Page 36 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

I tuck my hands into my pockets and shift on my feet. “Yes and no.”

“Please explain.”

“Wow.” I gawk dramatically at him. “Did you just say please?”

“Tell me what the fuck is up,” he growls.

There’s the brother I know and love. “With your WITSEC cash, did you use the principal for our business or just the interest Mom earned when it was invested?”

“Both, since I didn’t have much to start.” He squints at me. “Why?”

“Never touched mine—the principal portion. I’ve gotten lucky on some of my investments, mostly with Cal’s help. Earned enough to get by without touching the original amount.”

He stares at me for a few slow blinks. “Because it makes you feel complicit? Like you’d be using dirty money?”

“The only reason we have it is because Dad laundered money for a drug cartel. So yeah, I’ve steered clear of using it. Only spent the stuff I’ve earned off investments, which I guess is still drug money, but it doesn’t feel as shitty.”

“I get it.” He drags his hand up the back of his hair. “But the money came from the government, not him. We didn’t get it because he laundered money. We got it because our hellish experience helped put a dangerous criminal behind bars.”

That’s one way to look at it. The rational way, maybe. I swallow, trying to rearrange my thoughts on the matter. It’s not easy changing an eleven-year habit.

For over a decade, I’ve resented that money. Only used what was needed. This business, though. It’s as important for Des as it is for me. Growth of any sort takes an influx of cash. If the ropes course costs a lot more than we projected, I won’t be able to dig much deeper without hitting the principal. Banks don’t like loaning cash to self-employed people. If my options are taking a loan from Sadie or using my WITSEC cash, I might have to use that chunk I’ve avoided until now.

“I’ll think on it, and thank Sadie for the offer. Not sure how you landed such a sweet woman.”

“You and me both,” he mumbles with a smile.

Crunching gravel has us both turning around. A Jeep pulls into our parking lot, sparkling white and clean, speeding my heart. Maggie steps from the driver’s side in cute pink overalls, her ripped T-shirt revealing the tease of a red bra strap. Cute and sexy. Her hair’s tied up in a bun, loose pieces cascading around her freckled face. I have no control over the gusty sigh that leaves my chest.

“Well, well, well,” Des says, perking up. “Who do we have here?”

I spin and grip the front of his shirt. “We’re on shaky ground. Friend zone for the foreseeable future. Do not embarrass me.”

“Me? Embarrass you?” He shoves me aside and saunters up to Maggie. “You know Lennon has a habit of picking gum off the sidewalk and eating it, right?”

My fucking family. “That was one time, and you dared me.”

Maggie tips her head back, laughing. “I bet he was a dirt-eater as a kid too.”

“You have no idea.” Des whispers something to her, which pisses me off to no end, then spins to face her as he walks backward toward his car. “Make sure he mouthwashes before kissing you.”

“There will be no kissing,” Maggie says quickly, her cheeks flaming their signature cherry blush.

I wave at Des with my middle finger.

She fusses with her overalls, then lifts her head and joins me by the cabin. “Am I early, or are you ready for me?”

I’ve been ready for Maggie for eleven long years. “You’re right on time. Let’s get painting.”

chapter thirteen

A couple of hours later, two and a half walls in the cabin’s main room are painted Island Getaway green, with the rest taped and ready for our brushes and rollers. Maggie pours more paint into her tray as she fills me in on some town gossip I missed.

“You’re pulling my leg,” I say, pointing my brush at her. “Never in a million years would prissy Melanie Campbell turn her parents’ farm into a grow op.”

“Ten acres or something, and her parents had no clue. Until the cops showed up and arrested them.”

“No fucking way.”