Page 28 of Tennessee Trouble

“A shared promo isn’t enough. Not by a long shot.”

I can feel Kyra’s eyes on me still, so I toss her another glance. One that I hope communicates my deep desire for her to inject herself and take Brandt’s offer. No dice though. All she can do is look between me and him, her own version of the Murray hazel eyes trying to sort it all out.

“That’s all I got, Miss Murray.”

“Mr. Rawlins, do not make me pursue legal action.”

“Bring it.”

Bring it? Oh, shit…

“Well, then I guess we’re at an impasse.”

Slamming her hands on the table, Mikayla shoots to her feet, sending her chair flying backward. Rylan reacts, catching it in time before it slams into the wall. With another huff, my older sister gathers her things, spins on her heel, and marches straight out of the conference room.

My siblings look at me, and then each other, all of us already worn out from the eldest’s antics. We really need to get her to loosen up.

“It was nice to meet you, Mr. Rawlins,” Rylan says, holding out a hand.

“Brandt, please,” he replies, shaking it.

“Brandt…” Kyra coos, her voice full of suspicion. I can’t tell what it is she suspects, but I also know that tone.

I remain quiet, unsure of how to react, still glued to my chair. Rylan and Kyra don’t seem to notice though, calmly leaving the room and following after Mikayla. Who I’m sure is wondering where we all are and why we weren’t hot on her heels out the door.

While I can’t speak for the other two, my reason is simple. I need answers. To questions I really don’t want to ask.

“Lu—Lindee…” Brandt says, cutting through the silence.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Knew what?” He tilts his head, as if he were trying to make me think he wasn’t sure what I was asking. Only, it’s written all over his face. “Who you were…are?”

I nod, slowly rising to my feet. I’m cold, my blood feeling like sludge in my veins, and I’m afraid to look at him out of fear that I’ll see the answer I don’t want.

“I can’t believe this…”

“Lindee, I didn’t⁠—”

“No?” Finding moxie I didn’t know I had, I glare at him. He’s impossible to read right now, still sitting in the leather chair, looking way too laid-back and relaxed considering what just happened. “So I’m supposed to believe that the man that has been in a big public spat with my family’s company—my company— for the last few months, who my sister is threatening legal action against, didn’t know who I was? That you didn’t seduce me because you thought it would sway how this meeting would go?”

“How could you think that?” He pushes to his feet, taking a step closer to me. I dart around the table, keeping the distance between us as I head for the door. “We didn’t even use our real names.”

“Right. All so I wouldn’t know…”

This sounds crazy. Even I’m not sure I believe it. But I need the answer. Need him to admit to it. I can try to make sense of it all later.

Brandt scoffs. Unlike when he did it to Mikayla, this noise isn’t harsh or mean. It’s soft, like he’s laughing.

“I knew you were trouble, but I didn’t realize you were this kind of Trouble…”

Ha—not funny. I am in no mood for puns.

I don’t say anything. Don’t even give him a nod. I simply see myself out, beelining it straight for Mikayla’s office. I need to think. I need to figure out what I feel. If I believe him or not.

I want to. So, so bad. But I have no idea if I can. The part of me that feels like I know him is screaming to trust him. That he wouldn’t lie. The other part of me is screaming right back though, telling the first part that just because we slept with him, and he’s really good with his tongue, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a ruse.

“What was all that?” Rylan asks as I walk in.