Page 123 of Dirty Rival
Chapter sixty
Carrie
I walk to the navy-blue lounge chair by my window and sit down. Inhaling, I hit redial. “Hello,” I say when my father answers.
“He’s with you, isn’t he?”
“If you’re talking about Reid, I’d like to know what you and Maxwell Senior have against each other.”
“That doesn’t even come close to answering my question.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t because a) I wouldn’t tell you who was in my bed ever, b) I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction of knowing he wasn’t here, because you and his father split us up, and c) It’s none of your business. Which while a and c might be one and the same, I still needed to say them both. I’m that irritated right now.”
“In other words, you’ve been fucking him or there wouldn’t be anything to break up.”
“Contrary to popular belief, a woman does not believe fucking is a relationship. You have to have a relationship to have a break-up.”
“So are you fucking him or dating him?”
“Refer to a, b, and c.”
“He came here.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it? Okay?”
“Yes. Okay.”
“He told you.”
“You tell me.”
“He wanted me to tell you that he didn’t force the takeover and ruin me or us. He offered me money. Millions of dollars and you know why. That convention center deal you’re working on. He can’t have that go south. He needs to sweeten you up and keep you in his bed until he gets that payday.”
I wait for that to hit home and feel real, but it doesn’t happen. “Because there’s no way I could possibly matter to him? Why? Because I’m not pretty enough? Because I’m not smart enough? Because I’m not what? Not good enough?”
Reid reappears in the doorway with two cups in his hand, his eyes meeting mine, and what passes between us in that moment is full of promise, full of trust, a part of a growing bond that this call with my father has not broken.
“Carrie,” my father says. “You’re a beautiful woman, but he is an evil bastard.”
The evil bastard sits down next to me and hands me a cup of coffee that smells like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I take a sip and glance at Reid. “He’s an asshole, not an evil bastard.”
Reid smiles—God, I love his smile—and he follows it with a wink. “What’s happening in Montana?” I ask.
“He told you, didn’t he?”
“Should I ask him?” I retort, avoiding a lie.
He’s silent a moment that becomes two. “I want you to come here. I want you to see the horse ranch I’m staying at. There’s real money in stallions. With your charm, we can lure in some professional riders, stable their horses, give them a place to train.”
He didn’t tell me about the oil. He’s hoping Reid didn’t. “I don’t even know what to say to that, father. I really don’t. How long does it take for that to get my money back?”
“It’s a long-term investment, but a stable one. We need a stable business this go around and there’s a bonus. There’s oil under the property, so if the horses stop delivering profit, we have a fallback that protects them and us.”
“And how much will all of this cost us?”
“Nothing, Carrie. I’m going to marry Stella, the woman who owns it. Well if she accepts. I haven’t proposed yet.”