Page 51 of Kiss Marry Kill

“Because I don’t trust River.”

“Well, that I already knew.”

“Things have gotten worse.”

She studied me. “Have they?”

“Definitely. We’ve never gotten along, not really. We’ve tolerated each other at best, but I want to cut ties. I’ve come to the conclusion that River isn’t the sort of person I want to do business with.”

“How does that work exactly?”

“I’m going to buy out my lease with him and instead rent a commercial property that has no ties whatsoever to River Martin.”

She blinked at me. “Can you afford to do that?”

Scowling, I said, “I can’t afford not to. River isn’t my ally. He isn’t someone I can trust.”

“Did something happen between you two? Recently?” Her expression was alert. “I know you dislike him, but something must have motivated you to act.”

“Well, you already know about the pay-or-quit paper he sent.”

She frowned. “I thought that was a misunderstanding?”

“So he says.” I sniffed.

Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “You don’t believe him?”

“No. I don’t think I do. He resents me. I could always feel that animosity was there, but it’s beginning to bubble to the surface now.”

“Did something happen at the wedding?”

I nodded, leaning back in my chair. “That quack brought up Lucinda Pratt yesterday.”

She went very still. “Hewhat?”

I sighed. “He got mad at me for… er… something I said.”

“Oh, Maxwell. Did you insult him?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Dear me.” She gave a tense smile. “I’m trying to picture how Lucinda Pratt’s tragic death could possibly be casually dropped into conversation.”

“River managed it.” I held her gaze. “He wanted to hurt me. He purposely said it in front of Mayor Granger and Gerald. It was no slip of the tongue. He was being spiteful. He wanted to make me look bad in front of them.”

“What a horrible thing to do. How could he bring up something so painful?”

“As I said, he wanted it to hurt.”And it did. “But it backfired on him because Penelope didn’t appreciate him throwing that in my face.”

“Well, thank goodness for small miracles,” she murmured.

“Even Lucas turned on him.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk. “But the fact that he’d even go there was upsetting. I don’t want to do business with him anymore.”

“I don’t blame you,” she said softly, her gaze empathetic. “That was one of the most horrible things that ever happened to you. For him to just blithely bring that up is inexcusable.”

“I agree.”

She nodded, a determined tilt to her jaw. “Okay, so you don’t want to rebuild in the old spot. What’s your plan? You’re still locked into a ground lease with River.”