Page 52 of 7 Dirty Lies

Grayson was the mysterious man I always saw shadowing Colt.No one could specifically give me his job description.He wasn’t an assistant or a partner, but he did both of those thingsandmore.

He was justGrayson.

“Just forget about the Northern Organics distribution entirely, it’s not happening.”Colt said as he handed Grayson a briefcase.“I’ll have to make Triple C want us.”He raked a hand through his hair and tugged when he reachedtheends.

I leaned back against my door and waited while Grayson argued.“We can’t rely on a single vendor, Colt.That’s what got us here in the firstplace.”

Colt’s eyes snapped to me and back to Grayson.“I know.But we have to get someone on board.We’ll start with them.But not tonight.I’mdone.”

“Colt,” I called when it looked like he was actually going to storm past me withoutaword.

He paused and held up a hand.“You don’t want to be around me right now.I’m in a piss poor mood and I’ve had enough backstabbing for onelifetime.”

Yeah.That hurt.And I’m glad I let it show because Colt stopped dead in his tracks, his entire face going white.“That wasn’t about you.The people I was meeting with this week?We had a distribution deal with their former parent company several years ago.They led me to believe we were much closer to a deal than we apparently were.”He cleared his throat and looked away, uncomfortable.“And that was way more information than youneeded.”

Except that I loved it.I knew so little about his troubles and this was a breadcrumb of information to hold on to.“Idon’tmind.”

“Yeah.Well, like I said.I won’t make good company right now.”By the look in his eyes I had to agree, even though I hated it.I wanted to runmyhand through his hair, take him upstairs and put him in a shower, but he was a bundle of emotions right now.His eyes kept darting around as if he expected his enemies to burst through the door, gunsdrawn.

And like anyone on the defensive, his guard was up, he was questioning everything, and he was ready to lash out at a moments notice.I didn’t want him confusing our delicate situation with whatever had him somixedup.

“Then I won’t keep you,” I said quietly, forcing a smile I did not feel ontomylips.

He gave me a quick nod and looked away.“Goodnight,Lily.”

“Goodnight,Colt.”

I opened my door and slipped back inside, but just before it shut I heard Christina stop Colt on the stairs.“You looklikeshit.”

I paused, my ear tothedoor.

“Good to see you too,” Coltgrumbled.

“No really, you look like hell, Colt.You can’t keep livinglikethis.”

“Someone’s got to keep the lights on.”I heard his heavy footsteps start back up the stairsagain.

“Work, work, work.You know why you’re so grumpy allthetime?”

“Enlightenme.”

“Because you want that lovely young woman downstairs but your ego is too big toadmitit.”

“Stop!”he yelled.“Just stop.You’re talking about things you don’tunderstand.”

“I understand that she’s as lovesick as you are.I understand that you came home from vacation ready to conquer the world and now you’re back to being angry all the time.And I understand that you’re working so hard to hang on to all of this because it keeps dad alive for you, but Colt, you can’t let itkillyou.”

I swallowed, my heart thudding in my chest so loud I thought for sure Colt must be able to hear it from all the way up the stairs.For several seconds there was nothing from eithersibling.

“You seem to have everything figured out, don’t you bigsister?”

“Tell me I’mwrong.”

“You’re wrong,” he bit out.“The company is fine.Landry Ranch isn’t going anywhere.But that doesn’t mean I have to be fine with mediocrity.I’m working my ass off because Iwantto.”I knew that was only partially true.“And as for my disposition as it comes to Miss Lawrence, it’s none of your damnbusiness.”

I heard Christina let out a frustrated growl as she stomped her foot.“You are as stubborn as a mule.Or would you feel less threatened by her if you drew up one of your stupidarrangements,huh?”

Arrangements?I didn’t have time to process that however, because Colt lost it.“You know, I put up with your comments and meddling over the years because you’re my sister.I knew you cared.But how I choose to live my life is my business and my business alone.You gave up the right to dictate anything in this house when you chose to move out of it and leave me here allalone.”

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