He huffed out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, you get away from Gregory and your dad. I get to keepa promise to my folks that I’d be there and maybe land a few business connections. It’s a win-win, but it’s up to you.”
I opened my mouth to argue and he must’ve seen it coming because he leaned in slightly. “Why’d your friend Stella get so excited when she assumed I have horses?”
Heat bloomed across my cheeks. “That’s not relevant.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, studying me with that maddeningly calm expression in his eyes. “You’re secretly a horse girl, aren’t you?”
My eyes narrowed into a glare. “It’s called anequestrian.”
The corner of his mouth lifted just slightly, like he was trying not to smile but losing the battle. “Right. My mistake.”
I folded my arms. This guy was infuriating. And hot. And a whole bunch of other things, but right now, I was going to settle for infuriating. “For your information, I wasn’t allowed to have my own horse. Dad said it was too much work.”
“Shame,” he murmured. “I’ve got plenty.”
Of course, he does. His family owns the biggest fucking ranch in the world. Okay, maybe just in Texas. Or Dallas. I don’t know, but it’s big.
I exhaled, staring at the polished banister instead of his annoyingly handsome face.
“Fine,” I said finally. “I’ll go to Texas with you, but just until after the party or Alex figures out how to get me out of this match with Gregory. Whichever comes first. That’s it.”
“That’s all I’m offering,” he said. Then he held out his hand.
It felt like a dare, but I only hesitated for a second before sliding my hand into his. The warmth of him struck me first, then the roughness of his palm and the strength in his fingers closing around mine.
His was nothing like the smooth, manicured hands of the businessmen my father introduced me to. Nothing like Gregory’s clammy, eager grip.
This was different, solid in a way that was downright dangerous. All the while, his eyes held mine, pinning me in place without even trying. “Do we have a deal?”
“We have a deal,” I practically whispered, not letting go nearly as fast as I probably should have.
CHAPTER 12
TRENT
Alex’s office overlooked half of downtown, all glass, steel, and warm morning light streaming in through the windows. For once, he wasn’t pacing or clipping off sentences between phone calls. He sat across from me in the sitting area in his office and listened while I laid out the shipping timeline, the processing facility details, and the east coast distribution plan.
All the things he’d supposedly dragged me back to Chicago to go over. When I finished, I leaned back on the couch, stretched my legs out, and leveled him with a look I hoped meant business. “Your turn. Give it to me straight this time. What thefuck, Alex?”
“Yeah, okay. I deserved that.” He didn’t even ask me what I was talking about. He didn’t need to, just blowing out a slow breath and pinching the bridge of his nose. Then hefinallystarted explaining, the look in his eyes flat and haunted. “My dad has known Greg Senior for decades. I heard Gregory was coming to town before anyone else and I knew what my father would do with that information.”
“Start planning a wedding Charlotte didn’t ask for.”
“Exactly.” There was a beat of silence before he sighed and leaned back, lifting his hand to his tie and actually pulling it alittle looser. “I hate him. I can’t let her get pulled into one of his traps, Trent.”
My fingers drummed once on the armrest. “You used me.”
Alex didn’t flinch. “I thought Charlotte might like you. You’re safe. Steady. You’d never hurt her and she needs someone who?—”
I cut him off with a sharp laugh. “Are you hearing yourself right now?”
His brow creased. “Look, I didn’t mean to use you. I was going to talk to you about it. Things just started moving a lot faster than I expected. I needed an option. Time. You’re the only person I trust.”
“I’ve dealt with this shit already, Alex,” I said, exasperation dripping from my tone. When confusion flickered in his eyes, I groaned. “The little sister with your best friend thing. Jamesonmarriedmy little sister, remember? Do you even realize what you’re asking of me, of us?”
Alex’s jaw clenched. “Trent.”
“No. Don’tTrentme. I’ll be acting like Charlotte’sboyfriend,” I said pointedly, my eyebrows raised. “Are you really okay with that?”
