The way he leaned forward slightly, holding my gaze like a silent warning, told me everything I needed to know.
Translation: we had to sell them on our love story or watch my deal die. The problem? Their radar was up. They were actively hunting for cracks in our facade, and one slip—just one—would destroy everything.
“That sounds perfect,” I said. “How about you come to my place? Dakota and I can cook dinner for you.”Shit. I’ll have to clear out my office, make it look like she actually lives in my bedroom.“Or better yet”—I backtracked—“we could go to Dakota’s favorite restaurant?—”
“Your place.” Carl’s tone brooked no argument. “Next Friday.”
I swallowed my pride, my ego, and what remained of my moral compass. “Looking forward to it.”
Crap.
Selling our love story through carefully curated social media posts was one thing. Having two sharp-eyed businessmen poking around our lives, asking pointed questions, looking for tells? That was a whole different level of terrifying.
And it wasn’t just my ass on the line. Knox trusted me to protect his sister, and despite the fact that Dakota was currently driving me insane, I wasn’t about to let her family pay the price.
“Oh, one more thing,” Frank said casually. “We’d like you to meet the newest member of our team. He’ll be joining us for dinner next Friday too.”
My blood turned to ice as a familiar figure approached our table, hands casually slung in his pockets and that infuriating smirk working across his face like he owned the world.
No. Goddamned. Way.
“Axel,” Frank said cheerfully, “meet Mathew.”
Are you kidding me?
Of all the people who could have a hand in my deal, my future, my company’s survival, it had to be Dakota’s ex. The same Mathew who’d been pissing on his fire hydrant, trying to win her back, kissing her in my own damn foyer while I looked on like some jealous stalker.
The universe had officially declared war on me.
“Mathew.” I stood, extending my hand with what I hoped passed for professional courtesy. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Indeed.”
As Mathew and I shook and released hands, Frank and Carl exchanged a look.
“You two know each other?”
“We only recently met,” I admitted. “It turns out, he used to date Dakota.”
The older gentlemen exchanged another look.
“We had quite the memorable introduction,” Mathew said. “Had some car trouble that same night actually.” His gaze locked on mine. “Funny how these things happen.”
My prospective business investors looked between us, sensing undercurrents they couldn’t quite identify.
“Car trouble?” Carl asked.
“Oh, just some vandalism in the parking lot,” Mathew said with a casual shrug, never breaking eye contact with me. “You know how it is downtown. Sometimes, people get … territorial.”
I had to soften my eyes to make it less obvious I was glaring at him.
“That’s unfortunate,” I said evenly. “I hope you got it sorted out.”
“Eventually.” Mathew’s smile sharpened. “Though I have to admit, it’s fascinating what some people will do when they feel … threatened.”
“City violence, eh?” I gave him a shrug of my own.
If Frank or Carl suspected any of Mathew’s implications, they didn’t show it. They seemed too intrigued by the fact that Mathew was Dakota’s ex.
