Page 91 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

“The hell she has. You’ve jeopardized everything, you asshole.”

Matthew adjusted his glasses. He might not show much emotion, but I’d figured out his tells over the years. Any time he touched his glasses, he was pissed. Point for me.

“Stooping to name-calling? And we’re not even two minutes into the call.”

“What did you expect when you pull a dick move like that?” I paced the room, now clean of debris thanks to Myles. “She stole my truck and trashed the model home.”

“Then you shouldn’t leave me to do your dirty work.”

“I’m not buying their land.” I stopped moving, my unfocused world becoming clear. “And I’ll make for damn sure you won’t be able to buy it either.”

Money, goals, and dreams didn’t matter if Angie wasn’t in my life.

“You can’t do that.” Matthew’s normally pale complexion flushed red.

I’d always been a burr in his coat, and now I had an opportunity to really hurt him, and my father.

“Oh?” I leaned close to the screen. “I’m the one who’s formed a relationship with Tony and Nora. I’m the one who’s been with them every day. You don’t think I know how to do my job well enough to manipulate them to exactly where I want them to be?”

“Don’t do this.” He rubbed his forehead and temples, just like he’d done when I’d filled his suit pockets with gravel. “Not because of a girl. She’s not worth it.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” I held the phone back and placed my free hand over my heart. “She’s worth everything I have.”

“That won’t be much once I cut off your magical business credit card. You won’t have access to the big pot of money at the end of the rainbow.”

“So, you’re a leprechaun now?”

“Shut up.” Matthew sounded too much like a teenager, not a business tycoon. “You and I both know you’ll come crawling back. Without money, you can kiss all your extreme-sports hobbies goodbye. I won’t fund them anymore.”

Matthew couldn’t handle being in the spotlight. He didn’t like crowds, press interviews, or dealing with people, which was another reason the company needed me. Maybe they’d replaced me, but at this point, I didn’t care.

Tony and Nora were far happier than my parents and lived on next to nothing for most of their lives. I’d much rather live like they had, than own multiple properties, marbled mansions with gold fixtures as cold and unwelcoming as stone, or even my Bugatti … Okay, I had to admit, that one would be hard to give up. Maybe someday I could eke out enough of a living to buy a Corvette.

For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel lost. I had a place, and that was here with Angie. If only she’d look past Smoot and see me—the real me.

“Your threats don’t scare me.” I hung up the phone, the bright call screen replaced by the wallpaper I’d taken of my baby corn.

No more skydiving, BASE jumping on the Greek Isles, no more rappelling down the world’s tallest building in Dubai. I tightened my grip on the edge of the bed, my dark-blue comforter bunching in my hands. Somehow, even without the financial backing of my family, I’d figure out a way to take Angie on as many adventures as possible. I wanted to share everything with her—experience all that life offered.

Almost instantly, my phone started buzzing again. Although tempted to ignore it, I picked it up, ready with a fresh wave of anger. But that all eased out of me when I saw who the caller was.

I answered and held the phone to my ear. “Lili?”

She didn’t bother with a greeting. “Angie just left my house. She’s going rappelling with Smoot. I’m worried.”

Of course, she’d keep going with Smoot. Even after I told her I loved her. With Smoot being the Darwin-in-action he was, I didn’t trust him with Angie’s life.

“Where are they at?”

“City of the Rocks. She said he has something special planned.”

“City of the Rocks?”

My conversation with Smoot at the bar.

Her favorite place.

My vision swam, and my head dizzied like it did when I saw blood.

---