Scandalous Reunion

When the silence stretched, Maty turned back around and Sam exhaled. Damn it. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding his breath, but when those eyes landed on him, he became paralyzed. If he didn’t get his act together, she might just mesmerize him and take full advantage of his rekindled desire.

No matter what had happened in the past, there was no denying that she was even sexier than he remembered and his body didn’t give a damn what had happened to his heart in the past. The ache seemed instant. He had to get her out of here.

When the quiet apparently became too much, Maty moved to the next photo. She crossed her arms and shifted her hips in a way that had his body stirring with unwanted arousal.

“You seem happy here,” she murmured, tapping one perfectly polished nail against the glass.

“I graduated top of my class when I had everything stacked against me and my family to take care of.”

She flashed him a glance over her shoulder. “Your mother.”

Sam nodded. No need in denying the facts. Maty had been around long enough back then to know exactly the type of woman his mother was. All that had changed since Maty left, and now that Sam had money, was his mother always wanted him to bail her out of all her wrong turns.

“You didn’t come here to do the whole memory lane thing,” he accused, not wanting to delve into the past with her. “But you’re wasting your time with anything else.”

Now she turned fully, her arms dropping to her sides as she tipped her head. “Maybe I want to catch up,” she countered. “Maybe I’m curious what you’ve been up to these last sixteen years.”

“What I’ve been up to?” He laughed and opened his arms wide. “Look all around you. What you and Lockwood want to take from me is what I’ve been up to.”

Taking his heart so long ago wasn’t enough? Now she wanted his life?

Because this distillery, these employees, were absolutely everything. He’d worked too damn hard, countless hours, many sleepless nights to make Hawkins a reputable business. Even if Sam died, he wouldn’t pass this legacy to Rusty. There was literally no way ol’ Lockwood would get his talons on Sam’s distillery.

“I’m not looking to steal anything,” she volleyed back. “I’m merely here on behalf of my client who is willing to up his asking price. You haven’t even heard the number and it may be worth considering.”

Sam hated her professional tone. Hated that she was treating him like a regular client. Hated even more that she was tied up with that bastard. But…maybe she’d changed. Maybe she didn’t have morals anymore. The girl he’d once loved had been loyal to her family, put her parents and her brother above everything.

Now, she’d drawn a line between them the moment she opted to take up with his rival. He couldn’t help but wonder what events over the last sixteen years had led her to make this career decision.

“How’s your family?” he asked, turning the tables on her.

Maty’s face paled for a second before she tipped up her chin. “My parents were killed in a car accident two years ago. My brother is still in Virginia.”

All of his anger and resentment washed away at her statement. He’d loved her family like his own, so the hurt that overcame him was partly selfish.

“Maty, I had no idea,” he said, taking a step forward. “I’m sorry doesn’t seem adequate, but I am.”

Sam forced himself to stop before he did something stupid like reach out and touch her, in a vain attempt at consoling her. He was the one who was shocked. After all, she’d had time to process the loss. Sam had always admired Will and Monica Taylor. They were loving parents, the picture of happiness with their two children who were brilliant and destined for great things.

“So is Carter an attorney, too?”

Maty blinked and spun around to the pictures. “You’ve had some impressive celebrities stop through here.”

When she tapped the photo of a popular country singer holding up a tumbler of gin, Sam took that as his cue to stop any talk of her brother…which made Sam want to find out even more. Maty and Carter had always been close, like best friends. The fact that she was so quick to move on with another topic raised some serious red flags. They would get back to this at a later time—Sam would make sure of it.

Maty finished her perusal of the black-and-white images and blew out a sigh as she made a slow circle of his office. “You’ve done really well for yourself.”

“I don’t need your approval.”

Sam relaxed against the edge of his desk and crossed his arms as he met her stare across the room. Why did he let her affect him? He’d come a hell of a long way since they were together. He was proud of where he’d landed and where he was going.

“We seem to be getting off on the wrong foot,” she stated. “Is it because of the past? Because—”

“My irritation has nothing to do with the past and everything to do with your arrogant client who thinks he can have anything he wants if he whines long enough, like a toddler. He might as well move on. There are other distilleries he could look into acquiring.”

“True.” Maty nodded in agreement. “But he wants yours.”

Sam grunted. “And you just happen, conveniently, to be the attorney assigned to this mission.”

Her eyes narrowed. Her lips pursed. What he wouldn’t like to do to those lips under much different circumstances.

“Mr. Lockwood is aware of our past if that’s what you’re asking.”

“And he hired you to do what?” Sam pushed off his desk, slowly closing the gap between them. “Did he think I’d meet with you? Maybe we’d start reminiscing like we are now?”

