Page 14 of Merry'd to the Mountain Man
“Cut the bullshit.”
I turn to look at him, not needing to pretend I’m shocked. “Excuse me?”
Ryan stares at the picture sitting in front of him for a long moment before he finally looks up at me, eyes sharp. “I’ll get straight to the point.”
My stomach tightens. “Okay—”
“I’ll pay you double whatever he’s paying you.”
The mug in my hand slips a little before I catch it, a bit of coffee sloshing over the edge of the rim. “Ouch. Excuse me?”
He leans back in his chair, expression smooth but tight around the edges. “You heard me. Whatever arrangement you’ve got going with my cousin, I’ll top it. Just tell me what he’s offering.”
I blink, stunned by the bluntness. “He’s not—he’s not paying me anything.”
Ryan’s mouth twists into a humorless smile. “Of course he’s not.” He chuckles, low and mean. “Figures. He tricks you into marrying him to get the inheritance, and you don’t even see a dime. That’s just like him—self-righteous, stubborn, pretending he’s better than the rest of us.”
My pulse picks up, the need to protect Cole flaring up inside me, but I keep my voice steady. “You’re wrong.”
He stands, pulling something from his coat pocket—a checkbook. “I’ll write you one right now. A hundred thousand dollars to walk out that door today and end this ridiculous charade. That’s more than fair, wouldn’t you say?”
Before I can even form a response, the sound of the bedroom door upstairs creaks open. Footsteps. Then the click of the door closing again.
A moment later, Cole appears at the top of the stairs, rubbing the back of his neck. His hair’s a mess, his shirt pulled tight against his thick chest. He looks good in that infuriating, rugged,too real to be minekind of way.
He doesn’t notice the tension at first—just walks over to the woodstove, crouching to add a few logs. “Morning,” he says, his voice still rough from sleep.
Ryan steps closer to me, lowering his voice. “He only married you to meet the clause in our grandfather’s will,” he whispers. “You think he’d look twice at you otherwise? He’s using you.”
I want to pour my hot coffee over his head, but manage to keep a level head as a plan forms in my mind.
I widen my eyes, pretending to be shocked at what he’s just said. “What?”
“Ask him yourself.” Ryan shrugs. “I can show you the will if you want proof.”
Before I can reply, Marnie shuffles down the stairs, wearing oversized sunglasses and clutching her head like it might fall off.
“God,” she groans. “Why is it so bright in here?”
The tension snaps for just a second, but not enough. Ryan’s still watching me, waiting. I look from him to Cole, who’s standing now, glancing between us with a hint of suspicion.
My heart pounds. I need to end this before Ryan gets too smug.
“Cole,” I say, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “Can I talk to you outside?”
His brows knit. “Now?”
“Yes. Now.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Ryan’s smirk—the satisfied, snake-like grin he hides behind his coffee mug.
He thinks he’s winning.
Not for long.
CHAPTER 12
Cole
