Page 142 of Dirty Rival

His expression hardens and he steps inside and shuts the door. “What happened?”

“He’s worse than your father. He’s getting married, but you can’t come to the wedding. He owns the ranch now and they’re drilling oil. I get my money back and more by summer. That about sums it up.”

He rounds the desk, pulls me to my feet and kisses my forehead. “Carrie—”

“Oh and what about Christmas? He asked. I told him I’m with you, the end.”

He presses his forehead to mine. “I’m here. I’m not ever leaving.” He leans back to look at me. “You know that, right?”

“You know I’m having abandonment issues right now, don’t you?”

“Yes. I do. And I’m not ever leaving. That’s a promise.”

But we both know that’s not a promise anyone can make. People die. People fall out of love. People separate. Relationships end. I just don’t want ours to end.

Ever.

Chapter sixty-eight

Carrie

With one day until we leave for Japan, it’s early evening and Reid and I are both in the bedroom, packing our suitcases that are on the bed for a solid ten days away, and I glance over at him. “We really can’t have a cat and a dog, can we? What about when we’re gone?”

“A cat and a dog?”

“That’s perfect, right? We get what we both want, and they have each other as friends.”

“Or enemies. And we aren’t gone that often. Cat and Gabe, and even Connie, would help out.”

“So that’s a yes to a cat and a dog?”

“If it makes you happy, baby, yes. Let’s do it.”

I smile. “I love that we’re going to do this.”

He laughs. “I love that you love it.”

My cellphone rings and I glance at the number. “My brother. Is it bad that I dread seeing him in Japan?”

“Not from what I know of your brother.” The doorbell rings. “That’s our lunch,” Reid says. “I’ll grab it.” He takes off out of the room and I answer the line.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey, little sis. I got my payday today. You rocked this deal.”

“Thanks. Reid and I are a good team.”

“Reid. That part of this grates on me, but the man owed us this deal. I can’t believe you’re living with him. I can’t believe dad hasn’t told you why you shouldn’t be living with him.”

Anger starts to churn in my belly. “What does that even mean?”

“The man forced a takeover. He took dad out. That should be enough for you.”

“That’s not what happened.”

“You’re kidding, right? He forced the takeover. Look. You made me big money so I’m going to save you and our family before he has a chance to somehow turn it around on us, and he’s going to. There’s a plan there. I promise you. I’m sending you proof. Watch for it.” He hangs up.

“Come down and eat!” Reid calls out.