It has to be.
And I’m all in.
Rhett waits a beat before he tosses his head back and laughs. When his chin drops down, fury blooms in his eyes. “You’re joking, right? As of yesterday, I’d never heard ofher, you’reMIA, and when I arrive, there are materials being used we didn’t approve of. ThatI”—he points to his chest—“didn’t sign off on. Have you lost your mind?”
Stone slowly shakes his head. His sandy hair catches the sun, and streaks of dark caramel and platinum glint in the light.
I hold my breath as he looks Rhett dead in the eyes. “I’ve never had more clarity in my life.”
An explosion of air swooshes from my lungs, and new air rushes in. It feels like the world does the same, like it came to a full stop waiting to see how this would play out.
And it hasn’t started spinning yet, because Rhett isn’t finished.
When he speaks, it’s a growl of warning. “If I pull my investment, there’s no way you’ll be able to complete the resort.”
“Then pull it,” Stone replies, accepting his challenge. “I won’t be bullied, and I won’t be intimidated. What I’m doing—whatwe’redoing”—he looks at me, and that swoony, lightheaded rush fills my head again—“is creating something new, something different, something that matters and will, when it’s done, be hailed as visionary. Trust me.”
His cousin swipes a hand down his face. He looks like a mix between exhausted and furious, as if he doesn’t know which problem to tackle first: this new version of Stone or the resort.
I’d say it’s a toss-up.
“Does Pane know? What am I saying? Of course he doesn’t, becausehe, unlike you, would have called me. Your brother’s not going to like this, Stone.Thisis the sort of thing that destroys relationships, rips apart families. You’ll see. You may think it’s fun to play since you’ve been left to your own devices, and this may be your way of getting revenge on Pane for whipping your ass when it came to the company competition, but this is going too far.”
I wait for Stone to back down, to turn and change his mind, but instead he simply lifts his shoulders and keeps a steady gaze on his cousin.
Rhett’s eyes flick to mine. “Best wishes on your upcoming nuptials.” To Stone, he says, “You’re worth a lot, you know. So much that people like you get used for it.”
“She’s not after me for my money,” Stone growls. Then frowns. Worry flicks in his eyes. I squeeze his hand to convey I am not after anything.
Rhett shakes his head in disgust. “You’ll be hearing from my attorney.”
And with that, Rhett Maddox turns on his heel and enters the SUV. Dust and pebbles kick up under the tires as the driver peels out of the construction site.
I wave away the cloud of dirt that envelops us. Stone does the same before the corners of his mouth tick up into a wry smirk. “That went well, don’t you think?”
I laugh feebly, feeling both broken and filled at the same time. “Stone, I—”
I’m about to explain that of course we’re not engaged, that he misunderstood the ring. But he interrupts with, “Why didn’t you tell me we’re getting married?”
Everything’s knotted and tangled, from the way my body sings when I’m near him to the crushing guilt that’s slowly ripping me apart.
I lock gazes with his warm eyes—so mossy, so honest. And I want to be honest, too. Like Stone. Living in my truth the way he does.
For a moment I simply drink in the way he looks at me with such care. No one’s ever looked at me this way before. No one.
And I can’t let it go.
As my brain scrambles to come up with an answer as to why I didn’t tell him we’re engaged (probably because we aren’t), he waves his hand. “Never mind, I know why you didn’t say anything.”
Surprising even myself, I answer with, “You do?”
Stone looks at me so softly, with so much tenderness, that my insides melt like a snow cone on a hot sidewalk.
“You didn’t want to hit me with too much chaos with everything that’s going on.” He puts on a teasing voice. “You don’t know who you are, Stone? Well, guess what, you’re marrying me, a complete stranger! Giddyap, partner.”
And right then, I lie to myself and think I’m doing this for him. Because if I snatch it all away, everything will crumble.
His tone softens. “I completely understand, and at the same time, you could have told me. Becauseof coursewe’re engaged.”
