Page 16 of Stepbrothered by the Mountain Man

Beau’s eyes flicker to me. The silence that follows is deafening.

“Levi?” Maya’s watery gaze turns to me before snapping back to Beau in astonishment. “You sold it to Levi?”

“Maya,” Beau begins, but Maya’s shaking her head, angry tears welling in her eyes.

“You knew how special that lot was to me,” she says, her voice raw. She isn’t looking at me, but I know she’s speaking to me and not Beau. “I told you I had a plan.”

“An awful one, My,” I say, leaning over the corner of the table to grab her hand. I need to touch her, to physically communicate with her that I was sorry and that I never meant to hurt her. I cup her face, my thumbs swiping the tears rolling down her cheek. “That loan is a terrible one. A damn slave contract.”

“I’m not a kid anymore, Levi,” she says, swatting my hand away.

“I know you’re not a kid—”

“Then let me make my own decisions!” Her fist pounding on the table makes all the dishware shake.

Kat and Dad gasp while Everly coos, liking the sound.

“But Maya, this contract doesn’t sound like a good one,” Kat says, her brows knitting. “Levi knows a lot about numbers. If he says it isn’t a good idea, he may have a point.”

“I understand his concern, but it was still my choice to make,” her voice cracks. “If you wanted to help Beau and the lodge, why didn’t you buy one of the other properties? Why buy mine?”

“Maya, the thing is, Levi found that land—”

I shake my head and cut him off. “Beau, none of that matters right now.”

“I think it does,” Grant says. “We didn’t want to hurt you, Maya. It’s not personal, it’s business.”

She shakes her head, pushing away from the table and taking a step back. “No, it’s blood.”

“What?” Beau and I say together.

“I saw Levi run into your office earlier. Let me guess, he told you that I had the funding?”

“He did—” Beau begins.

“ So if it’s just business and not personal, why didn’t you hear us both out? Why did you shut me out and choose him over me?”

“I didn’t—”

“You did.” She looks around the table and Grant, Beau, and me in turn. “You guys always say that we’re a family. That we’re in this together. But when it comes down to really important decisions you push me to the side without my input. What other conclusion can I draw other than it’s because I’m not a Woods like everyone else at this table.”

“Maya!” Kat cries.

“Maya, that’s not fair,” Beau says. “I am your real brother, and it’s my job to look after you. That loan would eat you alive and I don’t need to see the terms to know that. Blood and surnames have nothing to do with it but age does. You’re young.”

“A kid,” she mumbles but I’m positive I’m the only one that hears it.

“You’re not thinking clearly. There are other properties and we can discuss—”

But Maya’s not listening. The sound of her chair scraping back cuts Beau off as she bolts from the dining area, tossing her folder and pen straight into the trash on her way out.

“Maya,” I call, pushing back my chair to chase after her, but Beau places a hand on my shoulder.

“Let her cool down,” Grant says. “Give her some space and then tell her the truth.”

“All of it,” Beau adds.

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