Maty’s eyes widened as Sam reached up. With one fingertip, he slid a wayward golden strand of hair behind her ear. Just as silky as he remembered.

“Maybe I’d kiss you, plunge both of us back into the past.” He leaned in closer, cursing himself for being a masochist, but he couldn’t stop…or perhaps he just didn’t want to. “Maybe I’d be so overwhelmed with lust that I’d agree to your terms.”

A little closer, his lips hovered within a whisper of hers. She wasn’t moving, he was positive she held her breath as her eyes dropped to his lips.

There it was. That same crackling tension they’d always shared. That same invisible string that pulled them together no matter how hard they fought it.

Sam touched her nowhere now, but damn if it didn’t take every bit of his resolve to hold himself back. She had some floral scent that he didn’t recognize, but it was driving him out of his mind.

“Sam,” she whispered.

“Is that what you were hoping for, Maty? A little reunion sex and a closed deal?”

Sam grazed his lips across hers, his entire body tightened with arousal as she gasped.

Get a grip, Hawkins. You’re being a jerk.

Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists at his sides, Sam took a step back. Those wide eyes still remained locked on his, but now they were a shade darker…just like they used to be when she was fully aroused.

There she was. That girl he remembered who always gave him every bit of her passion. She never could mask her desire.

Sam cursed beneath his breath and spun on his heel to circle his desk. He needed to put some space, or something substantial, between them. They’d been in the same room for ten minutes and already he wanted to slide that zipper down and see if she still liked lacy underwear.

“Go back to Rusty and tell him even you won’t get me to sell,” he ordered. “And maybe find yourself a client who isn’t crooked, unless you are only in this for the money.”

She’d never been about money before, but time changed people. Circumstances changed people. Maybe the death of her parents had done something to that moral compass of hers.

Regardless, these were not his problems and he had a company to run and a gala to prepare for in less than two weeks. He’d been gone for the past three weeks and this was only his first day back. Getting sexually distracted by his ex wasn’t the best way to kick off his work week.

Maty smoothed her hair back and pasted on a smile that gave him another punch to the gut. He had a feeling she knew exactly how potent she was. Maty wasn’t stupid or naive and he had to ignore her charms or any advances.

“I’ll be in touch,” she promised. “You might just be given a deal you can’t refuse.”

As she sashayed out with those swinging hips and honey hair bouncing, that’s exactly what Sam was afraid of.

Sam needed a distraction, something to get his mind off the woman who’d just blown into his office and left her mark.

He stared down at his desk, at the letter he’d read earlier. It still sat on top of the envelope. It was rare for someone to write an actual letter these days, and he still couldn’t believe that the words were true so he grabbed it, taking a seat as he read.

Sam,

You don’t know me and by the time you receive this, I will be gone. My name is Lori Campbell. I’m Nick Campbell’s mother. I do not mean to turn your life upside down, but I can’t leave this world without giving my son the truth about his paternity, and I’m afraid I need to tell you as well.

Rusty Lockwood is Nick’s biological father…something he just discovered. Rusty also fathered two other children and you are one of them.

I’m sorry to tell you this way, but I know my son will need family once I’m gone. He will have no one and I pray he finds someone he can lean on during this difficult time. If you would, I’d like you to reach out to him.

I hope Rusty doesn’t cause trouble. I have sent a letter to the other brother as well. I wish you all well.

Lori

He still couldn’t process it.

Rusty Lockwood was his biological father? How the hell did this woman know?

Sam was well connected with Nick Campbell now. They’d been acquaintances through the industry for a while, but just in the last month Nick had approached Sam about teaming up against Rusty Lockwood and putting an end to Rusty’s local monopoly over hard liquor licensing.

Nick’s mother had recently passed away, but Sam never knew her, never heard her name, actually.

Had Nick known Rusty was supposedly his own father? Is that why he wanted to tackle the mogul? Did he know that Rusty was Sam’s father? Was that why he’d wanted to partner up?

Sam leaned forward, resting his palms on his desk. He blew out a breath and wondered what the hell he was supposed to do with all this information, all these questions.

Did he go to Nick? Did he stay quiet?

What about his mother? She’d kept this secret his entire life. Anytime he’d asked about his father, she would always say they were both better off without him. Sam had to agree, if Rusty was indeed his father. But how in the hell had his mother gotten involved with such a man to begin with?

Another realization hit him. Did Rusty know about his sons? If he did, had he shared that secret with Maty? Is that why she was back at this time to completely throw Sam off his game?

Between Maty dropping back into his life and working for the enemy, and this cryptic letter, Sam didn’t know what to believe. But, one thing was for sure, he couldn’t let his guard down.

He had to find out what the hell was going on.

