Page 55

Ace

Griz crosses his arms, cutting me off, “What is it you think you know about Hawkins?”

I move around him as I say, “Been curious for a while. But didn’t know anything until he confirmed it for me at Ditch the Derby.”

Griz asks, “Confirmed what?”

“He’s more than just pissed off, Griz. He made some kind of agreement with Wheeler, and I’m not about to trust a single thing he does next.”

I glance at the mint green box on the counter. “Is that box of donuts fresh?”

“I went to see Presh,” he says, clearing his throat and swiping his thumb along the edge of his mustache. It’s a nervous habit of his and makes me pause. “Hadley loves those donuts. It was a nice morning for a drive. Just finished tuning up the golf cart.”

It’s a long ride all the way to the edge of town, even with his cart souped up.

“What’re we tasting here?” he asks as he sidles up to the counter. He watches as I pull out an unmarked bottle of bourbon. I want him to know that I’m not angry with him. I want him to see that everything he’s said to me, I take it and figure out a way to make it happen.

A loud thud at the bottom of the stairs has both of us whipping our heads around to find the source.

“Just my suitcase,” Hadley sing-songs. “All good.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

THE JEWELER

A little something is waiting for you at your desk.

ACE

What we discussed?

THE JEWELER

I took some liberties, but you’ll be pleased.

“This trip an unofficial honeymoon?” Griz asks. Looking at the color of the bourbon and examining it in the light, he continues without me answering, “That mean you finally told’er how you really feel, then?”

I haven’t. I show her, but I haven’t said those words to her yet.

Lust is easier. We have that in spades. A part of me feels selfish to say something so permanent to her, like that I love her.

“How do you think I really feel about her?” I ask, curious to know what he’s seeing from the outside looking in.

He laughs. “Atticus, that woman has had you by the balls since she came back from college. I honestly wasn’t sure if you’d ever get out of your own way.”

When he takes a taste, his eyebrows raise. “Nice notes. Simple. There’s a smoky aftertaste that feels different.”

I’ve never felt more pleased with myself at hearing both of those things from him. “You mind telling me exactly what it is you’re planning, old man?”

Without skipping a beat, he says, “No clue what you’re talking about.

” He shifts for another sip, and then, before I can say anything else, he lets out an audible exhale.

“You’ve done everything I’ve ever asked of you.

Even when it turned you into someone else, crossing lines and bending rules in the name of what was right for our brand and our family.

Even now...” He tilts his head to the Glencairn glass.

“You did something different, found something and someone to care about more than just this business.”

The confession isn’t something I expected. I’m not too proud to realize I still need his approval, regardless of how old I am. He raised me, and there’s something that never feels better than making someone else proud of you. I forgot what that felt like.

“There are things I need to do now. And I need you to let me do them,” he says, knocking the reality back into the moment. I’ve known he’s been making arrangements, but I’m not ready to let him do it the way he believes he needs to.

I fire off a text to be sure there isn’t something worth knowing.

ACE

Anything interesting on our friend’s phone?

FAYE

Incoming text from the chief to his brother just now.

We do not have the luxury of ignoring him. You need to come with me.

I could make some assumptions, but it’s a waste. By the time I’m back, most of my concerns will be resolved.

ACE

Let me know if there’s anything more while we’re away.

“Alright,” Hadley says, coming back and leaning against the archway of the kitchen. “Griz, don’t eat all of the cheese I have in that fridge. Your body will not like you.”

He gives my shoulder a squeeze, and I nod.

I have plans of my own that will end up fixing some problems and get him what he wants.

He gives me one more glance before he turns to look at Hadley.

And like the conversation didn’t happen, his mustache twerks up as he says, “I think you should rename it to ‘Griz dinner.’ It has a nice little ring to it, don’t you think? ”

While they carry on, I decide it’s time for me to call in a favor I’ve been keeping in my pocket for a while now.

ACE

Things will be clear by July 5th. Make your way back to Fiasco with her then.

“This might be the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen,” Hadley says, awed, as she stands out on the balcony of our suite. A four-hour private flight and a gondola ride to our resort has both of us more eager than tired to enjoy some time away from things in Fiasco.

