Page 58 of For the Win
“Ali must have convinced him or manipulated him somehow,” Bellamy says, looking torn between anger and disappointment. “He was getting old. Maybe he was confused.”
My laugh sounds bitter. “I don’t think he was confused at all. He wanted something they had, and they wanted a Demir for their daughter. I was the bastard spare and convenient. I may not have known him that well, but he trusted Ali, and I definitely know him. He’s always wanted to be the one calling the shots. That’s why I reported to him. I found the dirt on prospective investors, and he liked the idea of having that much knowledge at his disposal.”
“If I wasn’t so pissed off for him, I’d be making popcorn right now,” Win mutters to Jake as they both stare at me and Bellamy.
“I’d be eating it,” Jake replies with wide eyes. “This is like thatSuccessionshow or something.”
“Oh, I haven’t seen that yet. Is it good?”
“This is not a show,” Bellamy snaps. “This is your future, Jake. Yours and Penny’s, Wesley’s and Sean’s. Ali is family—ourcousin—and I trusted him because my father did. I was trying toget him to help me sort out Michael’s will issue, for fuck’s sake. I believed him when he said he would, and because the brother I just discovered doesn’t trust me enough to talk to me honestly, I could have fallen right into a trap and lost everything.”
I shift uncomfortably, already aware that I’d misjudged him because of what Win had rightly called my prejudice against the family. “That won’t happen. I have a USB and more hard files. You take it all to the board and they won’t let him near the company or their money again.”
“Would you look at that? Michael Demir strikes again,” Win says with a sideways grin. “This is your weekend for rescuing people, isn’t it? Teachers with bad directional skills. Oblivious rich dudes you’re related to. Another gold star for you.”
I want to kiss him for that. Hell, I want to kiss him because he exists. My throat is closing, my chest feels tight and my heart’s too loud in my ears, so I don’t realize I’m lifting him off the floor until we’re heading towards the back of the cabin and he grabs my face with both hands, forcing me to meet his shocked glare.
“Michael, they’re watching. Put me down. Why do you keep doing thi?—”
I step into the small laundry room and kick the door closed behind me, letting him slide down to his feet before I give in to my need to kiss him.
When I finally lift my head to take a breath, he pokes me in the chest with his finger. “Zero boundaries,” he says breathlessly.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
“No, I’m not.” I want everyone to know he’s mine. “I had plans for us after breakfast. Any chance we could send them away for a while and skip the party?”
“Since I’m singing in it and you’re baking for it, I think they’d notice.”
I tangle my fingers in his hair and kiss him again until he’s pressing into me and moaning against my lips.
“This isn’t over.”
He nods and pats me on the chest in a daze. “Got it. We should probably go now.”
When we exit the laundry room, I ignore the knowing look from my brother and start to pull out the empty containers I stored under the sink. I need to pack up my tools and filling for transfer to the lodge. “Should I drive, or do you have enough space for all of us and my boxes?” I point to the other plastic tote full of choux puffs on the counter.
“The main road was cleared but not the entrance to the cabin,” Jake answers. “We brought two snowmobiles so we could take Win or both of you back with us. They have racks and bungee cords on the back, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
I nod. “I’ll be ready as soon as I get this together.”
“I’ll ride with Jake,” Win says, and my eyes narrow as they meet his. He wants me to ride with Bellamy?
“Fine. You can ride with Jake and take the dogs. I have a sling for them that can go beneath your jacket.”
Win gasps. “They have slings? Are you saying I could have beenwearingthem this whole time?”
When I give him a look to remind him just how inconvenient that would have been, he turns away, flustered, and claps his hands. “Okay, puppies, time for one last walk before we head out!”
I keep my eyes on him until he disappears with Jake and the dogs, needing to soak in every last moment we have here together.
“I’ve been there, man.”
I finally look away to focus on Bellamy, who’s standing beside me now. “I doubt that.”
“Believe me, I did some crazy shit after seeing Seamus for the first time.”
