Page 30 of Mad Rivals

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“Or maybe he has a thing for Kennedy. What’s this about your dads? Can we sidestep that and get to the fuckening?”

“The fuckening?” I repeat.

“Yeah, like an awakening and a good fuck at the same time. A fuckening.”

“How is this an awakening?” I ask, my brows dipping.

“Dude, sex with that guy would be a spiritual experience. Guaranteed.”

I blow out a breath. Okay, so now Clem knows I’m dealing with a hot guy. But that doesn’t change things. “He’s such a jerk, though.”

“Give me two examples,” she says.

“Why two?”

“Because if you only have one, it could be an anomaly or a misread on your part. Two is stronger evidence.”

“Um, okay, well, day one he purposely bumped into me,” I say, though I have no idea if that’s actually true. “And then he dismissed his driver and forced me to drive him back to his office.”

She rolls her eyes. “He bumped into you for a conversation starter, and he invented a way to spend time with you despite your icy attitude. I don’t know, babe. You know you’re my ride or die, but I think maybe you’re being the jerk in this situation.”

“Ew, Clem!” I practically screech. “Don’t you dare say that! You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“You know I am. Always. But I think you’re dismissing this guy for silly reasons when you might be missing out on something amazing. A pro football player from a billionaire family like the Bradleys? Fuck the family feud. I say go for it. You’re not even that close with your dad.”

“I know, but this is business, too. I can’t just go for it. I have to think about the future of VBC and all its employees. I can’t get tangled up with a guy who has the power to destroy all of it. I can’t trust him.”

“Because you haven’t given him a chance,” she points out.

“And I won’t. I can’t.” My voice gets a little shaky. “I already lost all the control I had over my life when I gave in and took this job, Clem. You know that better than anyone. I can’t lose even more to a man who’s considered a rival. I just have a lot to prove, and sleeping with the enemy just doesn’t feel like the right first impression.”

No matter how goddamn hot he is. No matter that he’s a professional athlete who appears to be showing an interest in me.

She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I know, babe. I’ll drop it.”

“Thanks,” I whisper as emotion seems to claw at my chest.

I’m glad she understands. I’m glad she’s going to drop it.

But it doesn’t change the fact that her words hit where they were meant to. I’m not giving him a chance, and there’s definitely something there between us.

Hate. I remind myself that it’s hate that’s between us.

I have to. I can’t lose the last tiny shred of control I have left.

I spend the rest of the afternoon preparing for my meeting tomorrow with Madden. I assume he’ll be bringing a team with him, so I pull together a quick meeting with the heads of zoning, infrastructure, utilities, traffic, sustainability, and safety. They’re all aware of the project since they each contributed thoughts on the bid, and Dave, our head of zoning, is available to sit in on the meeting tomorrow.

I also tell the sales manager that I’d like Clem to sit in on the meeting.

It’s just safer this way. It’ll help to have backup. It’ll help not to have to face him alone.

And then, purely because of his words to me that I didn’t have the nerve to text him, I finally send him a text.

Me:This is Kennedy Van Buren. My office looks forward to collaborating with you on the SCS project, and I’m just confirming our 9:00 meeting tomorrow at my office.

His reply comes quickly.

Madden:I wondered if you’d ever use the number I gave you, but I really thought you’d be more creative than a confirmation.