“Sweet,” River agrees. “You’re going to like this one, Dove. New jobs for locals, a place for functions and events, recreational entertainment for the local kids.”
She throws him a dirty look. “Yeah, and more money for you lot. I’m sure it was win/win for you. Where are you building it?” she asks, only sounding half interested even though I know this is important to her.
My lips roll, not sure I should tell her the finer details. The filthy expression on her face tells me she’s just waiting for another reason to hate me. “Barry’s farm,” I mutter, knowing she would have found out when she saw the development sign go up in a few weeks anyway. Probably best not to keep shit from her that I don’t have to when things are already so tense, and right now, I need her on my side more than ever.
Her eyes widen in shock. “The sunflower farm?” she gasps, clear pain in her voice.
I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the ends. I knew she would have a problem with it. I should have kept my mouth shut and at least tried to have one day without something new for us to fight over. “We can keep the sunflowers as a part of the course, Dove, don’t go being heartbroken over it. The farm has been out of service for years since Barry got too old to care for it. The land was just sitting there. Even you can’t tell me that’s not a waste.”
She shakes her head, her disappointment palpable. “Yeah, I bet he was too old. Nothing to do with the cash you threw at him.” She turns away from me and back to River. “Take me home, Easten,” she demands like she has some right to.
She has to be kidding me. I move toward them, taking her arm to move her into my office since she’s making a scene. She can’t just go around demanding shit. That’s not how this is going to work.
River gives me a worried look. “Sorry, babe, Bodhi and I have some work to do here this afternoon. K’s going to hang with you for a bit.” He side-steps us and makes his way over to Bodhi who’s looking over the contract on my computer. Smart. He’s getting way too close to her. It’s about time he remembers his place in this family.
Even from this angle I notice the way her face hardens as I force her to give me her attention, not him, my fingers pressing firmly into her wrist.
Her glare narrows, and her breathing kicks up. “I don’t want to celebrate more of our beautiful town being destroyed by you,” she snips, clearly angry.
I smirk down at her, though it’s not kind, more condescending. She’s so damn pretty when she’s all worked up. Her eyes have this almost emerald gleam that lights up, and her cheeks flush with heat. “You’re being dramatic. River was right when he said thisdevelopment will be nothing but good for our town. You will see soon enough, birdie.”
She shoves at me, trying to break the contact between the two of us. “No, I won’t. Because I don’t plan on sticking round long enough to see you destroy something else I loved.”
I huff out a laugh, bitter and filled with the frustration she causes having to fight me over every little detail. “If you love this town so much, why aren’t you planning on sticking round and making it your home again?”
Her brow knits together, and she sucks in a labored breath, rolling her eyes. “Because you’re here.” She shoves at me again. Her delicate finger bites into my abs, her nails sharp and ready to inflict pain. What she doesn’t realize is her hands on me only turn me the fuck on. She couldn’t hurt me in any way. Truth is, all it does is makes me feel alive. Makes me want her more than ever before.
A stupid grin curls its way onto my lips. That comment was meant to cut deep, but it only proves what I already knew. My birdie is all hung up on me. I’m affecting her so badly she’s running scared, worried about falling for me like she did last time. Luckily for me, I have built a cage so secure she won’t ever be able to escape my love again. Always guarded by one of us, locked in my home by a security system that won’t let her leave unless one of us lets her. A town who respects me so much that if I say she’s mine, my word is gospel.
With a smug sense of satisfaction knowing I have all the power between us, I release her. Turning, I open a closet, pulling out the garment bag and shoe box I had stored in there, knowing she would turn up looking like she was ready for the beach and not an expensive lunch. “Go put this on. River can show you where to change.”
She pulls a face, looking at me like I have grown two heads. “What?”
“The place we are going for lunch is fancy, they won’t let you in looking like that.” Even if I do enjoy the way her nipples have hardened under my air-conditioning in that bikini top. Or is it just for me, because my rough hold on her turns her the hell on.
