Page 20 of Wild Rivals

She fiddles with the hem of her apron, resting her elbow on the back of the couch as she turns toward me and leans her head against her fist. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to know so I know what to buy, but I like the idea of being surprised. Whatever this baby is, I know they’ll be loved.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” I pull her into my side and rest my head on hers as she snuggles into me.

We sit like this until the bell above the door chimes and a group walks in, cutting through the quiet with their loud chatter.

Autumn stands, turning toward me as she says, “Take the mug home, just bring it back when you come by next.”

She knows how much I dislike the tourists, but I’m not about to up and leave her here alone with them. Not after what happened twenty years ago. Instead, I sit and watch as they place their order, and Autumn gets to work on making it.

As it has a habit of doing lately, my mind wanders back to Maddie and how I’m starting to find it harder to see her the way I always have. Especially when she’s stirring things inside of me that I have no right to feel about her.

14

MADDIE

It’s been a whole week since the corridor incident with Wyatt. I haven’t seen him since Chapters and Crumbs on Saturday morning—where I bolted because I was afraid of Autumn noticing something. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been on my mind. I’ve had countless sleepless nights, filled with memories of Friday night and the look in his eyes. My mind keeps rehashing the same “what if” questions, and I’ve had about enough of it.

There’s too much to be dealt with at Hartlands. The lobby is full of people, either waiting to head out on the excursions we offer—and Sawyer runs—or just hanging out. This weekend, we’re fully booked, again, and if that wasn’t enough to have on my plate, next weekend we’re hosting the wedding of Prince Nathaniel Marchese.

I have no idea why the man who lives in a palace wants his wedding in Montana, but we weren’t about to turn him away. I’ve been liaising with his aides back in Italy, and because this could mean a whole new direction for us, it has to go off without a hitch. It will. But that also means Wyatt Wilde needs to be evicted from my brain. Something has to give, and I’ll be damned if it’s my business.

Forcing some of the tension out of my shoulders, I wind my way through the room until I reach the reception desk. Lainey is typing away on a keyboard, checking in a guest, and Rocky stands next to her, talking on the phone as he types into the laptop in front of him.

“Everything is running as smoothly as it can,” Mona assures as she comes to stand beside me.

I force my shoulders to relax as I stretch out my neck. “Am I being that obvious?”

“Short answer? Yes. If you need to go scream in your office to get rid of that nervous energy, do it. I’ve got things handled here.”

God, I wish it was only this place causing me stress. I guess my saving grace is the fact that she thinks it is. Maybe screaming in my office about Wyatt will help.

As I’m turning toward Mona to thank her for the offer, my gaze snags on the person who just walked through the front door. Jim Evergreen.

Crap. What is he doing here?

“Did I have a meeting with Mr. Evergreen today?” I rush, gripping Mona’s arm as trepidation skates down my spine. Has Wyatt sent him here? Is this a test to see if my plan will hold up, or a way for Wyatt to win the land? As if my day wasn’t already stressful enough.

Mona winces, hissing through her teeth, and I relax my hold, keeping my eyes locked on Jim.

Oh God, I can’t believe this is happening. I’m not prepared. Wyatt would know that, use it to his advantage. What if this means we lose the land? What if this is how Wyatt wins? I’m not sure I’ll forgive myself for either.

Jim scans the room, no doubt searching for me. Can I hide? My body’s immediate response is yes, and I duck down behind Mona. She chuckles, and I berate myself for acting like a child, before forcing myself to stand up and face Jim. If we had a meeting and I forgot, I’ll own up to it. That’s what Daddy always taught me. If I lose the land while doing it, then that’s on me. But everything in my body is screaming that Wyatt is behind this. That this is his move.

Mona opens her phone, scrolling through my calendar as I fight off the kaleidoscope of butterflies trying to take up residence in the pit of my stomach. “Nope, no meetings on the calendar with him. Maybe it’s a surprise visit.” She shrugs, like it’s no big deal and I’m fully prepared to deal with this. Which we both know I’m not. “Or maybe he’s just popped in to see your dad.”

“Maybe,” I murmur in response, even though I know that’s not the case. If he was here to see my dad, he’d have gone to his house.

Jim’s focus lands on me, and I offer him a smile that feels false as I cross the lobby. As much as I would love to, I can’t avoid him.

“Mr. Evergreen, this is a nice surprise,” I lie. “Are you here to see my father?”

He leans against his cane before I direct him toward a set of empty armchairs by the window. “No, I came to see you.”

I feign surprise as I help him into a seat. “Oh, you did? To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Jim looks past me at a group of rowdy guests. They’re decked out in flannel shirts and blue jeans, nothing out of the ordinary, but it’s the way they’re acting like drunk frat bros that makes me wince. This isn’t anything new to us. Dealing with people acting fools on vacation comes with the territory, but we always clean up after them and issue fines where necessary in an attempt to deter any bad behavior. What sets me on edge is the fact that Jim is here to witness it. I don’t want to make him think that there will be more of the same out on the land if he chooses us.

Turning his attention back to me, Jim shifts in his seat, shutting down the annoyance flashing in his eyes quicker than I can acknowledge it. Tapping his cane on the herringbone floor, he says, “I figured I’d come and pay a surprise visit to you given your plans for my land.”