Page 38 of My Three Rivals

Wyatt shrugged, but to his credit, he looked abashed, and Maverick exhaled, offering me a grin. He flashed me a smile, but I maintained my stoic mask, waiting to see where this was going.

“This didn’t really need a conference,” I added, sensing that Maverick had more to say that had nothing to do with our bedroom behavior.

He nodded his blond head and pursed his lips, as if summoning the strength to continue what he wanted to say.

“I think…”

“Uh-oh…” Wyatt grumbled.

“Shut up, Wyatt,” Maverick fired back, his attention still fixed on me.

I nodded. “You think what?”

“That if we can all agree she’s not the enemy…” he began slowly, gauging my reaction carefully.

“Maverick, just say it,” I insisted.

“We need to stop fighting her now—really,” Maverick blurted out, leaning forward on his forearms to peer at me intently. “This butting heads is only going to draw things out and make things worse for everyone.”

I said nothing, but through my peripheral vision, I noticed Wyatt shifting his weight uncomfortably.

“She’s defensive, we’re on the offense. This could go on forever, but nothing will ever get resolved.”

He waited for me to say something now, his bright eyes shining against the night, the backdrop of the porch light giving him an almost angelic glow.

“You’re right,” I conceded, causing Wyatt’s jaw to drop. I began to laugh at Wyatt’s response, even if Maverick kept his composure. “What? You think I’m totally unreasonable?”

“No, of course not, or we wouldn’t be in business with you,” Maverick replied quickly. “But sometimes, you do get single-minded—especially when the competition is giving you a run for your money.”

I snorted again, but I had to admit he was right. The worries of losing my vast wealth had been deeply ingrained since childhood, when my father had run his successful business into the ground, leaving us so destitute, he’d been driven to madness. I wouldn’t let that happen to me.

“We have to think of good economics,” I reminded them both before they could go on.

“We went to the same business school as you,” Wyatt piped in, but clamped his lips closed when I shot him a look.

“But some of us paid more attention than others,” I insisted. “Or you wouldn’t be so eager to throw away money like you do.”

Wyatt grunted, but Maverick continued his pitch. “We are considering the economics. We can keep dragging out this war with Tegan, which will absolutely cut into our bottom line, or we can all work together and do something with this vineyard.”

Maverick presented the idea like it was going to shock me in some way, but in truth, I had already started moving my own mind in that direction. Tegan was already showing the propensity to put us in the hole with her antics, and the appeal of the split-level house off the vineyard was growing on me, despite its state of disrepair. I’d begun mental calculations of what it might take to save the vineyard and winery.

And maybe get on Tegan’s good side outside of the bedroom.

“And by working together, you mean forget about the commercial development and focus our attention on bringing this place out of the gutter?” I concluded for Maverick.

He shrugged, sitting back gingerly as to not antagonize the precarious chair beneath him. Wyatt remained at the door, his arms folded as he stared at me, silently willing an affirmative response.

They’re really concerned I’m going to say no,I realized, a bemused smirk taking over my lips.

“You know we’re partners, right?” I challenged them, mildly annoyed that they were apprehensive about approaching me. “We’re equal share partners in Suncrop.”

“Of course we know that,” Maverick replied.

“Then why are you so worried that I’m going to veto it if you two want to do this?”

Wyatt answered this time. “Because you’re the best at handling tough decisions, Atticus. We might be equal partners, but your nose for investments has always been solid.”

“Not this time,” I mused dryly.

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