Page 29 of Wretched Heart
Jake leaves us to park the SUV in the vast garage block that’s separate to the house, but there are still plenty of other people milling around – workers with tool belts, and others carrying boxes into the open doorway.
“Maybe you should be the one giving us a guided tour,” Reid suggests.
“You haven’t been here before?”
“We didn’t know if there’d be a deal to be struck until today,” Hunter points out. He manages a smile when he adds, “Luckily, we’re good at adapting. We’re used to our plans changing.”
“Welcome home,” a woman exclaims as she comes out of the house to greet us.
She looks to be in her fifties with salt and pepper hair pulled back into a neat bun. Her black shift dress is simple and understated, suggesting she’s a member of staff, but there’s affection in her eyes when Hunter kisses her cheek.
“Hello, Connie,” he says. “I hope we haven’t created too much work for you?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. Come in, and I’ll show you around.”
“I’m all good, I have the architect’s design,” Mace says, sweeping past Connie into the house.
“Mason,” Connie says, the single word stopping him in his tracks.
He trails back a step and kisses her cheek. “Good to see you too, Con.”
“Connie!” Reid exclaims, rushing her with a bear hug that lifts her off her feet. “Got anything to eat? I’mstarving.”
She rolls her eyes at him. “After seven years, you need to ask? Turn left, go straight to the end of the corridor and follow your nose. Just leave enough for the others.”
When only Hunter and I are left, Connie’s eyes focus on me. “And who do we have here?”
“This is Maddie,” Hunter says. He shifts slightly and I can see his jaw working as he tries to figure out how to introduce me. “She’s going to be…” He takes a breath. “Our guest for a while.”
Before I can react to the stab to my heart, Hunter grabs my hand and drags me into the house. “Is there a guest room she can use?”
“Of course,” Connie answers. “Turn right. There are temporary signs tacked on all the doors.” To me, she adds, “Take your pick from the three with guest written on them.” Hunter is already pulling me along as she calls out again. “Guest 3 is nearest to Hunter’s room.”
Hunter doesn’t pause and for a fleeting moment, I imagine he’s dragging me into a bedroom so we can celebrate our engagement the way normal couples would. My stomach hollows when he stops in front of a handwritten sign that says Guest 1. He swings the door open.
“Will this one do?” he asks gruffly.
I school my emotions, not letting him see my disappointment as I step into my assigned bedroom. I wish I knew how to feel about this man. Fear and nerves are the logical response to the unknown, but primal desire fights for dominance.
Despite the chaos of work outside, the room is beautifully furnished and the bed is made. The windows look out onto the courtyard that’s crowded with olive trees and shrubs to maintain a sense of privacy. “It’s perfectly adequate.” What more can I say?
“Good, I’ll get Jake to bring your luggage,” Hunter says, remaining on the threshold. “Once you’ve unpacked, go find Connie and she’ll feed you.”
“Who is she?” I ask before he has a chance to leave.
“She’s employed as our housekeeper, although some might describe her as our caregiver.”
He’s making a joke, but I don’t smile. “I see. And I’m your… guest?”
Hunter glances down the corridor as if assessing his escape route. He chews his lip, his body tensing as he turns his gaze back to me. With a sigh, he rests his shoulder against the door frame and crosses his arms.
“Once Ash finds out what I’ve done, thisproposalwill be dead in the water,” he explains. “So we have to work fast to pull something together that might be more palatable to him. A deal that suits your needs as well as ours, but one that has defined outcomes.”
My throat tightens. “And what does that mean?”
“Marrying you gives us access to the mill so we can stop it going under, and allows us time to apply enough pressure on Hugo to force him to sell,” he explains. “But the moment we buy you and your brother out, this arrangement between us ends. As part of the divorce settlement, you’ll get your share of the proceeds along with your freedom. And the mill will be in safe hands with us, I can promise you that.”
I swallow hard. Hunter makes it sound like a happy ending. It should be a happy ending. I’d have freedom for the first time in my life. I don’t know why, but I just can’t feel it. “OK,” I manage.
