Page 51 of Rival Hearts

“I don’t have anything to show you,” I said tightly.

She frowned. “So, you’re just going to kick me out?”

“I’m not kicking you out.”

“You don’t want me here.” She tilted her head a little. “This isn’t about you trying to be better, is it? You just want to get rid of me.”

She wasn’t wrong, but not for the reasons she thought.

“I don’t have time to fight about petty things like your view of ocean life,” I snapped. “I have a company to run, money to make.”

She laughed bitterly. “Right, because that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? The money. No one gives a damn about the environmentas long as they can make a buck.” She shook her head. “I should have known you were like the rest of them, driving around in that fancy car of yours—”

“You told me that there are bigger fish to fry,” I clapped back.

“Yeah, like the yachts you make.”

She had me there.

“You know, Charlotte,” I said in a clipped voice, “not everyone with money is the enemy. Some of us work hard, trying to make a difference in our own way.”

“In your own way? You mean by helping peopleexperience the world in the lap of luxury? Do you hear yourself?”

I shook my head, frustrated. “You were the one who came here to tell me you got it wrong, you’re willing to keep an open mind. Where did that go?”

“I came here with an open mind, and you’re showing me that what I thought was true.” She glared at me, and the anger made her features that much more attractive. Her eyes were dark, her lips parted, and God, she was fucking beautiful.

“What’s that?” I challenged.

“Your money doesn’t make up for everything,” she said, leaning forward a little. “You can’t just buy your way out of responsibility.”

“You don’t get to paint me as the villain just because I’ve been successful,” I said, my voice hard.

“I’m not painting you as anything! I’m holding you accountable for what your industry is doing to our oceans.”

“What do you know about the industry, Charlotte?”

“I would know more if you were willing to show me! I’ve spent time trying to find common ground. That’s why I’m here, but now all I’m seeing is a stubborn refusal to change. You walk in there with your fancy suits and your chiseled jaw and your smooth words and everyone falls at your feet in worship. Well, I’m not like that. I see what’s under that handsome façade—”

She snapped her mouth shut when she realized what she was saying, that she’d just called me handsome.

“I should go.”

She turned away from me, but I touched my hand to her arm. I didn’t want her to leave. I was flustered with her being here, but the thought of her being gone made me ache in a way I wanted to prevent.

“Charlotte.”

She froze, not looking at me. I took a step closer and slid my arm around her waist. I couldn’t stop myself. She turned to face me, her face twisted in a mask of rage, but her lips were parted, and she slid her eyes to my mouth.

I held onto her, and with my free hand, I hooked her hair behind her ear. I traced my finger down her jaw, and her breath caught in her throat. I rested my eyes on her mouth and brushed my thumb over her lower lip.

“Charlotte,” I said again, not knowing exactly what I was asking.

She closed the distance between us and kissed me.

15

CHARLOTTE