Three

Rusty was blackmailing Maty. That could be the only explanation.

Even though she’d left him without looking back, Sam refused to believe that sweet girl from years ago had completely lost her common sense and turned so dark and unscrupulous that she’d take a job and a salary from Sam’s enemy. What was her angle? Why come back to Green Valley and suddenly team up with Rusty after all this time?

Sam had had a full day of meetings and employee reviews that had occupied his time, but now that he’d gotten home and had more time to think, a blackmail scheme was all he could come up with. Not that he wanted Rusty to be holding something over her head, but Sam hated thinking the worst.

Maty had admitted that Rusty knew of her past with Sam. No doubt he’d used that as the foundation for this game plan, but there had to be more than Maty and Sam’s old connection bringing her here. What could Rusty have dangled in front of Maty?

Money? Maybe, but Sam hoped to hell she hadn’t gotten that shallow.

As he stepped onto the second-story balcony off his master suite, the cell in his pocket vibrated. Sam shifted his bourbon into his left hand and pulled out his phone.

Nick’s name lit up the screen and Sam hesitated for a second. He’d forgotten he’d texted Nick earlier. After that little meeting with Maty and then that damning letter, Sam was still struggling to get his head on straight.

Pulling in a deep breath, Sam swiped to answer the call.

“Hawkins.”

“Sam, it’s Nick. Sorry I’m just getting back to you. Silvia and I were at the site all day.”

Nick Campbell and Silvia Lane had started a working relationship when Nick hired Silvia to be the lead architect on his late mother’s mountainside resort. Sam didn’t know the dynamics of their relationship, but he did know they were now married and expecting a baby. Everything seemed to be falling into place for Nick now, even after his world had crumbled when his mother passed. Sam had to assume she had written the letter close to her passing, knowing the end was near.

“Is something wrong?” Nick asked. “Your text seemed urgent.”

Something wrong? If Rusty Lockwood was his father—their father—then yes, something was wrong.

“It is urgent, but I’d rather not discuss this over the phone.” Sam swirled his bourbon around his ice sphere. “Are you free in the morning?”

“This sounds serious.”

“It is.”

“Then I’m free in the morning,” Nick declared. “Should I come to your office?”

“Eight o’clock,” Sam confirmed. “My assistant won’t be in until nine, so we’ll have some privacy.”

“Should I be worried?” Nick asked.

Sam had no clue how to answer that. “I just came across some information on Rusty and since we’re working together on trying to get that license overturned, I wanted to share this sensitive material with you as soon as possible.”

“You’ve piqued my interest. I’ll be there.”

Sam disconnected the call and tossed back his bourbon. Yes, the amber liquid should be savored and sipped. Sam wasn’t in a savor and sip mood. He wanted hard and fast…liquor or a woman, he didn’t care which.

Maty instantly came to mind.

Those curves had filled out even more since she’d been twenty-two. Her body wasn’t the only thing that had changed. Her entire personality had shifted. What had once been fun and bubbly now seemed cold and closed off. She was hiding something and Sam should listen to his head and leave her be…but he couldn’t. Something held her to Rusty and something, or someone, had her scared. Sam wouldn’t want anyone to be in that position, let alone someone he used to care for.

Rusty was clearly using Maty because of Sam, so he couldn’t just ignore the situation. Well, he could if he was a cold bastard like Lockwood, but Sam wasn’t anything like that man.

The man who could possibly be his father.

Was that even true? He could go to his mother and find out, but she had always been so insistent that she never wanted to discuss his father, saying they never needed him. And she’d been too busy wasting her life at blackjack tables to really care anyway.

Sam was a big boy now—he could more than handle his own and with this letter surfacing, he couldn’t just dismiss what could be hard facts.

Sam would confront his mother when he was ready. He was still trying to process everything himself and he had a feeling Nick might hold even more of the puzzle pieces Sam needed.

This alliance they’d already formed weeks ago to bring Rusty down had forged a friendship. But how would Nick react once Sam revealed the letter Lori had sent?

Maty had just taken off her boxing gloves when her phone chimed. She swiped the perspiration from her forehead with the back of her arm and reached for her cell on the window ledge.

The first thing she’d done when she’d moved into this tiny apartment was put up her heavy bag. Some people drank when they were stressed, some ate their feelings, but Maty preferred to punch and kick things. She also enjoyed art, but that was for when she had a calmer frame of mind. Her mood right now was far from calm.

She glanced at her screen and saw Rusty’s name. A 7:00 a.m. call from the bane of her existence? Not how she wanted to start her day.

“This is Maty,” she answered.

“Miss Taylor, I worried when I didn’t hear from you yesterday,” Rusty started. “How did the meeting go with Sam?”

