Page 144 of When Hearts Collide

Pausing the video, I look toward the door and frown. There shouldn’t be anyone out here in my cabin in Bitterwater Valley, California. I’m not expecting any visitors.

Rolling up the sleeves of my gray Henley, I walk to the door and look through the peephole.

Quickly, I swing open the door.

“Maxwell and Steven,” I murmur, stepping aside to let them in.

A third man strides into view. Dark hair, almost black. Sky-blue eyes. Chilly features. Animosity dripping from his gaze.

Adrian Scott, The Shark. I’ve met him a few times in the past and consider us casual friends. He has even infused some capital into our business, but now, I wonder if the friendship has come to an end.

Probably, Ryland. You’d do the same if someone broke Lana’s heart like what you did with Millie.

Wordlessly, he enters the cabin and I close the door behind me.

“You look better, at least. Shaved your beard, made an effort to wear decent clothes,” Maxwell comments from the leather sofa in the middle of the room by the stone fireplace.

Steven helps himself to a drink from the wet bar and offers the others refreshments. After a few minutes, the four of us sit in the large rustic living room, the silence sounding louder than thunder.

My laptop pings from the dining table off to the side and Maxwell’s eyes dart to it before he furrows his brows at me.

“I’m replying to some overdue emails. Getting back into the swing of things. It’s time for me to get my shit together,” I reply.

He nods, clearly satisfied with my response.

“What the hell are you planning to do with my sister?” Adrian stands up abruptly and hauls me to my feet, his hand fisting the collar of my shirt. A vein pulses in his forehead and his lips twitch into a snarl.

“Millie asked me to leave you alone, but fuck it, I’ll be damned if I don’t find out your intentions myself.”

He tightens his hold on me and gets in front of my face. “Do you love her? Or have you been playing games with her all this time?”

I must have a death wish because I snort and reply, “What? Are you going to call me out at dawn? A duel? Pistols or swords?” Ryland, why are you being an idiot? I can hear Millie whispering at me.

“Fuck, Ryland. Stop with your bullshit. I want to know too. Millie is a sweetheart and is like a sister to me as well,” Steven says, his voice impatient.

Adrian’s grip tightens and the collar of my shirt digs into my neck. My lungs fight for air, but I refuse to look away, refuse to back down and cower before him. If I get to wish one thing on those stupid shooting stars Steven prattles on about—something he got from Grace—I wish I could be with Millie, reputation and everything be damned.

I won’t have Adrian doubting my feelings for her.

“I fucked up. I thought I was doing the best by her, but I was wrong.” My answer comes out in a choked gasp and Adrian growls.

“Before you two kill each other, I want to let you know there’s a way out of your dilemma…well, part of your dilemma,” Maxwell murmurs from the sofa.

Adrian and I stare at each other for a beat. He abruptly lets go and stalks off to stand by the fireplace, his glower firmly attached to his face.

I heave in the much-needed oxygen and sit back down. “What?”

Maxwell cocks his brow. “If you weren’t hiding out here, you’d have found out sooner.”

“I was working, getting back on the horse, getting my shit together like you said.” And trying to figure out a way to atone for the colossal mistake I made.

“I was hoping you’d be getting your shit back together closer to home.”

“Does it matter where I am and what’s this news you’re talking about?”

“Millie graduated in December and because you and her are practically family courtesy of Steven’s relationship with Grace,” Maxwell motions to Steven, who has the audacity to look as smug as shit, “you spent time together in holiday gatherings and naturally, you two grew closer then. That’s what those rumors are all about.”

He takes a sip of his drink and continues, “Millie, being someone who loves to learn even after she graduated, decided to audit your class for the last two quarters for her own intellectual curiosity. No professor student regulations were broken because she had graduated before your relationship grew close and because no violations occurred, your honorary PhD and tenure track plans are still intact.”

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