“That’s okay. I’ll walk,” I said and tightened my sweater around me.
“Wait. We need to talk. About Sam.” He leaned across the car and opened the passenger door. “Get in, Dakota.”
My gut instinct was to refuse, but some misguided need to defend Sam, to plead our case, spurred me to get into the car. The interior of the car reeked of decadence and power, mirroring its driver. I fastened the seat belt and slid against the door.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” he said. “I want you out of Sam’s life, and I forbid you to see each other anymore.”
Being rebellious by nature, the hackles on the back of my neck stiffened. “I don’t really think that’s your business.”
“You’re wrong about that. Everything concerning my son is my business.” He wore leather driving gloves. They creaked as his fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “He has a bright future ahead of him. He’ll be off to Princeton in the fall. What do you think will happen when he leaves? He’s going to forget all about you. I don’t want to see you get hurt, Dakota.”
I didn’t for one minute think he gave a shit about my feelings, but he’d hit a tender spot. I knew Sam was leaving. I had enrolled in the local college and planned to live at home, commuting back and forth to school. Neither of us had discussed the impending separation, but it weighed heavily on me.
“If he’s leaving in the fall, then you really don’t have anything to worry about, do you?” I fidgeted on the soft leather seat, determined to hide my insecurities with a brave face and braver words.
“I don’t care to leave things to chance. I see the way you two look at each other. He’s obsessed.” The tight clenching of his jaw turned my skin cold with apprehension. “Some day he’ll inherit everything I’ve spent a lifetime to achieve. Forgive my bluntness, but a girl of your kind will only slow him down, keep him from attaining the greatness he’s destined for.”
Tears stung the backs of my eyelids. I blinked them back while my fingers curled into tight fists. No one had ever said anything so deliberately cruel to me before. With one sentence, he’d summed up all of my insecurities and doubts. Sam deserved success, and the last thing I wanted was to stand in his way. I’d always felt a little less, a little different, a little removed from my peers. Mr. Seaforth’s words only solidified my burgeoning sense of inadequacy and my doubts.
I could see the lights of my house twinkling at the end of the street, beckoning like a beacon of safety in the distance. Mr. Seaforth slowed the car, prolonging the agony of the drive, when all I could think of was escaping.
“Forgive my bluntness, Mr. Seaforth, but it’s Sam’s life. I agree he’s destined for great things, and nothing you or I say is going to prevent him from it.” I gripped the door handle, ready to make my escape the second the car rolled to a stop. “I only want what’s best for him and I’d never stand in his way.”
He put a hand on my arm, preventing my exit, holding me tightly enough to leave bruises. “What will it take to make you go away, Dakota? Money? I’ll write you a check today. With a few calls, you could go to any school you want.” His grip squeezed until I wanted to cry out. The weird light in his eyes frightened me. “I can make your life very unpleasant or I can make all your dreams come true. It’s your call, Dakota. Which one will it be?”
I yanked my arm from his grasp and bolted out the door. The sidewalk flew beneath my feet as I ran to the house. When I threw open the front door, my mother squeaked in surprise. She’d been knitting on the sofa in front of the TV, her usual place of repose. I streaked past her and into my bedroom, banging the door shut behind me.
Within seconds, she was on my heels. When I didn’t answer her knock on the door, she cracked it open. “Dakota? What’s wrong? Did you and Sam have a fight?”
“No. I’m fine. We’re fine.” My voice quavered when I spoke.
She must have heard the panic in my tone because she didn’t leave. “Honey, what’s wrong? Can I come in?”
“Yes.”
In the space of a heartbeat, she was inside the room and holding me in her arms. She hadn’t held me this way since I was young. The strength in her embrace undid me. I clung to her, trembling like a leaf in the wind before an impending storm. She rocked me, crooning in my ear, my tower of stability and safety in a world filled with uncertainties.
“My goodness.” Her big hand stroked through my hair, soothing and quiet. “It must be something terrible to upset you like this.”
