“I think the lovely doctor is capable of telling me what her schedule will allow. Aren’t you,darlin’?”
Slade felt his body tense and tightened his already closed fist. He could see from the smile dancing in Bull’s eyes the man was enjoying this confrontation. He could also see Bull had a lecherous plan sparking in hishead.
“Ah, thank you for the offer, Mr. Hamilton,” Mandisainterjected.
Slade felt her hand press against his arm lightly, a simple gesture that drew some of the tension out of his body, bringing his attention to her instead of hisfather.
“Slade and I already have plans for the next few days with respect to your labs and business negotiations. There isn’t much leeway for extracurricular activities. I’ll have to take a raincheck.”
Slade let a spark of pride bend his lips into a celebratory smirk as he stepped closer into Bull’s space. “You heard it for yourself—the lady’s calendar is full. I’ll make sure to have my secretary update you on any developments regarding Dr. Avery’s decision on Logan Industries’ purchase of hercompany.”
Slade slipped a hand to the small of Mandisa’s back and gently guided her toward the door. He needed out of there in the worst way, and he wasn’t about to let her suffer in Bull’s presencealone.
The silent ride down the elevator drew out the few moments it took to reach their parking level. Slade instructed Mandisa to wait at the curb for him while he retrieved the car. He needed a few minutes to get his head together before they headedout.
He sat in the car, took a deep breath, and fought hard to bury the anger he always walked away with whenever Bull invaded Slade’sspace.
When are you going to get over this,Slade?
It had been more than a decade since he’d cut all personal ties with his father. They still had to work together, but Slade didn’t have to deal with him outside of Logan Industriesbusiness.
Slade’s mother would be rolling over in her grave if she could see the two of them now. But Slade refused to be like his saintly mother, constantly forgiving sins from an unremorseful heel of a man. What did all that forgiveness get his mother? A broken heart and an early grave. Slade wouldn’t allow Bull to kill him the way Bull had Slade’s mother. He wouldn’t go down without afight.
He shook himself free of the memories stoking his anger, turned the ignition, and pulled out of the parking spot. When he stopped the car in front of Mandisa, he placed his easy smile back on his face, hopped out, and opened the door forher.
The wary smile she wore gave Slade further incentive to get his head back in the game, become the easy Slade she knew. That Slade was fun, that Slade was desirable. Mandisa didn’t need to deal with this Slade. The Slade that harbored all this hatred was an ugly, dangerous man that few people needed to witness. Nothing good ever came from that Slade rearing hishead.
He made certain to keep his carefree cowboy façade in place when he leaned across the console and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “Ready to go,darlin’?
“I will be as soon as you tell me what that bullshit in the lab wasabout.”
* * *
Mandisa crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips as she waited for Slade to answer her question. She could see the turmoil flaring in his eyes as he tried to figure out how to answerher.
“Mandisa,honey…”
She held up a hand and watched him carefully as his words trailed off. “Just stop, Slade.” She knew he was about to hand her a load of crap, so she just stopped him mid-sentence. She didn’t know what the hell had happened, but for damn certain she knew something was amiss between the senior and junior Mr. Hamiltons. She hadn’t imagined all that tension between the twomen.
“I’m a Brooklyn chick who’s spent way too many years in the ’hood learning to decipher non-verbal cues to ascertain intent. You intend to lie to me, and you should know, I’m not really with that. So, what the hell did I step in the middleof?”
He pulled his gaze away from hers and focused on pulling out of the parking lot and getting on the road. He drove silently for a while before he finally cleared his throat and spared her a briefglance.
“My father and I haven’t really seen eye-to-eye in a good while. That was just Bull attempting to run this deal his way. In all his years in business, he still hasn’t learned the art of allowing the second party in a deal to decide in their own time. I just didn’t want him pressuring you to commit to a decision you weren’t ready tomake.”
The muscles in his face had relaxed enough that she believed there had to be some truth to what he was saying. But Mandisa wasn’t naïve—she could sense this hostility between father and son impacted more than their businessrelationship.
Mandisa unfolded her arms and leaned back into the cushioned seat. Whatever this problem was between Bull and Slade seemed complicated. Too complicated for her to deal with in the few days she had left in Texas. Too complicated for her to get involved with, considering she wasn’t more than a visitor in Slade’slife.
Just let it go,girl.
She nodded, accepting his explanation, ignoring the voice that kept nudging her to dig deeper, discover as much information as she could regarding Slade and his relationship with hisfather.
Your visit isn’t about their family drama—it’s about winning this damn bet and earning capital for your mother’s company. Just let itgo.
“So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day? You know, since my calendar is so full. I would hate to have knowingly lied to a man who could end up being my boss. I’m certain you told your father I was busy because you’d already scheduled something forme.”
Slade laughed. It was a genuine, hearty laugh that told her he understood she was calling bullshit, and he wasn’t stupid enough to try to deny it anylonger.
“Now that you mention it, I do have something I want to show you. I’ve been meaning to take you somewhere special since we arrived. Today, we’re going to make thathappen.”
A skeptical arched brow was her onlyresponse.
“Trust me, you’re going to loveit.”
She gave a flat chuckle. “I’dbetter.”
