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His gaze moves over me. I’m still wearing a polo with the company logo—the ones in my size finally came in—and a pair of jeans and flip-flops. I leave the work boots at the office. “There’s certainly nothing androgynous about you, though, is there?”
“Okay, if you can dial your creepy back a few notches, that would be great. I’m not sure if you need a reminder, but I’m dating your brother, so this, whatever this is”—I fling a hand in his general direction—“needs to stop now.”
“I thought you were just sleeping with him.”
“We’re a thing. Which means we’re doing more than sleeping together.”
Bradley chuckles. “I can see why my brother likes you.”
“Why exactly are you here, again?”
He slides onto one of the bench seats and motions to the bench opposite him. “Have a seat.”
“I’m good standing, thanks.” I adopt a casual lean next to the door, both so I have an escape and because now I don’t trust Van’s brother. At all.
It’s about a thousand degrees in here, and I can feel the sweat dripping down my spine.
He makes a noise that sounds halfway to a laugh. “You’re the executor of my grandmother’s will.”
It’s a statement, not a question, so I don’t bother with a response.
He nods once and folds his hands on the table. He also tries to cross his legs but ends up hitting his knee on the crossbar. “She seemed to put a lot of responsibility in your hands. Especially for someone who wasn’t family.”
“I’ve lived next door to her my whole life. She was like family to me.”
“Mmm, yes. So I’ve been told. It must bother you that you had such a close relationship with her, close enough that she made you the executor of her will, and yet she didn’t leave you a damn thing.”
“She didn’t need to. And like you said, I’m not her family, so whatever she had wasn’t mine to claim. Where are you going with this, Bradley?”
He chuckles. “So impatient and unrefined. I bet you’re a lot of fun, aren’t you, Dillion? You sure you picked the right Firestone brother to get between the sheets with?”
“Good lord. You are a sexual harassment case in the making. Keep it up, and I’m going to show you how unrefined I am.”
He holds up his hands. “No need to get violent. Come on, Dillion, you and I know the real reason you’re with Van.”
“Which would be what?” I’ve about had it with this guy.
“Van is sitting on a gold mine, but you already knew that, didn’t you? Which is why you’re with him. You already knew what Bee’s place was worth, and now you’re trying to edge your way in and take what should be mine.” He jabs his own chest.
“You hate it here.”
“Not the point! The cottage should have been divided equally among the three of us, and it wasn’t. All I got was fifty grand, and Van got everything else. There are acres of land waiting to be developed.”
I laugh humorlessly. “You’re living in a dream world if you think you’re going to convince the town to let you subdivide Bee’s land and sell it off in parcels. Besides, you’d have to have the will reversed, and that is highly unlikely.” In that moment I realize Bradley already knows that. “Which is exactly what you’re trying to do.”
Bradley smiles brightly. “Wow, smart and beautiful. Now I know why Van is occupying his time with you.”
“I know what you’re trying to do here, but it’s not going to happen. I have things to do that don’t include listening to this crap. It’s time for you to leave.” I step out of the trailer and head for the house. My brother will most definitely be home. He’s not particularly threatening, but at least I won’t be alone with this asshole.
“Your father runs Footprint Renovations,” he says to my back.
I keep walking. It’s not like this isn’t common knowledge. Everyone knows who my dad is, and all he would’ve had to do is look him up on the internet or ask someone in town, and they’d tell him that.
“I hear his business has been doing well lately. Profiting off the wealthy. Making a real name for himself. Big difference from a couple of years ago, when he almost went under.”
I’m halfway to the house when I falter. I can feel the threat in his tone. I spin around and fight the urge to cross my arms, aware it’s a defensive maneuver that will paint me as weak in his eyes. I stalk back over and stop a few feet away. “Get to the point.”
His smarmy smile widens. “We could have a mutually beneficial relationship.” He nods once but doesn’t speak right away, baiting me, keeping me waiting. “I’ve heard he’s looking to expand the business. Seems risky, given everything that’s happening in your family.”
