Her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Um, then is he exchanging money for me?” she squeaked.
No fucking way was that ever happening. I now understood what Trig felt last year and maybe why she hadn’t told any of us who she really was.
“What else?”
“Um, my brother said something about a virgin auction. And me.”
My eyes widened. Buck ran his hand through his hair. Colt set his hands on his hips.
“Well, that’s not happening now, is it, princess?”
She blushed knowing what I meant.
“Anything else?” I prodded.
She shook her head. “That was why, when I heard about the job here at Wilder Ranch at the grocery store, I borrowed Kyle’s truck and came right over.”
I saw Buck nod, validating what she said.
“You working for your father?” Colt asked bluntly.
My spine stiffened. I’d considered the same thing, but now knew it couldn’t be true.
“What do you mean?” She frowned. “I work here. Or worked.”
“Spying?”
She laughed, actually laughed, then stopped when she realized Colt was serious. “No. Oh my God. No.”
“She’s fucked Katie’s case,” I realized. I was Katie’s lawyer and sleeping with the opposing side’s daughter. Trout could go before the judge and say whatever he liked and it’d be tossed out.
“I didn’t mean, I didn’t even know. I’m so sorry!”
She’d been a virgin. No way she’d show up and lure me to fuck her just to get her father’s lawsuit dismissed. She was sexy as hell, kinky as fuck, but definitely not that skilled.
She sniffled, tipped her chin up. “Look, I know you hate me. I don’t blame you. I needed a job. A place to live. Asafeplace and the Wilder Ranch is the last place they’d come. The last place they’d think I’d be. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. I never lied, not once, to any of you, but I knew, I knew you’d hate me for my last name and from what I’ve heard, I don’t blame you. I’ll, um… go. Thank you for dinner, Mr. Wilder.”
She turned toward the front door, headed down the hall.
What was she going to do? Walk out of here? Where the hell was she going to go?
“Hang on there,” Pops called.
She stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“You know why your father hates my family so much?” he asked.
I didn’t know why. I thought it was because Conrad Trout was a dick and didn’t like anyone.
“Back in the day, he was interested in Mrs. Wilder.”
My eyes widened. So did Colt’s and Buck’s. This was news to them, too.
“That’s right,” Pops continued. “He asked her out a few times. She turned him down. Then we met at a friend’s wedding and fell in love. Right then and there. I stole Ma from him. That’s what he thinks.”
Buck laughed. “That’s ridiculous. You two were meant for each other.”
“That’s right. She’s my girl,” Pops said, a soft smile on his face, his gaze on Cassidy. “But he’s sure held a grudge. You’re not your father, sweetheart. Nor your brothers. We like you for your character. Your spirit. Not your last name.”
