“And she still didn’t choose you either.”
He scoffs. “If she were smart, she’d come back to me and we could put this whole mess behind us and we’d both get what we want. She never belonged to you.”
“She didn’t belong to you either. She’s her own person.”
He takes a step closer to me. “And Poppy?”
“She’s mine,” I growl.
“Not according to the state of Montana.”
Crack.
So much for controlling my temper and not letting this man get to me. My fingers ache as a bruise blooms on Paul’s jaw. Shock colors his face.
“You really are the asshole her dad thought you were.”
“I’m the asshole? You’re the one usinga childto get what you want.”
Paul rubs his jaw, not making a move to retaliate. “You proved why I’m the better choice for her and will always be the better choice. But I don’t care about that. Presley knows my terms.”
“That’s Presley’s decision, not mine.”
Bitterness laces my voice. I don’t know two things about this guy, other than I hate him.
I’ve hated him ever since the night I was serving cocktails to Pinecrest’s elite and her dad announced their engagement. It was a pain like I’ve never felt. Hearing the woman I love promised to another man.
This man. Someone her dad deemed acceptable.
I fled Pinecrest that night and never looked back.
I really hate this guy. I hate that he got all those years with Poppy and Presley that I can never get back.
“Is everything okay out here?”
The guy comes back out with three more packages of wiring.
“Fine.” Paul throws down his basket and leaves the store.
I blow out a breath, scrubbing a hand down my face. My hand is already throbbing from where it connected with Paul.
So much for not telling Presley about this.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Just someone I don’t like.”
He rings me up and I pass over my credit card, cringing at seeing the total. Another downside to running your own business. You’re responsible for everything. And at a ranch? All the little things seem to cost a couple thousand dollars.
“If you need any help with the ranch, or need more supplies, feel free to come on over.”
“Thanks, man.”
I nod at him as I grab everything and head outside to my SUV. Clicking the fob, I throw everything into the trunk before hopping in.
I can’t believe I lost my cool like that. It’s not like me. Being around that asshole makes it really hard to think straight.
Something else I can add to the long list of things that aren’t going my way this week. I don’t know what I’ll do if one more thing goes wrong.
