Page 153 of Twisted Knight

“Someone has to look out for my interests.”

“There are a lot of your interests that I’m looking out for. Just in other respects,” he teases.

“So when will Rhett see this? Just want to be prepared for the fallout.”

“When we close the deal. Like I said, I’m sure there will be some last-minute bargaining on each side. I’ve found that to be a normal part of the process. It’s a game of chess. Each move has a countermove that will eventually lead to a checkmate.”

“And the timeline? A week? A month? More? I’m sure you have to have a guestimate.”

“Not sure yet. Due diligence is still happening.”

“But you’ll let me know when it’s getting close.”

Holden chuckles. “Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of time to gloat.”

“Good.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my chair.

“Good,” he mocks me.

“You never answered my question the other night.” And one that I’ve been thinking too much about lately.

“Which question was that?”

I glance out the window of my office, hesitant, as if I’m afraid that someone might be there to hear my next question. A question I shouldn’t even be asking while I’m here but am going to anyway. “Why it is that we never go to your place?”

“Ah. Yes. That question. I believe I got distracted with my face buried between your thighs. I found pleasuring you to be a way more pressing matter than talking.” Another chuckle. Another subtle pause that leaves us both thinking back.

And leaves me suddenly feeling ridiculous for bringing it up again. Like some clingy, needy woman—the type of woman that makes me cringe—when this is supposed to be sex. Just exclusive, monogamous sex.

“I wasn’t complaining. I was just curious is all.”

“Let’s see. My answer is that I live in a very populated area in the heart of downtown. An area frequented by many of your lovely Westmore Country Club members who pay way too much attention to what I may or may not be doing. No matter if I’m coming or going and regardless of what time of day or night, I almost always run into one of them. And considering your rule on this is that it stays on the down-low to preserve your reputation with the board, I just assumed that it would be best if we use your place since it offers more privacy.”

Completely logical. So why did my mind make more of it?

“Why? Is it that important to you?” he asks as my mind overthinks.

“No. Yes.” It’s just sex, Row. Just physical. “Your answer makes perfect sense.”

“You can stop overthinking it now.” He chuckles, and I startle at his comment and how right he is. I guess we’re starting to get to know each other better than I thought.

Who am I kidding? How can we not know each other as much as we’re around each other?

There’s some kind of commotion down the hall that has me rising from my seat to open my door and see what it is.

“Everything okay there?” Holden asks, clearly able to hear what sounds to me like Rhett losing his temper over something.

“Uh, not sure. Rhett’s upset about something. Talk later?”

“Of course.”

I end the call and stride down the hall to the closed conference room door. Employees glance up and then avert their eyes, as if they think they’re going to be in trouble for being as curious as I’m being.

But I can’t be fired for being nosy.

I open the door without knocking to find Rhett staring out the window. His hands are on his hips and there’s clear tension in the set of his shoulders. Chad is sitting at the other end of the conference room, his eyes on my brother before looking over to meet mine.

“Do either of you want to explain why you’re making a freaking scene in here so that everyone out there is wondering what in the hell is going on?” I demand.