Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“Hey, Chief, there’s someone here for you.”
Walking down the hallway, I shift my shoulders and concentrate on keeping my face impassive and my body loose.
I won’t let her know that she gets to me. That’s what she wants.
“Bridger!” Angela’s face brightens with a wide smile, and she opens her arms, as if she wants a hug, and I shove my hands into my pockets.
“Hello, Angela. What’s up?”
She sticks her lower lip out in a pout. God, did I ever think she was cute? For fuck’s sake.
“Can we talk in private, please?”
It feels disloyal to take her to my office when, less than an hour ago, I was making love to the woman of my dreams in there, so instead, I lead Angela into a conference room and close the door behind us.
Before I can evade, Angela’s hands are gliding up my back, and she’s plastered herself to me, and I push her away.
“Don’t touch me.” My voice is even, but I’m so fucking pissed off, I want to throw her ass out of here.
“Oh, please. The sex between us was always good, honey, and you know it. We did some fun shit. Remember that time—”
“We’re not here to walk down memory lane. What do you want?”
She lets out a gusty breath, and then to my utter entertainment, tears fill her eyes.
“Oh, Bridger. I just miss my baby so much.” She swallows hard and brushes daintily at a tear. “I made a huge mistake when I left the two of you. I know that now, and I’ve come to apologize and get my family back.”
“We were never a family.”
“Don’t say that.” She shakes her head and covers her mouth. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do mean it.” I cross my arms over my chest and wait. Angela breaks down into more tears and theatrically brushes them aside before lowering into a chair.
“I know I deserve the cold shoulder. I was horrible to you. I know that.”
“Do you know it?” I tilt my head to the side, watching her. Watching the calculation move through her hard, calculating eyes. “Leaving me in the NICU by myself with a tiny baby. Leaving me at home with her, to take care of her, while you did what and who knows what? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“I’ve changed.”
I bark out a laugh at that. “No, you haven’t. What, did Mister New York dump you?”
A sneer moves over her mouth, and I know that I’ve hit the nail on the head.
“Ah, there it is. Well, you’re not welcome at my house.”
“Don’t tell me that you’re actually into Dani Lexington.” She scoffs at that and then lets out a laugh, pushing her long blond hair back over her shoulder. “Come on, Bridger. She’s so … plain. Such a fucking doormat, and she’s—”
“One. More. Word.” I let the anger show on my face now as I glare at her. “Say one more word about her, and you’ll be sorry.”
“Right. I’ll say you tried to assault me in here.”
My stomach rolls with nausea.
“There are cameras in this room.” I point to two corners. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to be alone with you without it being recorded? Now, what do you want? I won’t ask you again.”
She blows out a breath, no sign of tears in sight, and pushes her hands through her hair.
“Are you sure I can’t have you?”
“Let me make this perfectly crystal clear.” I lower myself and get within a foot of her face. “There will never be a time or a circumstance where I would want you in Birdie’s or my lives. You’ll never touch me. You’ll never so much as breathe near me after this.”
“I need money, Bridger.”
At that, I stand back up and laugh.
“I tried to get my car fixed, but Brooks wouldn’t help me because you’ve turned your whole family against me.”
“You did that all on your own.” Jesus, she’s a piece of work.
“Look, I don’t want to stay in this shitty little town.” She stands and walks across the room to the other side of the table and sets her hands on her hips. “My parents sold the hardware store, and they’re going to spend every dime of that money, traveling and God knows what. They’re not going to leave anything to me. There’s no reason for me to be here. If you’ll give me some money, I’ll go, and you’ll never hear from me again.”
I want to laugh.
I want to rage.
Instead, I nod slowly, as if I’m actually considering this. “For the rest of Birdie’s life, you’ll stay away if I give you money?”
“Yes, I swear it.”
“How much do you think I should give you?”
“One million dollars.” Her face is perfectly serious. “And buy me a new car.”
I continue to nod, and she gets bolder.
“Come on, I know you can get the money. Beckett could take out a loan against the ranch, or hell, one of your good friends is a billionaire. Ask Ryan Wild. I don’t care who you get it from, just pay me, and I’ll go away.”