Page 69 of Whirlwind

“And Marshall likes us together too, if you haven’t noticed. You and me together greases everyone’s wheels—”

“Except for mine!” I spit out on a yell.

He jammed down on the brake in the middle of Clay Street, Meager’s main drag. His hand landed on my thigh, gripping it, squeezing it hard. His usually pale face was streaked with red, his lips a hard line. He was livid. My heart stuttered in my chest. I’d been transported back in time.

Just like Five.

I’d struck a mighty sensitive nerve, and Ladd had flung off his calfskin cashmere-lined gloves. Sharp claws dug into me, admonishing. Owning. Threatening.

Ladd’s face dove into mine. “Now it’s back to the real world and real life.” His fingers slid against my crotch, grabbing.

“Get the hell off me.” I shoved against him. Passersby stared at us.

“What’s the matter, Vi? You used to beg me to fuck you in public.”

“I’ve never begged you for anything.” I peeled his hand off me, jerking back against the car door. “You never wanted to.”

“Well, now you’re going to beg me hard.” His lips set into a snarl and they pressed against my face.

I struggled for air as I twisted. “What’s that supposed to mean, big guy?”

“That house you want so damn bad? Here in town, what’s it called? Whispersomething?”

“Whisperwind. What about it?”

“It’s your and Daddy’s big secret, right? I’ve overheard the two of you talking about it. How you want it back in the family, how you want to fix it up. But now all his cash is tied up in Powder Ridge.”

My scalp prickled. I’d never discussed my dreams for Whisperwind with Ladd before. “And?”

“I put in an offer to the family.”

My blood chilled. “What are you talking about?”

“Mr. and Mrs. Putnam can’t take the South Dakota winters anymore. They really want to move to San Diego where their kids and grandkids live.”

My mouth dried, my stomach twisted tightly. “You’ve talked to the Putnams?”

“Such a nice couple.” He licked the side of my face on a dark chuckle, his fingers digging into my thigh. “We had a wonderful conversation about cold and snow, and how they just can’t take it anymore.” He squeezed at my crotch again.

I stiffened. “No, you didn’t.”

His fingers found my breast and smashed into the soft flesh. “You bet your sweet little tits I did.” His hand kneading, he bit my earlobe, laughing once more, a hollow laugh that reverberated in my ear, in my soul, and I shuddered.

I tilted my head and gulped in air. “Get off me.”

“We had a really nice chat about how beautiful San Diego is, one of my favorite cities, as you know.”

“How are you buying a house? I thought all your funds were tied up in the golf course.”

“I’m going to shift shit around. I consider that house part of my investment. Because with you and me together, Vi, we’ll be running all of Powder Ridge one day, not just the golf club.” His lips curved into a smile against my cheek.

“I don’t want to run Powder Ridge, and I certainly don’t want you running it.”

“That’s not up to you, sweetheart, it’s up to Marshall. So, after our little cool down period now, during which I’ll be appropriately upset about your cheating on me, we’ll kiss and make up and get engaged.”

“We will not!”

“If I have to marry your ass to hang onto this deal the way I want it, I will.”

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