it in his face, but priority number one is getting Hattie the hell away from him.
She doesn’t protest as I march her to the other side of the room, but when she looks up at me, she’s frowning. I do my best not to notice the tiny crease in her brows or the way her eyes look close to panic.
All evening, I’ve been doing my damnedest not to notice how stunning she looks tonight.
That red dress accents curves for days. The way it clings to her should be criminal.
I’m here for business, to make this engagement look legit, and she’s stolen the show.
Who knew she could clean up so well?
No one can keep their eyes off her for long.
Probably something to do with the flirty slit up her skirt, revealing that flash of leg every time she takes a step.
Or maybe it’s the wide, doe-like innocence in her eyes.
Hell, maybe it’s just the cleavage that drew Daley in like a piranha.