“I’ve always thought so,” I tell her, smiling at the way she takes it all in.

Her hair is up in a messy bun on top of her head, and she’s wearing a New Zealand rugby club sweatshirt, black leggings, and black shiny stilettos.

She’s fucking cute, sexy as hell, and the best view I’ve seen in a long time.

There’s a term in chess called a zugzwang.

It’s what Wheeler Finch had done to his daughter.

She was put at a disadvantage because she was forced to make moves she wouldn’t have made otherwise.

The only problem is, he never factored in the idea that it would backfire if the board had suddenly fallen and then restarted.

That’s what my wife did with his entire fortune.

From real estate to tied investments, she took all of it and started a new game.

Only this time, she knows she’s in it. And if there’s one thing about Hadley Foxx, she’s fucking phenomenal at strategy and wearing a proverbial crown.

Smart and thoughtful decisions have now been put into play that will impact our town in ways they don’t even realize yet.

It’s the least selfish thing I’ve ever witnessed, and fuck , do I love her even more for it.

When she realizes what I’ve said, she turns to look at me with a broad smile. “Took you long enough to say something, Daddy.”

I move fast, wrapping my arm around her waist before she can pull away. “What did I tell you about throwing around that nickname?” I smile into her as I drag my lips along the side of her neck and breathe her in.

“Maybe you should remind me. The air is really thin up here.” With a hum, her hands run up my neck and fingers push into my hair. It’s the simplest thing, but being touched by her feels so damn good.

A buzzer rings out, signaling someone is at the door, and it has her slipping out of my arms and moving toward it. When the door swings open, it’s a familiar face. A friend I never expected to have, but a friend, nonetheless.

“Holy shit, Atticus Foxx is in Strutt’s Peak. I can’t fucking believe it.”

I cross my arms as Law Riggs leans against the doorway and smiles wide.

His easygoing demeanor is contagious, and I find myself mirroring it.

“Then come to find out, you’re bringing your wife?

” He holds out his hand for her and says, “And she’s even prettier than you are, Foxx.

” Even though I know he’s happily married, and the fact that I probably speak more often to his wife than him, I still find myself not liking his hands anywhere near her as he pulls her into a hug.

They both stop abruptly and turn to look at me.

Hadley’s eyebrows pinch as she says, “Did you just growl?”

I don’t say anything; instead, I lean against the wall and try to dial back whatever the fuck that was. I also observe two people who I’m just realizing are guaranteed to cause trouble together.

“Holy shit, you did.” Hadley looks at Law with lifted eyebrows. “Quick, hug me again, let’s see how mad we can make him.”

Law barks out a laugh. “I think I love you.”

“Hadley Foxx. It’s a pleasure to meet you, but I am very taken.” She turns and smiles at me, and then says, “I really love how Hadley Foxx sounds.”

I try not to react to how much hearing it hits me square in the chest.

“Law Riggs, and the pleasure is mine. And my wife does the whole brooding thing too. They’re a good time together.

I think you and I will balance it all out very nicely.

” He claps his hands in front of him with a shit-eating grin.

“Now, how about I show you around this place. Then we can talk about our newest addition.” He looks over at me, and then back at Hadley.

“I think it’s the motivation for coming here. ”

I met some of the Riggs family on my last trip out here, but this time, it’s less about being schmoozed for selling them some great bourbon and more about seeing firsthand some of the big tourist boosters they’ve created in the past few years.

The Riggs family, much like mine, wants to see their small town thrive.

We head on out and get a complete tour of the small mountain town, with Law’s wife Contessa joining us.

I’ve only ever been once when we were first negotiating a specialty bourbon for Law’s exclusive events and VIP adventures, but I didn’t take the time to see the parallels of this place and Fiasco.

The landscape is entirely different, but there’s originality to what they offer.

For them, it’s mountain sports, and for us, it’s the mix of horses and bourbon.

Riggs Outdoor is busy, the offices bustling with people working on ad campaigns and social media shoots.

There’s an expansive indoor rock climbing facility that hosts Olympic climbers as trainers and a sports rehab center that works with the U.S. Olympics Ski and Snowboarding teams.