Page 22 of The Bourbon Bride

I’m a little pent-up myself and the gorgeous girl probably just waking up in my bed has everything to do with it.

“Get your asses in the boardroom and quit giving me shit. We have meetings to run and deals to make.” I point at the heavy black doors that lead into the room where they can stay out of my business. And now I have to hunt down a leak at the airport and deal with that mess.

Payton whistles. “Look at this elusive fucker not answering our questions about the woman. He really doesn’t want us to know about this one.”

I glare at Payton, ready to deck him if he doesn’t quit his middle-child meddling.

“Let’s see. You flew in from Savannah, so she’s someone you met there. That’s a mixed bag of social elite and backwater busted. She top tier or bottom barrel, Hater?”

I grit my teeth at the stupid nickname. They will keep at this until they figure it out, and it’s better heard from me where I can control what they learn than from one of their minions who will be sent out scouting on their behalf.

“Fucking crème de la crème, leagues above your own standards, Payton.” I pause and double down on my resolve that this is necessary. “It’s Paige Fairchild,” I finally bite out, hating to give this piece of information up when I wanted to keep it all to myself.

Payton pumps his fist in the air. “Holy shit! Hayes has gone after the woman set to inherit the very legacy he wants to steal. You’ve got mad cojones, man. This is conniving, even for you.”

“You think you can fuck the hotel deal out of her? She the kind of girl who would prefer a fat check to running a hotel empire?” Zander asks, a hint of awe lacing his crude words. Even he hasn’t attempted to sleep with someone to cement a potential business deal, which is probably for the best.

“I think you need to drop it and move on. Don’t you assholes have work to do?”

“I like your tactic. Just don’t let it blow up in your face and ruin our chances of adding a hospitality sector to the business. This could definitely fuck up phase two like Zander said.”

“Thank you for your astute observations, Payton. Now get the fuck out of my office and let me work.” I push them both out the door and slam it in their faces. This is what I get for working with my fucking family. I’m stuck with them forever when all I really want to do is fire their asses.

ten

Paige

“Whereinheaven’snameare you?” Mama’s screech is an unwelcome start to my day, but it’s time I called her back. Turning my phone on after waking up in Hayes’s bed with his big beast curled up next to me was an unfortunate responsibility that had to be tended to. So when I pulled on the flannel pajama pants Hayes lent me and padded down the stairs to let Cerberus outside, I finally found the courage to do it.

“I’m safe in Atlanta.”

Mama lets out a groan of despair. She hates Atlanta with a passion, avoiding the capital city with fervor, so it’s an extra slap to the face to know her only daughter has bolted straight for Satan’s very gates.

“Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you. Now we find out you don’t even have the decency to tell us you would be leaving town after you ruined our family dinner. We reported you missing, Paige!”

Alarm floods my system and I have to take a seat on a lounge chair by the gorgeous deep blue lap pool. Unfazed by the yelling coming through the phone, Cerberus trots around the acres of green grass, looking for the perfect spot to do his morning business.

“You reported me missing? Mama, I’ve been gone for less than twelve hours. It’s not like I would have been tossed in the river as soon as I left your house.”

“You took the Cobra. You could have been killed in an accident with that coffin on wheels,” she insists. “And you weren’t at your apartment, and no one has seen you or the car. What was I supposed to think? I cried my eyes out all night worrying about you. The sheriff is out searching for you this morning. I’m going to have to call him and tell him you left of your own accord trying to give me a heart attack.”

The guilt trip is heavy, but it’s not a burden I should have to shoulder alone. Her actions pushed me to leave and refuse to tell her anything more, so she brought the worry on herself.

“Well, call off the dang search. I’m fine.”

I try to keep the snap out of my voice, but I’m finding it hard to feel the sympathy she wants.

“You went too far, Mama.”

“So this is all my fault once again? You always do this, Paige. There are certain customs you have to adhere to when you come from a family like ours. Like it or not, you have responsibilities other girls don’t have to assume.”

“I won’t marry a would-be rapist, Mama. Even you have to realize that can’t be one of the responsibilities and customs on my shoulders.”

She makes a strangled noise and I wonder if it’s possible to cause a stroke with a phone conversation.

“Garrison Daniels is a wonderful man from a good family. Your alleged assault story from years ago is the only time he has ever been bad-mouthed by anyone in our town. It’s about time you get over the fact you made a mistake and led a boy on at a party and were confused by the events that took place because of it.”

Alleged assault? I led him on? Confused?I think I’m now the one at risk of an aneurysm. Hot tears prick my eyes as my own mother blames me for something I had very little control over.

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