I needed to remember that our estrangement was my fault. Yes, I’d given her an ultimatum and she’d made a choice. She was likely pissed I’d made her choose. I was angry for so long that she didn’t choose me, but now, I understood. I was an asshole to put her in that situation. Especially since she didn’t know about my home life. Not really. She didn’t know my father abused my mother. He’d abused me too until I was too fast to catch or big enough to defend myself. I wasn’t sure if knowing that would have changed her mind, but maybe she’d have understood that I’d reached the end of my rope at home.
As I entered the town limits, I wondered how she’d react if I told her all that. If I opened up and explained my childhood and why I had to get out when I did. I could tell her how much I loved her and wanted all those plans we’d made, because based on how I left, she probably thought I’d been lying to her. Jesus, I fucked up more than I realized.
I rubbed my hand over my heart, wishing I could go back and redo that night. At the same time, I knew if I’d stayed that night, I’d have left another day or risked becoming just like my old man. Now I had a chance to make amends. If I was lucky, maybe I could regain her trust. Perhaps we could have another chance to see if that summer wasn’t just a sweet teenage romance, but something with substance.
I knew she wasn’t married, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t seeing someone. If she was, I hated him. Didn’t matter who it was, to me, he was a fucking dick. She was mine. She’d been mine even before she made the first move. And no matter what happened, I was sure that in my heart, she’d always be mine.
6 Sinclair
I was sitting at my desk going over budget reports, wishing I could be working on finding a way to kick Stark Associates out of town when Trina poked her head in.
“You’ll never guess who’s here to see the mayor.”
I held up my hands in an “I don’t know” gesture.
“Wyatt Jones! God, I had such a crush on him in high school. Like everyone else.”
My heart did somersaults in my chest. “He asked for the mayor?”
“Yes.” Trina’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you expecting him?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “I made a visit out to his place a few days ago.”
“No!” She stepped inside my office and shut the door. “Do tell.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Then why didn’t you mention it to me?”
“Because there’s nothing to tell. Stark has targeted their property. It was on the list you gave me.”
“Oh. Right.”
There was a knock on the door. Trina turned and opened it. “Mr. Jones.”
She opened the door and Wyatt walked in looking like he was a cowboy fantasy come to life. Those worn jeans, dark t-shirt pulled taut over his chest. Every neuron in my body fired with a universal “yum”.
He looked at Trina and I could tell he was trying to place her.
“Katrina Lados,” she said. “We went to high school together. With deputy mayor Simms too.”
“Oh right.” He gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I do remember you. You used to like to bug Ryder.”
She smirked. “He’s a slacker. Always was one. Always will be one.”
“Someone has to do it,” Wyatt said affably.
Trina laughed. “You sound just like him. The mayor isn’t back yet, but if you’d like to wait out here, I’ll get you a cold drink.”
I had this crazy notion that maybe Trina was flirting with my man. Well, no, not my man, but…Ugh!
Wyatt followed her out to the waiting area. I should have gone back to work. After all, except for a lingering glance in my direction, he didn’t ask to see me.
Crap. I tossed my pen down, rose from my chair and headed to the main lobby area of the mayor’s office.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Jones?”
He was sitting in one of the hard chairs flipping through a hunting magazine. His brows lifted like he thought it was weird for me to call him Mr. Jones. It was weird. But we were grown-ups now. Not two teenagers lost in lust.
“Can you get me in to see the mayor?” He set the magazine down.
“Probably. What’s your business with him?” I sat in the chair next to him.
“Some fancy-dressed thugs were at the house trying to coerce my mother into leaving the property. They say my father is selling, but according to her, since he left the property and I’m there, he can’t sell it.”
“You know I’ve heard a rumor about that,” Trina said from her desk.
Wyatt and I looked at her.
“Something about how the Jones property is passed on. You know it’s one of the oldest farms in the area.”
“Oldest continuously owned by a Jones,” Wyatt corrected.
“Right.” Trina pointed at him with her pen. I could see the wheels in her head turning as she started typing on her computer.
“What do you think the mayor can help you with?” I asked Wyatt, trying not to look into his gorgeous green eyes.
“If they’re pressuring us, they’re likely pressuring others. And their type of pressure is threatening. I nearly got into it with one of them.”
My brows rose in surprise. “Like a fight?”
He nodded. “I’d have won, but someone like my mom wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“There’s no law that says they can’t make the offer-”
“Trespassing is against the law. Surely coercion would make a contract
