According to Faith, he’s here for my safety, but the man is more dangerous than any other I’ve ever met.
What was with the sweet gesture of coffee and a pastry this morning?
It only served to confuse me even more than I already am.
Sex I can handle. Amazing sex is even better, but the mixed fucking signals are what’s throwing me for a loop.
I can’t stop thinking about the almost kiss yesterday, how after we both came, he was going to press his mouth to mine. I wanted to read it as if giving in to something more between us, but that’s impossible. He isn’t the type, and before, that was part of the appeal to me.
Having the balls to slip up at my grandfather’s house and make a comment that made it very clear that he did in fact remember me because it was something I spoke about the night we were together was like a knife in the stomach. Mentioning wanting to meet Big Daddy was just a way for him to twist that knife, an effort to cause more pain.
Forget everything I’ve heard about Cerberus. Kincaid obviously isn’t as skillful at picking good men because Spade is clearly a sadist, a man who just couldn’t leave well enough alone. I would’ve been fine living with the sting from him pretending not to remember me, but finding out he started with that lie only to prove he did makes it ten times worse. But maybe that was his goal all along. It’s his way of manipulation, a way to keep control and be hurtful at the same time.
“If this is a bad time…”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, looking up at Will to realize not only am I sitting across from him, his oversized desk between us, but he’s holding paperwork out in front of me.
I reach for it, giving him the best smile I can manage. “Explain all of this to me.”
“I think first we need to talk about your expectations.”
“I don’t know anything about the housing market.”
He gives me a small smile. “That’s what I’m here for, and not to brag, but I’m very good at what I do.”
Will sweeps an arm toward a wall covered in awards and plaques. I don’t remember him being so ostentatious and flashy. The guy I remember was humble and kind.
I take a deep breath, wondering if it’s my irritation with Spade that’s making me see this man in front of me differently.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come, owning my own home after growing up in a small farmhouse that was rustic because of age and wear and not because of any growing trend. It shouldn’t bother me that Will is also proud of his own successes.
“I trust that I’m in good hands.”
“I can navigate getting the house ready for sale,” he continues. “You haven’t been back in many years, so I’m only guessing that you want to make repeated trips from…”
“Farmington,” I say when he makes it clear he wants me to fill in the blank.
“Just far enough away to be exhausting if you plan to travel back and forth to oversee ongoing projects.”
“I’d rather not,” I confirm. “You said it wouldn’t be worth fixing.”
“It isn’t, but I also know how hard it is to see the home you grew up in being torn down. It’s your decision either way you go.”
“What are the chances that I have it fixed up only for new owners to tear it down for the land?”
“Very high. Like I said yesterday, a lot of rich people are moving in and they have no interest in anything but building. The land will probably sell higher if the demolition is already done.”
“But I’d have to pay for that?”
“We could roll it into the price of the land. We have so little left around Telluride that it’s going for a premium amount.”
I look down at my fingers knotted in my lap. He’s right about the twist in my stomach at the thought of having it torn down, but at the same time, it’s not like I’m ever going to come back and live there. If Naomi keeps up her end of the bargain, getting clean and taking care of her baby, the proceeds go to her anyway.
“I just need to sell it. I need it out of my grandfather’s name.”
“Speaking of which, I checked with the county, and there aren’t any liens on it. It’s good that he’s up to date with his taxes.”
The anger that’s still lingering inside of me for my cousin wants me to open my mouth and explain what was supposed to happen with the property, but that’s not really any of Will’s business. Although we were pretty close friends in the past, there are a lot of years separating us now, and I just don’t feel comfortable giving him those details now.