Page 99 of The Billionaire Who Hated Me (Until He Loved Me)

Why?Arlo means nothing to her.Which means she suspects her father is involved.It would make sense—he snatched up the lease before the ink was dry.Maybe Arlo helped him do that.

I’m grateful Victoria was determined enough to get to the bottom of what’s happening.But if she’s innocent, why would she use the phrase, “the Sulfur Springs deal,” like that still exists?Like there’s still a way she can broker that purchase for her father?

I flip on my back and throw my forearm over my eyes.I can’t stop thinking of her, so close and yet way beyond my reach.I want her in this bed with me, now.I want the sensation of her sweet, warm kisses and her soft curves and firm flesh.I want to hear her unguarded laugh and her throaty whispers of desire for me.

She’s under my roof, right now, and I can’t have her.Because I’ve pushed her away.

I can’t sleep.I give up trying.It’s dark when I leave my bedroom and walk out onto the deck.I stretch out in the lounge chair and watch the stars, soaking up the stillness, marinating in my own sense of failure.At some point, the kitchen light turns on, illuminating the deck.I decide to stay put.She’ll see me out here soon enough.

I hear her making coffee and then return to her room.In about a half hour the sun is peeking over the mountains.I hear the wheels of those infernal suitcases roll down the hallway again.She sets them on the front porch and exits out the back door, laptop and notes clutched to the front of her body.

She sees me sitting in the lounge chair and stops.She looks wounded and sad.I know what she’s thinking because I’m thinking the same thing—this is the lounger where we’ve snuggled many times, shared so much.It’s where we've made love, and I don’t mind calling it that, since it was far more than sex.It’s always been more than sex between us.

“Where are you off to?”I keep my voice neutral.Not a hint of accusation.

“Your dad’s.Don’t try to stop me.”She heads to the stairs.

“Victoria, please wait.”I jump up and follow her.“I need to explain something to you.”I tenderly place my hand on her shoulder and give it a light squeeze.

She shrugs it off with a violent jerk and looks back at me, her eyes dead and her mouth pulled in a grim line.“Get your hands off me.”

And she’s gone.

CHAPTER 52

Victoria

I crush my laptop and notes hard against my chest, as if the pressure can keep a lid on the sobs about to escape my body.I hear my shoes crunch in the gravel as I make my way to Jamie’s.No one walks behind me.

Good.

My memory flashes back to the first time I came up this road, in Cal’s Jeep.I’d just heard the word “Dad” escape his lips as he greets Jamie, and I was so enraged that I lost my balance.Cal had let me ramble on about my plans for Sulfur Springs, like the idiot I am.

I shake my head now, still embarrassed by that memory.Callum MacLaine bested me, right from the start.

I also remember how—despite my anger and cursing and the awkwardness of my unannounced arrival—Jamie greeted me with warmth and kindness.And a smile.The man’s smile can melt ice.I admit the ice in my veins melted a bit that day.

I’m relieved to see lights on inside his house.I know he’s an early riser and that Phyllis is awake long before any sane person should be, so I make my way up the steps to the front door.I knock softly.

“Well, hello!”Phyllis greets me with a grin and a hug.“Good morning.Come on in.Can I get you some coffee?”

“Sure.Thanks.”I realize I left my coffee cup on Cal’s kitchen counter.My brain isn’t firing on all cylinders this morning.My belly churns.I don’t look forward to this.It’s going to be tough on Jamie, but I focus on what I’m here to do.

Get justice for the MacLaines.

Expose those who’ve betrayed their trust.

And in turn, make sure my dad gets what he deserves.If my suspicions are true, he’s deserved it for a very long time.

“Look who’s here!”Phyllis calls out to the living room.Two white-haired heads pop up from the wing-backed chairs.It’s Jamie and Arlo.

Oh, holy shit.

They were in the middle of a huddle.I can only pray it wasn’t anything to do with me or the files.Jamie walks toward me, a huge smile on his face.I catch how Arlo’s eyes narrow.I see a flash of something in his expression.Is it fear?

My first goal is to keep my mouth shut around Arlo.In case we haven’t found everything, I don’t want him to destroy evidence.

“What brings you here so early?”Jamie hugs me and pats my back.“Are you okay, darlin’?Have you been crying?”