“Even Garrett,” I agreed.
“We love you, Garrett!” Remy said, wrapping him in a big hug.
“Get off of me!” Garrett said, acting like a cat who had been dunked in water.
“Now why don’t you start with cleaning out the horse barn then move on to all the windows,” I ordered Bruno and Nate. “You have two weeks.”
“You can get an awful lot done in two weeks!” Remy said.
* * *
Wasit because of my family that Meg was so put off by me? It made no sense that she had refused me for years yet had no other viable prospects. Maybe her insistence that I was a liar and manipulative was a cover for how she really felt. Maybe she thought I was like my father and that my family was too bizarre.
I needed to talk to her.
She didn’t pick up her phone when I called her. I drove into town, stopping to pick up the flowers I had ordered for her at one of the florist’s shops in town. They were a mix of blush, champagne, and cream-colored peonies, her favorites.
I called her again, but she didn’t answer. Where was she? I drove around town. She wasn’t in her campaign office or at city hall. The light was on in her apartment, though.
I parked my car and stepped out, adjusting my suit. I had showered and put condoms in my pocket; I was for sure getting lucky. I had a whole speech planned with funny little anecdotes and everything.
“I hope you showed up with more than flowers and a plucky attitude,” a man called from across the street right as I reached the door.
No.
“Walter.”
“Good evening, Hunter,” he said, stepping out of his car. “Fancy seeing you here.” He jerked his head to the flowers. “I’ve already sent her some. Mine was bigger. You might as well take those down to the old folks’ home.”
“What the fuck are you playing at, Walter?” I snapped at him.
“Probably same as you,” he said. “I want to bang a hot girl.”
“I don’t want to bang her. I want to marry her.”
Walter just laughed. “Sure you do, and that’s why you’re running for mayor against her as opposed to supporting her. You’re such a piece of shit, Hunter.”
“No,youare. You stole my company.”
“It was just business. And you were well compensated,” Walter said with a shrug. “You could have stayed, you know. But you refused to play ball.”
“I refused to be your bitch.”
“Language,” Walter said mockingly. He gazed at me. “I can’t decide if you actually think you love her, or you’re so tangled in your own web of revenge and half-truths that you are believing your own lies.”
“It’s not a lie,” I snarled, circling him.
“You are just like your father,” Walter remarked, his blue eyes piercing me.
“No, I’m not.”
“I read up on him. He’s cunning. Wily. Tricky. He always has a plan. That’s why the FBI can’t ever catch him and nail him on anything.” He regarded me. “You’re the same way. That’s why you cooperated with Danielle to try and ruin me, which ended up with my youngest children dead.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with that,” I said quietly. “I would never.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Walter stepped up in my face. “You ruined them, and now you’re trying to ruin Meg.” His lip curled up. “She’s better off without you.”
“I refuse to let her be with you,” I shot at him. “You just want to use her.”