Her scowl deepens, and I know I’m about to cop a mouthful from her. “You…”
“Hello, boys,” comes my stepmother’s shrill voice as she shoves her way into my office like she’s supposed to be here. She has her own room up the hall, not that she spends a lot of time in the place, it’s more for show. She never really understood what it was we Thrones were doing here. But Keller married her because of the way she looks, not for her brain. On her way past, she kisses both Bodhi and River on the cheeks before she saunters toward me. “K.” She kisses my cheek then wipes off the ruby-red lipstick mark she would have left, and her finger lingers way longer than it should on my cheek. I cringe, inwardly of course. Right now, the three of us tolerate her because this woman still has way too much control over our business, with Keller’s estate and businesses still with our legal team. Another reason I need this all cleared up sooner rather than later.
I force a smile. “To what do we owe the pleasure, Gloria?”
She brushes some imaginary lint off her perfect pale blue sheath dress. It fits her like a glove, showing off her assets, including the fake tits and ass implants Keller paid for. “I was just out in reception when I heard we have something to celebrate. Where are you taking me?” She glances around the room, not seeming to even notice Dove at all. But Dove notices her, glaring daggers in her direction, clearly not impressed by her intrusion. I could have gone without the two of them meeting ever. Gloria is nothing but trouble. Money hungry and manipulative, the type of person Keller gravitated toward. Like knows like and all that. “We could do a four-way?” She counts out the peoplein the room, clearly missing Dove on purpose. Her suggestive words make my body involuntarily twitch.
“The boys have work to do, and I’m taking my girl to lunch,” I respond, making it clear whatever she’s trying today isn’t going to work. Might not be ideal timing, but I need her to know I’m taken before she tries anything or says anything stupid in front of Dove and I have another fight on my hands.
Gloria pouts, moving in closer to me, and taking my tie in her hand, she runs her fingers through it. Dove side-steps her, taking her chance to get away from me. But she’s still watching, those pretty eyes assessing the woman now touching me with just enough jealously that I know things between us are far from over. “Oh, but you know how lonely I am since your dear daddy left us, K. Can’t I come along?” She glances in Dove’s direction, not hiding her distaste for her. “Or instead of your date. She’s not even dressed for a nice lunch.”
I have suffered through five years of this shit, ever since Keller decided he needed another woman to fill the shoes of my mother. Someone to stand by his side and give him the image he needed. We all knew it was a sham marriage; she’s half his age and in it for the money. I’m sure for Keller it was all about creating an image this town would respect, and that meant a wife he didn’t care to be in the same room as, unless of course it was for business. I kind of felt sorry for her at first. That was until she turned her attention to me and Bodhi, doing whatever she could to sink her long claws into us. Not that it ever worked.
I suck in a labored breath, removing my tie from her grip before I place a hand on Dove’s lower back, giving her my full attention. “Dove was just leaving to change.” I give her a subtle look, telling her to behave and just do what I say for once. “River, can you show Dove to the ladies’ room?”
Dove’s bitchy-as-fuck expression flicks back to me, her entire body stiffening under my touch. “You can take her. I’ll stay here in my perfectly fine clothes,” she mutters clearly, unimpressed by the whole scene as she tries to shove the dress and shoes in my direction.
River takes the items and her hand. “Come on, Dove, you’re going to love the facilities here. We have it all, a sauna, showers, a gym.” He smiles at her like she’s the sun that lights up his world. The kid is in love with her, that much is damn obvious.
Gloria grips my arm. “See, the girl doesn’t mind. I’ll go to lunch with you. I have the afternoon off anyway. Where have you booked, Strahan’s? You know it’s my favorite.”
My temper rises, and I glance over her shoulder at River to tell him to take care of Dove, seeing they haven’t yet moved out of the room. I don’t care how much she doesn’t want to come to this lunch with me, she’s doing it. She has been pushing me away since she got back, and I’m done with it. Without a word, he takes her hand in his and drags her from the room.
