Not only had this asshole trapped me in the cottage for his big make-up scene, but he'd messed with the electrical at the Manor, which meant my electrician was going to have bigger priorities than the cottage until it was fixed.
Abruptly, my determined calm was a flash fire of rage. It was bad enough Tyler was here, in my face, in my house, causing drama when I just wanted to live my life. But now he was screwing with my work, the only work I'd ever had, work I loved and I was good at.
So far, the cottage was on budget and on schedule. I hadn't realized exactly how proud I was of that until Tyler took it away with one snotty shrug.
"I'm not doing this with you," I said, battling to restrain my fury. I was angry, but not stupid.
If I let loose, he'd explode. We were alone. The door was still locked.
A part of me still couldn't believe Tyler was truly dangerous, even after he'd hit me. But another part of me screamed that I was not safe with him. Especially if I pissed him off.
Right now he was all sweet words.
I couldn't afford for that to change.
I sidestepped, easing my way around to the middle of the front room. Tyler followed, just as I hoped, allowing me to lead him away from the door.
"Parker, baby doll," he cajoled. I cut him off.
"I'm done with this conversation, Tyler. I've made it clear, I only want to communicate through our lawyers."
Tyler leaned into me, crowding me, but not actually touching me.
"I just want to talk to my wife," he said, his tone all silky persuasion. "It's absurd to talk through lawyers when we're living in the same house. And you can't restrict my access to the Manor estate. I'm just trying to have a civilized discussion. You're the one flying off the handle."
I was not flying off the handle, and he knew it, but I understood what he was getting at just the same.
It was one thing to deny him entrance to private rooms, but the cottage didn't qualify. Harvey had explained that the will required that spouses be treated as any other resident of the Manor. If we tried to hold Tyler to standards we didn't impose equally, he could sue. And if he won...
At the least, I could lose my inheritance. I wasn't convinced there was much in there, anyway. More than the money, If I defied the terms of my father's will, I'd be banned from all family-owned property until the terms of the will were fulfilled. That was four and a half years during which I'd be cut off from not only Heartstone Manor, but most of Sawyers Bend.
The Inn, Avery's brewery, Quinn's guide business, everything owned by Sawyer Enterprises–even Nash's new offices–were all considered family-owned property according to the will. I'd only just found my family again. I would not let Tyler send me away.
I could almost hear his lawyer in the courtroom describing how I lost my temper, was emotionally abusive, how I was carrying on an affair with my brother-in-law right in front of my poor estranged husband.
I knew it didn't look good, but I wasn't giving up Nash.
For the first time in my life, I had love; I had work; I had family, and I wasn't going to let Tyler take any of it from me. Which meant I had to play it cool until we could figure out a legal way to get rid of him.
I wasn't sure I could pull it off.
Tyler eased closer, the side of his mouth curved in a hint of a grin. He had me exactly where he wanted me, and he was enjoying it.
I tried to be reasonable. "I don't understand what you think you'll get out of this. I have to allow you to live in the Manor. I'm not legally required to talk to you."
"True," he said, stopping only inches from me, again blocking me from the door.
What if I made a break for it? Would he try to stop me?
If he did, would it be assault? Could I press charges and make him leave that way?
If Nash or Griffen, hell ifanyoneheard what I was thinking, they'd kick my ass. Use myself as a target to get Tyler to commit assault? Oh yeah, no way that could go wrong.
Bottom line, we didn't have any witnesses. I couldn't record anything on my phone, because Tyler had it. Unless he really hurt me, any altercation would end up in a he said/she said, and only make everything worse.
I stuck out my hand, palm up. "Give me back my phone. The will gives you the right to room and board in the Manor, not permission to steal my belongings."
Tyler watched me for a moment, then turned and placed my phone on the kitchen counter. No longer in his possession, but not in mine, either. I stepped forward to retrieve it and he slid in front of me. Not touching, but clearly blocking my way.
