Page 37 of Rival Hearts

“You just had to call us out directly, didn’t you?”

That hadn’t been me, but I could see why it looked like that. When I glanced at the other two guys—Blackwoods, now that I focused on who exactly they were—I swallowed hard. They looked at me with stony expressions.

“Let’s take this outside,” I said, my voice completely controlled. Maybe it was the vodka. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Maya.

Alex turned on his heel but he waited for me to walk to the door first before following.

Ever the gentleman.

And I was about to face him outside, alone.

Yeah, this wasn’t a problemat all.

10

ALEX

We stepped outside, and Charlotte whirled around to face me. Her eyes were fiery, her lips pursed together, and she crossed her arms over her chest. She was already defensive, and God, why did she have to be so cute?

But I was pissed off enough not to let her get to me.

“What the hell is your problem?” I demanded.

“I don’t have a problem.”

I shook my head. “I don’t buy it. You called my company out directly in your campaign and I’m supposed to grin and bear it? Jesus, Charlotte, it was live.”

She blanched a little. Did she know that it was live?

“The reporter asked me about the company as an example of industry giants. I didn’t say anything that’s not true.”

She shook her head slightly. Her honey hair that had escaped her ponytail framed her face, and she was gorgeous in the late afternoon sun, that dress doing wonders for her pale skin.

“I got three calls from my investors as they were watching it, telling me what you were doing. You don’t know the company, what we do, and how we do it. You had no right!”

I took a step forward, but Charlotte stood her ground, her eyes defiant. She was a foot shorter than me, but her determination to hold her ground was admirable.

“If you’ve done nothing wrong, why would you be so defensive?”

“I have to protect my business,” I countered. “Do you have any idea how much shit you got me into with that statement?”

“I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true,” she said again.

I groaned, frustrated. “You’re in over your head, Charlotte.”

“It’s a campaign. That’s my job.”

I stared at her, shaking my head. “This is serious. My reputation and my company are on the line here.”

“I’m doing what’s right. It’s not personal.”

“You made it personal when you called me out.” Hell, it had been personal since the moment I’d kissed her in that boho bar, not knowing who she was. I could still taste her lips, still feel her skin under my fingers. Despite how angry I was at her, I was painfully aware of how close we stood, of her scent floating toward me on the breeze. She didn’t smell overly perfumed. Just clean.

Clean and delicious.

“Alex, you don’t get it. This is bigger than just the company. It’s our environment, our future. What are we leaving behind when we’re gone if this is where we’re set on going?”

“You don’t know anything about the company. And you sure as shit don’t know anything about legacy and what we’re leaving behind.”