Page 27 of Midnight & Mavericks

Abbie stood in her grandfather’s kitchen, her hands wrapped tightly around a warm cup of coffee. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the faded lace curtains, casting golden patterns on the worn linoleum floor. She had always loved this kitchen—the heart of the house, full of memories of laughter, meals, and quiet conversations. But today, it felt like a battlefield.

She glanced at the clock on the wall, the ticking of the second hand loud in the otherwise silent house. Teddy Van Meter was late, which wasn’t surprising. Punctuality had never been his strong suit. She set the coffee cup down and adjusted the hem of her blouse, telling herself it wasn’t nerves that made her hands tremble. It was irritation. And anticipation of a good ole fight.

The low rumble of an engine on the gravel driveway pulled her attention to the window. She peered out and saw Teddy’s shiny black SUV, spotless as always, pull to a stop. It was so out of place here, like a snake slithering into a bird’s nest. He climbed out, his tailored suit perfectly pressed, his hair styled like he was ready for a photo op. She hated how smug he looked, like he’d already won before the game had even started.

Abbie crossed her arms, bracing herself as the front door opened without so much as a knock. Typical Teddy.

“Abbie,” he greeted, his voice oozing with false charm as he stepped inside.

“Teddy,” she replied curtly, not moving from her spot by the counter. “You’re late.”

He grinned, unfazed by her cold reception. “Ah, well, you know me—always busy. But I’m here now, and that’s what matters, isn’t it?”

She didn’t bother responding, instead gesturing toward the kitchen table. “Let’s get this over with.”

Teddy’s smile faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly, setting a slim leather folder on the table as he took a seat. He looked around the kitchen with feigned nostalgia, his gaze lingering on the peeling wallpaper and the worn edges of the table. “This place hasn’t changed a bit,” he said. “Quaint, really.”

Abbie clenched her jaw, choosing to ignore the jab. “What is this about, Teddy?”

“Straight to the point,” he said, shaking his head with a laugh. “I always admired that about you.” He opened the folder and slid a stack of papers toward her. “I’m here to make you and your grandfather another offer. A very generous one. Even better than the first one.”

Abbie didn’t even glance at the papers. “The ranch isn’t for sale.”

Teddy’s smile tightened. “Now, Abbie, let’s not be hasty. You and I both know your grandfather is struggling to keep up this place. With his health, his age, his finances, well, this offer could solve all his problems—and yours.”

“I don’t have problems, Teddy,” she said, her tone icy. “And even if I did, you wouldn’t be the solution.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying her with an expression that sent a chill down her spine. “You’ve always been sostubborn,” he said, his voice softening like he was trying to coax her into agreeing. “But this isn’t just about the ranch, Abbie. It’s about you. About us.”

She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “Us?”

Teddy nodded, his smile turning wolfish. “We were good together once, weren’t we? You were the smartest, most ambitious woman I’d ever met. I still think about you, you know. About what we could’ve had.” His eyes dropped to the opening of her blouse. “About what we could have done together.”

Abbie’s stomach turned, and she took a step back, her arms tightening around herself. “Teddy, you’re delusional. We dated a couple of times, but weren’t involved. We had nothing. There was no chemistry, so I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not interested. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

His eyes darkened, the charm slipping away to reveal the entitled man beneath. “This isn’t a game, Abbie. I’m offering you a chance to have everything you’ve ever wanted. The ranch, the money, and me. We’d make a great team.”

Abbie let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You think I’d sell my family’s ranch and marry you? Why on earth would I need to do that?”

His jaw tightened, and he stood abruptly, towering over her. “Because you need my help, Abbie. You need me to save you from wasting your life in that law firm up in New York. You know that partnership they offered you is just window dressing, don’t you?”

“How do you know about my partnership? Are you spying on me?” She accused him, incredulous that he knew anything about her life in New York.

“I know all about you, Abbie. Where you go. Who your friends are. I know the son of your boss, Nathan Winters, has the hots for you. Have you slept with him yet? You know that’s the reason for the partnership. They want to soften you up so you’llsleep with him. Maybe even the boss? Have you slept with them, Abbie? Are you giving them what belongs to me?”

Abbie took a step back. “You’re insane, Teddy. You have lost your mind.”

His face twisted with anger, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her close. “You have no idea just how crazy I can get when someone takes something that belongs to me. I kept waiting for you to come back home, but year after year, through law school, through your residency, and now they throw a partnership in front of you to stop you from coming back to me.”

Abbie wrenched her arm free, her palm cracking against Teddy’s cheek with a force that echoed through the kitchen. For a split second, he froze, the color rising in his face as his head turned with the impact. When he looked back at her, his expression twisted into something that made her blood run cold. It wasn’t just anger anymore—it was something darker, more unsettling.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Teddy said, his voice low and chillingly calm.

Before Abbie could react, his hands shot out, grabbing her shoulders and slamming her back against the wall. The breath rushed out of her lungs, and she struggled, trying to push him away, but he was stronger than she’d expected. His face was inches from hers now, his eyes wild with something that looked disturbingly like triumph.

“I’ve been patient with you, Abbie,” he hissed, his grip tightening as she squirmed. “I’ve waited long enough. You need to understand that no one says no to me. Not you. Not anyone.”

“Teddy, let go of me!” she snapped, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest.

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