Wyatt saw it then. The reason she didn’t choose Will. He is a misogynist. He could never give her the opportunity to be his partner. Wyatt smirked. “You don’t know her,” he said flatly.
Will’s eyes slid back to him. “I know her work.”
“She’s not your project.”
“I never said she was.”
“You implied it.”
Will exhaled. “This isn’t productive.”
“No,” Letty agreed. “It isn’t.” She stood up next to Wyatt. “You didn’t come here to help.” Her voice was calm, like a mother who had finished scolding her child.
“No.” Will glared at Wyatt.
There it is.Wyatt crossed his arms. “Then why are you here?”
His eyes softened, staring at Letty. “Because you’re misreading the pattern.”
“And what’s the pattern, Will?”
“Escalation.”
The word hung between them as Wyatt willed Letty to feel his strength and belief in her.
Will continued. “You think you’re close to something.” He taunted. “You think someone is orchestrating this.”
“I know they are.”
“And you believe it’s me.”
She didn’t answer. She waited, baiting the hook as Will studied her.
“Be careful, Letty. Mistakes can damage more than your reputation.”
This time it didn’t sound like advice; it sounded like inevitability.
Wyatt took a step forward. “You done?”
Will held his gaze. “For now.” Tipping his head at Letty, he got out of the chair to step out without a care in the world as hewalked back to his SUV. The engine started as gravel crunched, and Letty let out a breath as he drove away.
Wyatt watched the road long after the SUV disappeared.
“He’s not rattled,” Cal grumbled.
“No,” Wyatt replied.
Letty bit her lip. “He expected us to know.”
Wyatt turned to her. “What?”
“He didn’t try to deny the advisory link.”
“He controlled it,” Wyatt said.
“Yes.” She looked out at the road. “He thinks he’s ahead.”
Wyatt’s jaw hardened. “He’s not.” But in the back of his mind, something unsettled him.Because Will hadn’t come to panic.Wyatt took a breath.He’d come to measure.Wrapping his arm around Letty, he pondered. “So, what’s his next move?”
