Page 36 of My Three Rivals

“We’ve been at a stalemate with her even before we started,” I commented, folding my arms over my chest.

“I hate to say, ‘I told you so,’ but she’s not as bad as Atticus is making her out to be. She’s on guard because of how we came at her, but the truth is, she’s not so bad.”

I nodded slowly, not wanting to give away my shifted opinion about her. “So, what are you saying?”

Maverick puckered his lips. “It’s going to be a hard sell…”

“Out with it,” I urged.

“I think we should scrap the plans for building and reinvest in the vineyard.”

He looked at me, his body language telling me he was prepared for an argument, but I bobbed my head again. “I think you’re right.”

Maverick’s jaw dropped, and he blinked once. “You do?”

I snickered, amused by his response. “This infighting isn’t going to get us anywhere. It’s already costing us money, so we should probably work together.”

Now Maverick’s eyebrows shot up, and he peered at me speculatively. “Did something happen with you guys?”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Would you care if it had?”

He paused and considered my question for a second. Then he shook his head. “No. I honestly think that we all need to get on the same page for this to work. And if that means working together in business and domestically, even better.”

That was Maverick for you, always seeing the silver lining in any situation.

“You’re forgetting something,” I told him.

“I’m not,” he exhaled. “But I think if we stand united, we can convince Atticus, too. This partnership is just that. He can’t make all the decisions all the time.”

“Nor should he,” I agreed. “But when Atticus gets something in his head…”

I paused. “And it’s not just that.”

Maverick again pursed his lips, knowing what I was saying without me spelling it out. “Lou.”

“We have to do something about that,” I grumbled. “We really did get in a raw deal.”

“It’s our own fault for not doing our due diligence, but unless we want to make waves with them…” Maverick muttered, shaking his head. “Fucking Emerson.”

“He was a piece of shit,” I conceded. “But that’s not Tegan’s fault.”

“No. It’s not.”

We eyed one another for a second, our minds working collectively. Over the tree line, the sun faded out entirely, leaving us blanketed in a twilight blue hue. My eyes darted across the property toward a lone shed near the winery, a shiver of disgust running through me.

“Have you been through the entire property?” Maverick asked, his voice lower as he followed my gaze.

I nodded slowly. “I haven’t found any evidence, but I suspect Atticus has gotten rid of it.”

Maverick grunted. “Good. I don’t want to see that shit.” He hesitated. “Do you think Tegan knows anything?”

I shook my head with certainty. “There’s no way. I can’t imagine it. For as much of a firecracker as she is, she doesn’t seem…”

I trailed off. I was going to say “evil,” but if her brother had been the lowest form of pond scum, what were we, stepping into the mess he’d made?

“Me neither. Her only concern is just saving this place,” Maverick agreed, saving me from finishing my sentence.

Our gazes met, and I popped a wry smile on my face.

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