As far as purchasing it, the deal had been in the works for weeks. During this time, no one – including my prick of a brother – had said a single word about Arden Weathers.
I gave Mason another hard look. "Why didn't you tell me who owned it?"
"Because it wasn't worth mentioning."
It was a lie, and we both knew it. Mason held a grudge for longer than anyone I knew, me included.And that was saying something.
Sure, Arden and I had a history. And that history was on the explosive side. But Mason should've known better.
My discussion with him ended the way it always did, with stoic silence on his part and a good deal of profanity on mine. By the time I stalked out his office, neither one of us was happy.
But hey, what else was new?
And now I was running late. I'd meant to check in with Arden at noon. But noon had come and gone hours ago. The day had been a shit-show already and showed no sign of improving – not after last night.
In my mind's eye, I could still see her – gazing up at me with those big, tearful eyes. She'd been on her knees, and not in a good way.
It had surprised the piss out of me.
I hadn't expected her to do it.
After all, it was just a house, even if shedidhave a habit of poking her nose where it didn't belong.
Last night, I'd been plenty ticked-off – and with good reason, too. She'd busted into my house, and then insulted the hell out of me.
She'd called me vile.
Arrogant, too.
I felt my jaw clench.What else had she called me?By now, I could hardly remember.
But Ididrecall her begging me for a project that was already in the works.
I'd been pissed. And I'd taken it too far. But hey, I didn't deserve all of the blame.
On top of the other bullshit, she'd acted like I'd force her to have sex with me as some sort of payment.
What the ever-loving fuck?
It was the worst kind of insult.I didn't pay for it.And even if Iwereheading down that sorry road, I'd never want anyone who wasn't willing and eager.
Arden Weathers?She wasn't willing, eager,ormy type. We weren't friends, and I didn't like her, but Ididowe her an explanation, and maybe an apology, too.
Like all unpleasant things, I figured I might as well get it done and call it good.
It was a decent plan, or so I thought until I spotted a certain white SUV in the driveway on Lakeview.
Shit.From the looks of things, trouble had come early.
Chapter 11
Arden
With murder in her eye, the blonde hissed, "Isaid, 'Put it back.'"
I glanced around.Yes.Shehadsaid that, just a moment ago. But I still wasn't quite sure what she meant.
A full hour had passed since her surprise arrival, and she'd spent most of that time hunkered down in the SUV, talking to whoever while I made uneasy chit-chat with Roy.