She didn’t push or pry. It was one of the things I loved most about her, the way she let me come to terms with my anxieties, always patient and loving. When I was able to corral my chaotic thoughts, the words exploded out of me. I told her everything. About Sam. About Mr. Seaforth and his threats. She listened and nodded, her lower lip held tightly between her teeth, blond brows furrowed. After I finished, she sat quietly for a moment, formulating her thoughts before speaking.
“It’ll be okay,” she said and patted my hand. Her confidence loosened the knots in my stomach. Blue eyes searched my face. “You love him.” It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer. A sad smile touched her mouth. “You’re growing up so fast.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear with a mother’s loving caress. “Everything will work out.”
“You don’t know that.” I buried my face in her shoulder, feeling eight years old again and needing comfort for a scraped knee. Only I was eighteen now, and my problems seemed insurmountable.
“I do know.” She pulled back and lifted my chin, forcing me to look at her. The confidence in her eyes soothed my qualms. “Trust me.”
CHAPTER 20
Dakota - Now
JOHN MACGRUDER LOOKED much the same as I remembered him, but older, thinner, and more tired. He wasn’t much taller than me, with a shiny bald head and a red birthmark above his left eye. When we entered the room, he rose to greet me with a firm handshake and a pleasant smile.
“Come in. Have a seat. Great to see you again, Dakota.” He pumped my hand effusively once more. “You’ve got a good one here, Seaforth.” He gave Samuel a shrewd glance. “I hope you’re treating her well.”
“We’ve had a bit of an adjustment period, but we’re managing,” Sam said. Embarrassment heated my cheeks, and I shot Sam a narrow-eyed glare. He didn’t smile, but his eyes glittered with suppressed amusement.
Once we were settled around the conference table, I tried to concentrate on the conversation, but my thoughts kept drifting to the color of Sam’s eyes, the strength in his hands as he’d led me across the sky bridge, the way I’d felt safe for those brief minutes. There’d been kindness in his eyes and something more, something achingly familiar, before he’d squelched it.
“I’ve got to admit, your request for a meeting took me by surprise,” MacGruder began, jolting me from admiring the square line of Sam’s jaw. “I never thought to see you in your father’s building.”
“It’s not my favorite place,” Sam said with a nonchalant shrug.
“I have to admit I’m intrigued. It has to be pretty important for you to risk coming here.” MacGruder walked to the nearby wall, pressed one of the wood panels, and opened an invisible door. Backlit glass shelves held rows of expensive liquor. He gestured to a bottle of scotch. “Care for a drink?”
“Nothing for me,” I said. Although a stiff drink would calm my nerves, I needed to keep my wits about me, still uncertain about my role in this gathering. I cast an assessing glance at Sam, a sense of disappointment filling me. Apparently, the rift with his father remained.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” Sam said.
“So spit it out, Seaforth. What do you want?” MacGruder set a cut crystal glass in front of Sam, ice tinkling with the movement. He took a seat beside me, drew a sip from his scotch then clasped his hands on the table in front of him, waiting expectantly.
“I want to buy you out,” Sam said.
The expression on MacGruder’s face shifted from neutral to wary interest.
“Okay. I didn’t see that one coming.” He laughed. “You’ve got bigger balls than I thought. What makes you think I’d even consider selling, especially to you?”
“I’ve got a proposition. One I don’t think you can refuse.” Sam leaned back in his chair and rested an ankle on his opposing knee. He remained the picture of casual unconcern with the collar of his shirt open, sans tie, but the depths of his gaze held a predatory gleam. My body shifted toward him, drawn by the power of his expression and an ages-old female attraction to an alpha male.
“I’m listening,” John said.
“You’re between a rock and a hard spot,” Sam said. His gaze locked with MacGruder’s. I stared, fascinated by the intellectual battle taking place. “You’re overextended, growing too fast too quickly. Rumor has it you’re a heartbeat away from going under. You’ve made no secret about your retirement plans. Everyone knows your boys are incompetent. They’ll never be able to run this business. You have no choice but to hand over controlling interest to someone more capable.”
