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“I’m not talking about that,” she finally said.
“Then what did I do?”
“You stole the money from Carter Energy.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Mulaney
Easton releasedme like I’d doused him with scalding water. I pressed my palms into Holly’s desk, resting my rear against it.
His jaw worked as he stared at me. I waited for the denial, but only a strained silence stretched between us. Being up close and personal had thrown me off balance, but the distance was worse.
“No, I didn’t,” he finally said. “That’s a hell of an accusation.”
“Not much different than what you did to me.” When someone hurt me, my only defense mechanism was to hurt them back, yet I felt no vindication.
“I have evidence to back up my statement.”
“Not when it came to me and your father.” How the hell had he believed either of us were capable of something so vile?So . . . disgusting?
He loosened the knot of his tie as if it were choking him. “I meant about the inexplicable finances.”
I shoved off the desk, hesitating with one hand on the doorknob and the other on the lock. “How did we get here?” I spoke to the wooden door, unable to turn around.
“Apparently, I sank my family’s company.” The resentment tinged every word.
“I meant us. We were a team, friends even. Now we hardly speak. When we do, we’re arguing over legal documents and embryos.” I remained in place, though his scent filled my nose. “What’s to fight about? We can both agree we’ve ruined the good relationship we had.” The taste in my mouth turned acidic. Maybe I’d been avoiding him because I didn’t want to lose him. Good Lord above, when had I turned into this walking contradiction of a person who couldn’t make a decision?
“Are you stalling?”
I hated his icy tone. Easton had always treated me with professionalism in the workplace, but when it was us there was an affection I’d never noticed until it was gone. This was what I’d wanted, right? The career, respect . . . suddenly it all felt empty.
I unlocked the door and wordlessly returned to our office. “We probably shouldn’t discuss this here,” I said as I gathered my laptop.
He shrugged as if to say “whatever” and grabbed his briefcase. I knew the truth. We were similar in that way, both incredibly hurt, disappointed, and confused. We pushed pause, because lashing out at each other over the last few months had done us no favors.
* * *
“Easton,you’re home. Come get something to eat.”
Muriella greeted him like she hadn’t seen him in years. We shouldn’t have come back to this chaos, but I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. My entire family was still in the city, thanks in part to the man of the hour. My sister-in-law wasn’t the only one giving Easton the royal treatment.
“Son, sit here.” Granddaddy pulled out the chair next to him at the kitchen table. When Easton took a seat, he slapped his shoulder just like he always did to Daddy and my brothers.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed a couple pieces of chocolate. “We have something important to take care of.” I shoved the Mars bar into my mouth.
“Nothing is more important than spending time together.” Ruby pinched my side, and I dropped my chin to my chest, resigned that despite it being three in the afternoon, we were about to eat a full meal. “We’ve missed out on that over the last few months, haven’t we?”
She took the chair on the other side of Easton and said something in his ear. He stiffened, but she pointed to her cheek and he kissed it.
“I always wanted another brother. Stone’s such a pain in the ass.” Mitch bumped me in the shoulder.
“Daddy, you better put some money in the cuss jar,” Gabby said, pointing toward the counter.
“Shit,” he muttered under his breath.
“Better put some more in,” I said, and he bumped me again.
