Page 71 of Ruthless Knight

“You don’t give up, do you?” He grits his teeth, shakes his head, and walks to the humidor on the coffee table to grab a cigar.

“Not on this, no. It’s important to me.” I steel my spine and imbue my voice with all the passion I feel for Sunset Cove. “Knight ,you have taken everything from me.”

“When last I checked, I saved your father from a fate worse than death.” He shrugs out of his jacket and lights up the cigar. “I’m not sure you realize what being bankrupt means, or owing serious money to people you can’t write off.”

“I understand, and I’m fulfilling my part of the contract, but that is all for my father. Not me.” I bring my hands to my chest. “You have left me with ten percent of the one thing I own. Sunset Cove is the last piece of my mother. You knew I was going to renovate it, and you undercut me. Can’t you have the decency to look at my mom’s designs?”

He narrows his eyes and sits in front of his computer as if getting ready to work. “I already told you how I feel.”

“Is there really nothing I can do?”

“No.” He looks away and focuses on the computer screen, dismissing me from his sight.

I swallow past the Texas-sized lump clogging my throat and rummage through my mind for something more to help me.

Something I can do to prove to Knight that Mom’s ideas are the best for Sunset Cove. I can imagine him modernizing everything and ruining the nostalgia and heart of the place. Some things are best preserved, and you aren’t supposed to change them.

Knight starts tapping away on his keyboard with his cigar slinked to the side of his mouth.

“I’ll do anything,” I mutter in a reverent-careful voice.

My offer gets his attention. His fingers still on the keyboard, and a sinful look that should warn me away enters his eyes. I imagine that’s how the devil would look if you offered yourself to him.

“Anything?” He inclines his head.

“Yes.” Although I feel like I’m about to sign a contract without knowing what I’ve agreed to, I have to try.

He pulls on his cigar and releases a waft of smoke that surrounds him in a sexy fog. The sight reminds me of one of those neo-noir posters of classic Hollywood films likeCasablanca, or maybe with Knight, it would more be likeTheGodfather.

He glances across the room and scans the area. Then it’s as if an idea comes to him, and when he looks back at me, his eyes are alive with malice.

“Okay.” Malevolence snakes through his voice, slithering through every syllable.

I don’t care about the chills rushing across my body with the warning not to do this. I feel hope. I got him to say okay.

“You will?”

“Yeah, I’ll look over the designs and consider them with my own plans for the renovations. But, you need to beat me at a game of chess.”

He glances at the wooden chessboard in the corner of the room. I do the same, noting how the pieces suddenly look real.

I hate chess, and it was so long ago that I played the game, I can barely remember the rules.

But I’ll do it. I’ll play if that’s what I need to do.

“What happens if you win?” I ask.

I don’t like the smile that spreads across his face. It would make Jack Nicholson’s inThe Shininglook like your regular mailman.

“You already said it, Mon Cherie.” He leans forward, resting his elbow on the table. “If I win, you doanythingI want.”

I press my lips together, knowing I’m heading into trouble here, but what choice do I have? I can walk away or do this.

“Still want to play?” He searches my eyes.

“Yes.” While I nod with determination, I pray to whoever will listen that I’ll beat him.

Chapter19

---