An uncomfortable flush, reminiscent of Jared’s anger in the elevator, crept from MacGruder’s collar up his neck and ended in two red patches on his cheeks. His voice remained calm. “That’s bullshit. Why would you ever think that?”
“I’ve got friends all over the city.” A cool smile twitched Sam’s lips. “You’ve made a few bad investments in the last year or so. Bought some properties you can’t turn around. By my estimate, you’re sitting on at least two worthless parcels of land. You counted on my father buying them and when he backed out, he left you holding the bag.”
MacGruder’s flushed cheeks turned ghostly pale. “What is this? Some kind of conspiracy?”
“Not at all,” Sam said. He leaned forward, features earnest. “I’m here to offer you a lifeline.”
“You can’t afford me.” MacGruder shifted in his seat. “I might be in some trouble, but I’m not desperate or stupid.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You’ll need more than insults and observations to win me over. I won’t settle for anything less than a fair market price, and frankly, I don’t think you have the capital to back up your offer.”
Sam eyed MacGruder. The air thickened with tension. I squirmed in my seat, wondering for the tenth time why Sam had invited me to this meeting. My gaze travelled over the aerial photos on the wall of MacGruder’s office. Previous acquisitions, I assumed. While the men glared at each other, I stood and walked over to get a closer look at the photos. As I’d told Sam, they were plots of undeveloped farmland, except for the last two. These were interurban areas, the two parcels MacGruder had gotten stuck with. I clasped my hands behind my back and studied the details of the photo, wondering why he would take such a risk.
“That was Jared’s idea.” MacGruder’s voice grumbled near my shoulder. “I gave him free rein to invest in a few properties, and he chose those.” He snorted. “I don’t know what I was thinking to let him talk me into that.” He shook his head and shoved a hand through his thinning hair. “I must be getting senile.”
“He can be pretty convincing when he wants to,” I said, giving him a sympathetic smile.
“I was hoping he’d convince you to stay with us.” John’s smile warmed me. I really did enjoy his company, even if his sons were annoying.
“Ansel made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. But I enjoyed working for you.” I meant every word of it. John had taught me a lot. I turned my attention back to the photos. “What are you going to do with these?”
“I have no idea. Hang on to them, I guess. See if the area recovers. Maybe low-income housing or apartments.”
“You said Seaforth senior wanted these?”
“That was the plan.” He shrugged and took a resigned gulp of his drink. I felt Sam’s ears perk at the turn in conversation. “Bastard backed out at the last minute. Said his interests had shifted.”
“What about these?” I moved to another set of photos and tapped on the glass beneath the frame. “Where’s this?”
MacGruder shifted to stand beside me. “That is two hundred acres of prime farming ground outside of Cincinnati. Been in my family for a hundred years or so. My grandparents lived there.” He used his little finger to trace the outline of the property. “Jared’s been after me to sell it.”
My gaze met Sam’s. He wore a curious look of introspection, as if trying to work out a puzzle whose pieces didn’t quite fit.
“If you were to sell the company, would this land in Cincinnati be part of the deal?” I asked.
“I hadn’t thought about it. It’s not worth much. Not to anyone but me, that is. I don’t know why Jared’s so hot to sell it.” John huffed in exasperation and sank back into his chair. “Like I would listen to anything he has to say after his last debacle.”
I scanned the photos one last time, certain I was missing something. The weight of Sam’s gaze burned into my back. I resisted the urge to turn and face him, choosing instead to resume my place at John’s side. It felt familiar and comfortable to be there, and by John’s relaxed posture, he felt the same way.
“You should consider Sam’s offer,” I said, dropping the volume of my voice to a more personal level. “You always told me that someday you wanted to retire and move away from here. Jared and Junior aren’t going to take over. We both know that. This might be the best chance you have to make a clean break. They could keep an interest in the company.” Sam lifted an eyebrow at my impertinence. I had no idea what Sam had in mind for MacGruder & Sons. I paused to bolster my confidence then continued. “I’m sure Sam would be flexible in the terms.”
