Page 22 of So Close

“I’m not selling it to you,” he told Auburn. “I’ll change his mind.”

“Ha!” Carl said. “You willnot.”

Auburn pursed her lips. “I might though,” she said slowly.

He and his grandfather both froze.

“Carl. If Trey takes this deal with me, the one to give Beachcrest a real chance, you have to agree you won’t fight him on the sale. And that you’ll live in the new place.”

Carl looked from Trey to Auburn and back again. And something like a smile spread over his veiny old man face. “I see what you just did there.”

She was clever. Quick. Savvy. Trey had to grant her that. She’d—

Well, she’d outmaneuvered him.

Except for one thing.

There wasnoway she was going to convince him to fall in love with Beachcrest, no matter how much time he spent with her.

Apparently, his grandfather didn’t feel the same way because he snorted. “Hell, yes, I agree.” He turned toward Auburn. “Make it so.”

She laid the “agreement” on the side table and scribbled something, then showed him what she’d added. “‘If XAVIER carries out the terms of this agreement, PHILBURN agrees to yield to Trey’s wishes in the matter of the sale of Beachcrest.’”

She handed the pen to Trey.

One week. One week of attending events while being ‘reasonably polite.’ He could do that in his sleep. And if he gave up the next seven days of his life, he could get this deal signed, save Home Base and a hundred and fifty jobs, sell theshitout of his company, and hang onto the wealth that would guarantee his sister’s, nephews’, and grandfather’s safety and well-being. It was a no-brainer.

He scrawled his name, then watched as Carl did the same. His grandfather beamed at his protege.

“You’ve got this, girl. In the bag.”

Then Carl turned back toward Trey. “And you? You havenoeffing idea who you’re dealing with.”

Trey’s gaze met Auburn’s, and she smiled, a wicked, knowing quirk of lips. Her gaze held level with his, all challenge and confidence. He felt that look, all the way down to where his dick was growing heavy.

All at once, he wasn’t nearly as certain as he’d been when he’d signed his name.

Looking at Auburn, her generous curves barely contained by the restrained lines of her businesswear, her hair like its own creature, he had to admit to himself that it was possible Carl was right.

11

Trey Xavier was wearing asuitto breakfast.

Of course he was. She hadn’t put dressing like a normal person in the agreement, so he was taking advantage of whatever loophole he could to show her he was still in control … ofsomething.

It irritated her. Made her itchy and combative. But it also had another effect on her, one she was trying hard to ignore.

Shelikedit. Not just how good he looked in the suit, but the power it highlighted. The unyielding strength.

As furious as she was with him, she still couldn’t helpreactingto him.

The only fireworks I have time for are the ones I give a woman in bed.

It was just a stupid line.

But her body had believed it, a hundred percent.

Trey was fiddling with his phone. Like, hadn’t looked up from it once, despite the easy flow of conversation all around him. Apparently, he was too important for them.

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