“Just so you know, I did read your email. I thought it would be easier to call and hash this out over the phone. Knowing you, I bet you’d bill me for the time spent typing.”
I bit my lip, turning my chair from right to left. “How do you know I’m not billing you for the minutes we talk?”
“A thousand a minute. It wouldn’t even surprise me if an invoice showed up by the morning.” He chuckled. “Fuck, you’re spicy.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah? Why? Because I’m on the opposing team? I can’t think of any other reason why you would call me that. I’ve done nothing to you.”
My blood was boiling. “You’re forgetting the way you spoke to me at gymnastics.”
“You never let things go, do you?” He went quiet, as though he were waiting for me to respond. “I can’t imagine what it’s like, being in a relationship with you. You probably bring things up that happened ten years ago. A constant game ofwhat can I slap you in the face with.”
My nails dug into the wooden edge of my desk. “You have absolutely no right to mention or question my personal life.”
I could hear each of his angered exhales.
“I see we’re really making headway with our daughters hanging out.”
My fingers clenched into a fist. “I would rather Abbi have zero friends than hang out with anyone associated with you.”
“Likewise.”
“I’m glad we agree.” I hung up.
SEVEN
COLSON
“Looking sharp, my man,” Troy said as he got into the back seat of my SUV.
I chuckled. “I could say the same about you. Nice tux.”
He settled in and shut the door, and Paul pulled out of Troy’s driveway, only a few streets down from my place.
“Looking forward to this evening?”
The charity event had been on the schedule for months—a black-tie fundraiser to end childhood cancer—and The Weston Group was one of the sponsors. Given that Walker was tied up with the menu redesign, Eden wasn’t a fan of parties and late-night functions, Beck was at an away game, and Hart was traveling with his girl, I was the only Weston who could attend. During all the back-and-forth emails to Troy, regarding the Gordons, I’d happened to mention this gala. Since Troy was also going to be in attendance, we’d decided to go together.
“The same way I look forward to an impending toothache.” I held the safety bar at the top of the window and turnedtoward him. “I don’t enjoy getting dressed up. I prefer more relaxed environments. Give me a pair of swim trunks and flip-flops, and I’m a happy man.”
There was only one exception to that—Lush. But I had my reasoning for wearing a suit, which was all part of the foreplay.
He pulled at his lapels. “Do you surf?”
“I’ve dabbled. I’m much more into boating.”
“Really?”
“In fact, once this whole Gordon saga is behind us, I’m going to be looking to upgrade what I currently have.”
“And that is?”
“A fifty-five-foot cabin cruiser. I’d like my new one to be in the seventy-, maybe eighty-foot range.”
“That’s a hell of a boat you’re upgrading to.”
I nodded in the dimly lit back seat. “Ellie is finally at an age where we can escape for long weekends. She’s big enough to help out a little—you know, drop anchor and make sure her dad ties the lines tight enough. That girl can knot with the best of them.”
