Page 20 of So Close

“Okay,” she said. “Deja’s right. It’s not much, but it’s a chance.”

It was a tiny chance. The slimmest of chances. A chance that would require her to spend the next week with Trey Xavier.

She shouldhatethat idea. Shedidhate that idea.

Which didn’t explain the swirl of excitement in the pit of her stomach.

10

“She’s late,” Trey said, consulting his watch.

“It’s two minutes after,” his grandfather said mildly, from his hospital bed.

“She called the meeting. She should be here.”

His grandfather chuckled. “I don’t think she plays by your rules.”

As if he’d conjured her, the door swung open and Auburn walked in. She’d shed her usual athletic wear and wore a pencil skirt, a silky looking blouse, and heels. All restraint except for that insane hair. She looked like a librarian who’d stuck her finger in a socket, and—why the fuck was that hot?

Goddamn, it was impossible not to be thrown off course by her. Yesterday evening, at Beachcrest, he’d felt completely off kilter. The words that had come out of his mouth, his body language—they’d all conveyed the ice calm he expected from himself. But inside, he was churning—with frustration and the need to do something to tame her.

“Mr. Xavier,” she said.

It was the first time she’d called him that, and crap. He liked it.

“Ms. Campbell.”

Her eyes swept to his, and he saw the flare of pupil. There was that, at least. He wasn’t the only animal in the room. The combativeness of the situation—orsomething—was affecting them both. The thrill of a fight. Things had come too easily to him for too long. She was just a challenge. And it must be the same for her, too. No way running an inn provided the kind of thrill she clearly craved.

Damn it,he needed to hold tight to his resolve. Whatever had prompted her to call this meeting, it was Auburn’s Last Stand. So … he needed to keep his focus. Not think about what thrill she might crave.

“I have a deal for you.”

Startled, he nearly let his surprise show in his eyes, but recovered himself. “Youhave a deal forme.”

Her lips curved at that. Which wasn’t the response he wanted. “I do. I know you don’t want a legal battle, because if you didn’t care how long this took, you wouldn’t have shown up last night and tried to buy me off.”

He’d underestimated her. He’d shown his hand, and either she or her friends had seen through his play. “I just like to keep things simple. And money keeps things simple. I pay you, you go away, this all stops.”

Carl made an irritated noise from the bed. Jesus, why had he agreed to meet here? This was hard enough without an audience.

“Icanmake this all go away,” Auburn said. “But I have a price.”

Ah. So he’d been right about that. Thank God.

“July 8—that’s when you need this deal signed, right?”

“Around then,” he lied.

He saw her lips curve in a smile, and realized she knew. She knew what the time pressure meant, to him and to her. God damn it. He’d really fucking underestimated her.

“Give me till then to convince you that you should sell Beachcrest to me.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Why would I want to do that?”

“Because if I can’t convince you, I’ll walk away without a legal battle and let you make the sale.”

It was too easy. There was a catch.

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