My dick rose, getting confused about what this situation meant. I knew she was more likely to go for my jugular than accept a date from me. Especially after what I’d just said.
But she’d shaken me more than I was letting on.
Did she really call Moody and Sons?
They weren’t competition per se, but they were the closest thing to it. We both operated in our own regions, never venturing far from home. But Moody had too many sons, and I knew they were itching to expand.
When my brothers, Hudson and Buck, hadn’t followed our dad into the family business, it had left the entire operation on my shoulders.
And Moody and I had already had one skirmish over the little town of Juniper. It was on the far southern edge of my territory, just north of theirs. They’d tried to swoop in and undercut me by ten percent. A few families and businesses had switched, but they’d come back to me when Moody and Sons failed to offer pickup on snow days and holidays.
What did she mean my operations are inefficient?
Twenty-five percent was bad. If Moody really thought he could undercut me that much and still be profitable I was in for a beating. My customers were loyal, and they liked me. But how long would they support a local boy in the face of such a reduction to their bill?
But I didn’t get the chance to ask her what she’d meant.
She glanced down at my chest, her lips parting lightly, and I got the faintest hint that something about me intimidated her.
She might be a badass lawyer who could destroy men’s lives on a whim, but on some level, I was affecting her. And I got the feeling she wasn’t used to that.
My cock jumped at the realization. There was a spark of heat flashing between us that had nothing to do with the ridiculous spat we found ourselves in. She wanted to land on my cock and ride me hard. I was suddenly certain of it. Everything happening between us was like a twisted foreplay.
Maybe this is how they do it in New York City.
But then she recovered herself. She met my eyes and spat out, “You’re a foul man, Thatcher Woods. And you better watch yourself. I can put you out of business. I’ve done it to bigger men than you.”
Something about her words made me believe everything she said was true.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
I’d just kicked the hornet’s nest.
Chapter 4
Shelby
I felt like a fish out of water.
Sara had talked me into coming to the party at her friend Brook’s house, even though I’d tried to duck out at the last minute.
I’d already met Brook. She was pretty, pampered and as civilized as they came. So, it had seemed like a safe decision to attend a party at her place.
How was I to know that Brook had a thing for bad boys?
Her husband was a foul-mouthed redneck who Brook obviously adored. The two were polar opposites. And unfortunately his friends were the type to go mudding and do ‘pig-wrassling’ on a Friday night.
I might have wicked confidence in my skills in a courtroom, but I’d always been awkward in real life. And that was no different tonight.
Everyone was being so sweet to me, and I could tell that Sara and Brook had taken me under their wings. They were determined to integrate me into Deer Springs life.
But that didn’t change the fact that I felt awkward as hell.
First of all, Brook had given me a makeover. We were the same size, and she’d loaned me a pretty, flowing party dress in a rich shade of burgundy that she swore made the auburn highlights in my hair stand out. It had a ruffled hem and a plunging neckline that she assured me was perfect for attracting a husband.
Even after I’d said I wasn’t sure Iwanteda husband, she’d insisted it was still the right thing to wear.
Really, I’d settle for a one-night stand at this point. I’d been too busy for socializing in New York, and I hadn’t been on a date in a year. My pussy had developed cobwebs so thick a man would have a hard time bringing it back to life.
