Page 39 of So Wrong It Must Be Right

“It is partially aboutus,” she said forcefully, letting it sit there between them like the little bomb that it was.

* * *

Carter could not in a million years have predicted this. There was certainly nothing he could have done to prepare himself for this compromise, this offer . . .

It is partially about us.She had said that as though she felt everything he’d been feeling the past few days. As though she felt strongly enough to want to change the course of her business plan.

He didn’t know what to do with that. Not as the waiter put the bottle of wine on the table. Not as he put the plate of cannoli between them. Nothing about the romantic scene in the little Italian restaurant, with the beautiful woman across the table from him, made any sense whatsoever.

He studied Dinah as she took a seemingly careless sip of wine before sliding a cannoli onto her plate. Anyone who walked past her would think she was completely and utterly unaffected. A woman on a date having a decent enough time, maybe a little bored.

But he saw the flicker of nerves in her hazel eyes, and the way she nibbled on the cannoli rather than actually eat it proved his point. She wasn’t suggesting this on a whim. Or because the sex had been amazing. She felt the same things he felt and she was willing to put some of her pride on the line for it.

He admired that about her, even as it scared the living hell out of him. What was he supposed to do with this woman? She was beautiful and nearly perfect and far too smart for his own good. If he agreed to this, what else would he agree to?

It felt like a slippery slope, and God knew Jordan and the rest of the neighborhood would judge him for partnering up with Gallagher’s.

But he hadn’t been lying to Dinah when he’d said he was tired of fighting. He was tired of standing up for his land and always having to protect it and struggle for it. A partnership with Gallagher’s would at least put off the fight for a while.

As much as he was growing to care for Dinah, against his will, he still couldn’t imagine a scenario where he gave up this farm he’d worked so hard for.

“I can’t promise anything, but I guess I could . . . consider it.”

She set her wine down a little bit too hard and her grin spread so bright and so fast he couldn’t fight the bolt of pleasure it gave him to bring her some semblance of happiness.

“You’ll really think about it?”

“Thinkbeing the operative word. I’ll have to put together some thoughts and plans, look at finances and all sorts of things of that nature.”

“Absolutely. And if you have any questions or anything you want me to ask our chef, I can get you any information you need. I really think this could be great. For Gallagher’s and for you and . . .” She trailed off as she frowned at her wineglass.

“And for us?” he finished for her, because he had no doubt that’s where her thoughts were going.

She glanced up at him, eyes serious. “Yes. Us.” She took a deep breath. “I thinkuscould be . . . good. Don’t you?”

It was insane, but he did think that. How it had come about made no sense, and actually finding a way around her uncle trying to buy his land, it all felt so surreal.

But she was here, across from him, gorgeous and real and wanting the same things he wanted. Wanting to fight—not against him, but with him. How could he not think it had all the potential in the world forgood?

So he smiled. “Yeah, I do.”

Chapter 12

“Ifollowed you last night.”

Dinah stopped in her tracks in the hallway of Gallagher’s. Though she’d never been fond of her uncle, his tone and his words were downright creepy, enough to have her shivering.

She turned slowly to face him, trying to maintain an aura of not giving a fuck. “That’s certainly a creepy statement,UncleCraig.”

“A man wouldn’t have to becreepyif his family members weren’t a bunch of lying, cheating deviants.”

Dinah tried to fight off the shudder of fear, but it got the better of her.CondescendingCraig she’d always disliked; flat-outhatefulCraig actually scared her a little bit.

“You know, fucking the enemy doesn’t make you any more moral, and certainly not any smarter than your father.”

“Youspiedon me?” she asked, rage replacing revulsion so quickly it nearly made her sway. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“The director of operations of Gallagher’s, who will be damned if I let a slut ruin everything I’ve worked for.”

---