Page 77 of Bull Rush

I’m trying to remember Amelia’s sage advice as I trudge up the steps, but when I look back at my husband, all I can do is wonder if it’s possible to fall in love with the same person twice.

THIRTY-SIX

Ramsey

The next day,I’m in my brother’s office in the tower of The Avarice again—the receptionist thankfully remembers me this time. As I wait, I pace around the office looking for any signs my brothers might be involved in this, like somehow there’d be some sort of tell. It’s ridiculous, I know, but I’d spent the night tossing and turning after Hazel fell asleep.

“What do you need?” Grant draws my attention as he comes into the room, ready to get to the point like I told his receptionist I would. Lev follows behind him, looking at me curiously and wondering what my summons is for.

“Curtis Reed. He works here?” I ask bluntly. No use beating around the bush.

“Yes. I believe so.” Grant looks to Lev. “Lev handles most of the staffing.”

“I recognize the name. He works here. He’s a low-level floor manager, I believe,”Lev adds.

“And?” I press because I’m suspicious about the coincidence of their employee dating my wife.

“And?” Lev shrugs, raising his brow.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know why I’m asking.” There’s an edge to my tone.

“I’m not pretending. You’re going to have to spell it out for me.” Lev gives me the same tone in return.

“He’s engaged to Hazel,” Grant interjects, and we both look at him. “He thinks we’re involved somehow now.”

“So you are familiar.” I eye him because he’s playing coy, and that’s never a good sign.

“I knew she was datingaCurtis. It doesn’t take much to figure it out if you’re asking about one.” Grant gives a half-hearted rise of his shoulder, but the way his eyes dart to the side, I feel like there’s more than what he’s sharing.

“How did you know?” I press on.

“The town gossip makes its way up here. People talk while they’re sitting at the tables or the bar, brother. It’s not exactly a secret. I told you; it’s been the talk for a while that she met someone she likes better than you.”

“Because you planted him in her life?”

Grant smirks, gives a small click of his tongue, and then it spreads to a full smile. “Why would I do that?”

“You’ve always had your eyes on the ranch. Always been plotting expansion projects onto my land. Always trying to convince me to come work for you. That doesn’t work, so you go after Haze. She’s as stubborn as me, so you move on to options you have more control over.” I’d come up with a million scenarios in the middle of the night last night.

“Well, as much as I wish I’d thought of that. He’s not ours.” Grant stands from his desk and walks around to the front of it.

“He came in through the normal channels. He’s been here a little over a year,” Lev speaks up again, and I look over to seehim scrolling through information on his phone, presumably employee records.

“What’s made you suspicious of him?” Grant studies my face, like somehow he can tell more from it than my answers.

“I have my reasons.”

“He’s on a leave of absence for a few months,” Lev says and then sets his phone down on the shelf.

“A leave of absence?” My brow furrows. “He’s not at a training in Vegas?”

“Training in Vegas?” Grant repeats like I’m speaking a foreign language.

“You didn’t send some of your staff off for training in Vegas?” I clarify.

“No,” Lev answers. “Why would we do that? We could just bring someone out here.”

“I don’t know fuck all about casinos or how you run them,” I grumble at my brother, but my stomach is sinking at a rapid rate.

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