Glassier clears his throat, his commanding tone cutting through the tension. “Enough. Harrington, get the video down. Rickter, keep your team in line. We’ve got enough fires to put out without adding more.” He looks at me.
“A woman like her has got no interest in the likes of him.”
Wes bristles but says nothing, focused on deleting the video and drafting his retraction.
His antics are the immediate problem, but dragging Maddie into the mix has lit a fire in me. She doesn’t deserve this. Not the attention or the danger.
Chapter 16
Scott
I sink into my leather couch, balancing my laptop on my knees. The dim glow cuts through the room’s darkness, casting jagged shadows that mirror my mood. I’ve been in a sour funk all day. Wes Harrington’s video carousel plays on a loop, with each episode more maddening than the last. Hand curated for his audience. I told myself I was looking through his videos to find out if there was anything else to worry about, but there’s only one video on my mind.
The next thumbnail stops me cold.
Maddie’s head is tilted, her expression bright and unguarded. She’s with Wes at the pool, and the sight freezes me. My pulse quickens as I click play.
Wes opens the footage with his usual bravado, standing near the pool, his voice smooth and confident. The camera pans across the grounds before landing on Maddie, her sweet smile lighting up the frame.
“Here’s the lovely Maddie Carter,” Wes announces, his charm dialed up to eleven. “The legendary Nathan Carter’ssister. She’s agreed to share insight into her brother’s incredible discovery—Carter’s Drop.”
Maddie flushes, tucking her soft, honey-brown hair behind her ear. “He loved the water and loved history. He was very passionate about his research and his dreams.”
Wes leans forward, his eyes sharpening like a predator circling its prey. “Passion often leads to greatness… and Nathan was one of the greats.”
I watch him work—turning their conversation into another performance. Maddie talks about Nathan’s love for his family and dedication to his work. Wes ricochets more questions off each of her responses and weaves their Q&A into a narrative he’s eager to sell.
My fists clench.
As the video continues, my frustration deepens, rising to the top until I’m ready to explode. I slam the laptop shut.
What she does with Wes isn’t my business. If she wants him, I’ll have to respect it.
I try to ignore the desire, the primal urge to make her mine in every way.
I fail.
“Damn it,” I mutter into the silence. Wes is dangerous and careless, and he’s pulling Maddie into his orbit like a black hole.
Grabbing my keys, I head to the Driftwood Inn. It’s not far, but each passing second fuels the fire burning in my chest.
The soft light from Maddie’s cottage window spills onto the porch, a warm invitation against the dark. I stride up the steps and knock.
The door opens.
She’s barefoot, wearing an oversized T-shirt that slips down one shoulder. Her hair is tousled, and sleep lingers in her eyes. She’s gorgeous. Desire, mixed with anger at Harrington, has me so confused I just stare at her for a moment.
She tilts her head, a curious smile on her lips. “What’s going on?”
I hesitate. “Can we talk?”
Her brows knit together. She steps aside, motioning for me to enter. The familiar warmth of her living room greets me. It’s like home. The scent of lemon and the sight of Ding sprawled lazily on the rug tugs at my heart.
Maddie leans against the arm of her small couch, arms crossed. “What is it?”
I get straight to the point. “I saw one of Wes’s videos.”
“The one about Carter’s Drop?”
