“Don’t believe me? You’ll find out for yourself soon enough.” He gestured toward the chair closest to him. “As long as you’re here, I’ve got a business proposition for you. Care to entertain it?”
My gut warned me to get out of there, but I was in a tight spot with no jobs on the horizon. With a successful commercial development business going for him, Kyle had the ability to send some major business my way. I wasn’t ready to jump into aproject with him, but maybe it wouldn’t hurt to hear him out. “What kind of proposition?”
“Jesus, Levi. Take a seat and I’ll tell you about it.” He sat down and pulled a packet of papers from a folder on the table. “I’m sure you’ve seen the signs that a new grocery store is going in where that bookstore used to be. Lucky for you, the investor wants to work with someone local. The job is yours if you want it. He hopes to open in a couple of months, so you’d have to get started right away.”
“This investor…” I shook my head, not wanting to believe that my brother could have gotten involved with the same group that was trying to destroy Mustang Mountain from the inside out. “Is it the same one that’s redoing the hot springs?”
“Yeah. They’ve got a plan to put Mustang Mountain on the map, and I’m handing you a golden ticket to be a part of it.” His smile reeked of smug satisfaction, like he truly thought he was doing the right thing.
“What if Mustang Mountain doesn’t want to be put on their fucked-up map?”
“This is your chance to get your business off the ground.” Kyle narrowed his eyes. “You could really make a name for yourself.”
“By getting into bed with you and the assholes who are trying to ruin us? Is that why the lead you gave me on the house remodel fell through?” The pieces were starting to click together and fall into place. Kyle might claim he was giving me a leg up, but he never did anything that didn’t also benefit him.
“This job wasn’t on the table when I referred you for that house remodel. And you’ll make three times the amount, maybe even four. This guy is willing to pay extra if you come in ahead of schedule.” Kyle held out his hand to shake on it. “What do you say, little brother? Are you willing to let me make you a very rich man?”
“Fuck you.” I’d rather go back to working for someone else than help destroy the town where I’d been born and raised. I’d seen what had happened to other places around us who’d sold out and let big developers come in and take over. There was no way I’d be a part of that no matter how much I needed a big break.
“That’s what’s always been wrong with you. You’re never going to make something of yourself because you don’t have the guts to make things happen. Good luck with your little business. And good luck with Brooklyn. You’re going to need it with her.” Kyle shook his head and stalked toward the door. Right before he walked through the doorway, he turned to face me. “I thought family meant something to you, brother, but you’re always going to fall short.”
My entire body tensed as he walked away. I was doing the right thing, even if it meant putting my values above family. But what if he was right about the rest of it? That I was a fuck-up who would never amount to anything?
Brooklyn had plans with Peyton, so I had the cabin to myself when I got home. Gus greeted me with his tail wagging, but not even he could chase away my bad mood. I heated up some leftovers Brooklyn had brought home after a catering event and headed out to the back deck to nurse my bruised ego with a beer.
Could Brooklyn just be using me for a safe place to land for a while? That kiss had felt so real. If she’d been faking it, she’d done a hell of a job. My heart squeezed tight as I thought of a life without her in it.
She’d only been staying at my place for a little over a week, but signs of her were everywhere. From the way she fluffed the pillows on the couch to the stack of books she’d set on the coffee table, I could see her touch in everything. She’d even bought menew kitchen towels and hung them on the handle of the oven since she said mine were too old and thin. Even when she wasn’t here, I couldn’t get her out of my mind.
I must have sat out on the deck for hours. Until the sound of tires crunching on the drive had Gus barking and rushing around to the front of the cabin. I heard Brooklyn’s laugh and a car door close. Peyton must have driven her home. I stood, the anticipation of seeing her bubbling up in my chest. Then I remembered it might not be real and sat back down.
The light turned on inside, and I watched her walk through the cabin, calling my name. Gus scratched at the sliding glass door, and she opened it then followed him out onto the deck. Even my damn dog was on her side.
“Hey.” Her voice was soft and with the light from the cabin at her back, she looked like a fucking angel. “How long have you been sitting out here?”
“Too long. I should probably head to bed.” I got up again, steeling myself to pass by without reaching for her.
She stopped me, her palm resting on my chest. “Is everything okay?”
I stared down into her eyes with Kyle’s words ringing through my head. Maybe it was the shit day I’d had or the liquid courage I’d downed from a couple of tumblers of Devil’s Dance whiskey, but I slid my hand up to cup her cheek. “What are we doing here, Brooklyn? Am I just a stepping stone on your way out of Mustang Mountain?”
Her forehead creased. “What do you mean?”
My thumb traced over her jawbone. The light from the moon bathed us both in shades of black and white. For years, she’d been out of my reach, and now that she was standing right in front of me, I needed to know if she was playing me or truly had feelings for me.
“I saw Kyle today. He said…” I let my eyelids drift closed.
“Let me guess. He got in your head. Probably told you I was just using you, right?” she whispered.
I didn’t have it in me to argue, so I opened my eyes and stared down into her eyes. “Are you?”
CHAPTER 8
BROOKLYN
I fistedmy hand in Levi’s shirt and pulled myself up on my tiptoes. Brushing my lips against his, I mumbled against his mouth. “No. I’m not just using you for a place to stay. I don’t know what this is, but I don’t want to fight it anymore.”
“I don’t know what this is, either.” He leaned forward, so I didn’t have to stand on my toes to reach him. “And I’m not sure what to do about it.”
