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He always had an excuse.

‘It wouldn’t look good if I brought a lawyer from our biggest competitor.’

‘We’re just going to talk about cases, and you know you can’t be privy to that.’

‘I’m just going to network for my promotion. No big deal.’

“Fuck!” I throw my purse back onto the dresser, placing my hands on the sides and gripping tightly.

Damn Laughlin! That asshole.

A low, rumbling voice floats through my house, reminding me of what’s awaiting me in the other room. Another arrogant asshole, but for some reason, I know this one is different. How? I don’t know. I only know that I need to stop myself from getting hurt again.

With one more steely breath, I grab my purse and walk through the door with my head held high.

The farther I get down the hallway to the living room, the louder the voices become. Stopping just outside the doorway, I still and listen. They continue on as if they haven’t heard me coming.

“You’re an asshole,” Addie says, her voice raised.

“Your point?” Chance’s voice remains low and calm, as if bored.

“You’re using her.”

“And she’s using me.”

“Once. She used you once.”

“You don’t think she would continue benefiting from this? Publicly throwing it in Chadwick’s face that she’s moved on with someone better?”

“Better is debatable,” Addie grumbles.

“Your opinion is irrelevant. Chadwick will get his little heart broken seeing she’s moved on with someone of higher status. Added bonus, he and I have our own history, which will rub salt in the wound. I’m sure this will also help with her bosses, too. They’ve been trying to get the ranch to hire them for years.”

“Win/win then, isn’t it?” Addie asks sarcastically.

“Look, I’m not happy about this either, but I won’t pretend that the timing doesn’t work for me right now. So I suggest you back off and let Dakota handle it.”

“Okay,” I decide it’s time to end their little heart to heart. Walking into the room, I’m greeted by two sets of angry eyes, now changing their targets from each other to me. “Well, as nice as this little session has been, I think it’s time we get going.”

“You can still back out of this, you know,” Addie says, placing her hand on my arm. Her eyes soften, filled with what I know is concern for me.

“Addie, it’s fine. It’s just dinner. It’s not like we’re rushing out to get married,” I joke.

Chance stiffens at my words, turning away from me.

Interesting. I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s marriage-averse, but his reaction makes me want to dig deeper into why that is.

Addie squeezes my arm, bringing my attention back to her. I can tell she’s worried, and if I were honest, I’m worried about myself. But I’m not lying when I say it’s only dinner. I’m not under any illusion that this is more than that.

“It’s a fake dinner, Addie. A business contract between two parties that will result in a mutually beneficial agreement for a contracted period of time. That’s it.”

“Don’t use lawyer speak on me, Dakota. You know there’s a lot more at stake here than that.”

“I’m fine,” I reassure her as I straighten and turn, seeing Chance is facing us once again. I give him my biggest forced smile. “Are you ready?”

“Yup,” he says, opening the door.

“I trust you’ll lock up for me?” I ask over my shoulder as I slip on my heels.