“I would,” Sam interjected. He leaned back in his chair and lifted his chin, his coat falling open to reveal the snowy-white linen of his dress shirt. “To be frank, John, I think my father backed out on those properties knowing it would put you under. It would allow him to sweep in, acquire the company at a rock-bottom price and all your assets with it. He’d get his land for dirt cheap and make a fool out of you in the process.”
MacGruder colored but his eyes shone with respect. “You may be right.”
CHAPTER 21
Dakota - Then
IN SPITE OF my mother’s reassurances, I couldn’t sleep after Mr. Seaforth’s ultimatum. Blue moonlight streamed through the window of my tiny bedroom and pooled on the bedspread. Through the thin walls of the house trailer, I could hear Crockett in the room next door. The boy slept like he was in a coma and snored with the exuberance of an eighty-year-old man. My mother’s footsteps passed my doorway, pausing for an instant, before continuing to her room. I sighed and searched for a more comfortable position on the narrow, lumpy mattress.
Sweat beaded on my forehead. It was only May, and the temperature hovered in the low eighties. The metal walls of the trailer served as an oven, holding in heat from the day. I kicked off the covers and opened the window. Night sounds poured into the room. An amorous cat yowled, frogs trilled in the nearby drainage creek, and the booming voice of Mr. Baker carried on the breeze from the trailer next door. I drew in a lungful of the humid air and tried to still my chaotic thoughts.
“Kota?” At first I thought the whispered call of my name was a figment of my imagination conjured by the wind. I froze and listened. “Dakota? Are you awake?” This time I heard my name clearly, spoken in a quiet baritone. My body answered with a delicious tingle between my legs.
“Sam? What are you doing?” I sat up in bed and pressed my nose to the screen. He leaned against the side of the trailer, his clean profile outlined by the crisp moonlight against the white siding. “I thought you were grounded.”
He held something up in front of the window. An errant moonbeam glinted off the keys to his Porsche. “I had an extra set made.” His white smile lit up the darkness. “Rockwell helped me sneak the car to the end of the driveway.”
“I love Rockwell,” I whispered. “Aren’t you worried about getting caught?”
“I wanted to see you,” he said. Those five simple words swelled my chest with love.
By this time, I knew it couldn’t be any other emotion. He pressed a hand against the screen. I melded my palm to his, feeling the heat of his skin through the fine mesh, overcome with longing. “Come out here.”
“Are you crazy? It’s the middle of the night.” I shrank back into the shadows. One look at my face, and he’d know something was wrong. I’d never lied to him before, and I couldn’t now. I thought I’d have some time to figure out the answer to my dilemma.
“I’m crazy, alright. Crazy for you,” he said. My heart resumed its erratic cadence. How did he manage to turn me inside out with one statement? “Get your ass out here.”
We sat on the picnic table at the edge of the yard. Dew lingered on the rough wood surface and seeped into the thin cotton of my pajama bottoms. His fingers eased between mine, curling around the back of my hand. He set our clasped hands on top of his thigh and stared down at them, the muscles in his neck working as he swallowed. My sweet, beautiful boy. I studied the straight slope of his nose, the curve of his lips, and the proud line of his jaw, marveling for the millionth time that he was my boyfriend.
“Why are you in trouble this time?” I asked, drunk on the endorphins pumping into my veins.
“He forbade me to see you again,” he said, his voice rough. His thumb stroked over the back of my hand. “And I told him to forget it. No way.”
“He told me the same thing,” I said, glumly. “He basically threatened to ruin my life if I didn’t break up with you.”
We both stared at the ground.
“I’m sorry he’s such an ass.” The abject unhappiness in his voice made my eyes sting with tears. “He said he’ll cut me out completely if I don’t break it off with you.”
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