Maty pulled in a deep breath and reached for her water bottle. “We had a good talk.”

“Good as in he agreed to the terms?”

Maty forced herself to remain calm. “I warned you going in that he wouldn’t agree to anything at the first meeting. Sam loves that company that he’s built and getting him to sell will take some time.”

“That’s something you don’t have,” he reminded her. “The month will be up before you know it.”

As if she needed the recap of the ticking clock. Rusty not only blackmailed her into coming to Green Valley, but he’d given her a timetable that would be impossible to manage given even the best of circumstances…and these were far from great circumstances. Her stress level was at an all-time high; she worried about her mental state. But she worried more about failing her brother who needed the health care Rusty was paying for.

Maty had to jump through every hoop Rusty put in her path. She had to carry out his plans, no matter what she thought of the man or his schemes.

She had come back to Green Valley with every intention of succeeding and facing Sam Hawkins. The meeting with him actually went better than she thought. She managed to be in the room with him without apologizing for leaving so long ago, without throwing herself all over him because he was still the sexiest man she’d ever known, and he didn’t claim to hate her. All in all, things could’ve been worse. Though she did leave with a whole host of brand new fantasies because he’d gotten broader, rougher, edgier. Everything about him exuded power—he was a man not to be messed with.

Yet here she was, doing exactly that.

Maty took a long pull of her cold water. She weighed her words to Rusty as she took a seat on the bench beneath the window.

“Yesterday was the first day,” she explained. “You’ve had other attorneys attempt this bargain and even you yourself couldn’t close the deal in several months, so don’t expect a miracle on day one.”

“I expect you to make this happen or you will not like the end result.”

Intimidation seemed to be the key component Rusty used to wrap people in his plans. A man like Rusty would use any means necessary to get what he wanted. Likely that’s how he’d landed where he was today.

Threats were how he’d gotten her to this point and as strong as she’d always prided herself on being, Rusty Lockwood had found her weak spot and used it to his full advantage. As if her life hadn’t been degraded enough, now she had to work for the devil himself.

No doubt Sam thought she had turned into some kind of shark lawyer with only a paycheck in mind. As if she needed to give him more reasons to dislike her. Just the idea that Sam could hate her left a yawning pit in Maty’s stomach. Out of all the people in the world, she truly cared what Sam thought of her.

She couldn’t blame him for not wanting to sell his distillery, though. Why would he? He’d taken over a floundering company nearly a decade ago and turned it into a huge success. Within the next few years, his brand would be all over the world.

Sam had always had a very detailed dream and he was living that vision every single day. He sure as hell didn’t need the money.

That was the thing about Sam that Rusty would never comprehend. Sam wasn’t in this industry for the money. He was here for the passion, the process. He’d always loved creating and studying and learning from his mistakes.

Rusty was about the almighty dollar and how padded his accounts could be, and that would ultimately be his downfall.

Unfortunately, his downfall didn’t seem to be coming anytime soon. And Maty had gotten herself caught in Rusty’s clenches. Until she could figure out a solution to all her problems—like winning the lottery—she was stuck.

“You were supposed to use your connection to charm him,” Rusty added.

Maty clenched her teeth. She wanted nothing more than to have the power and the courage to tell Rusty exactly what she thought of him and this plan. She wished like hell she had the funding to care for her brother, and then she could go back to Virginia and actually live her life.

But she was stuck and she wasn’t even sure the end result would turn to her favor. Rusty could end the payments for her brother’s care, even if she did get this deal signed. All of this could be for nothing…but she still couldn’t give up.

“Despite what you may think of me, or of any other woman you employ, I will not use sex to get what you want.” The mere thought made her blood boil and her stomach tighten. “And I haven’t seen Sam in sixteen years. Any bond we had is no longer relevant.”

“Then make it relevant,” he demanded, his voice booming.

Maty closed her eyes and gripped her water bottle, the plastic crackling beneath her fingers. She’d known going into this whole situation that luring Sam in would be an impossible task. But with her brother’s care and her own reputation and career on the line, she’d had no choice.

At the end of this nightmare, she was going to have to find a respectable job and she needed to not have a giant black mark marring her name.

“I expect to be notified after each meeting,” Rusty added a second before disconnecting the call.

Maty dropped her cell on the bench beside her and took another drink. She eyed her gloves and came to her feet. She might not have proper furniture, but she had a stress reliever and right at this minute, that was the most important thing.

She had to figure out how to keep her brother in the best possible care and convince Sam to give up everything he’d worked for, and she was down to twenty-nine days.

She’d never been more terrified in her life.

Sam opened the main door to the office building and let Nick pass through.

“Thanks for coming in so early,” Sam stated, locking the door and motioning toward the hallway leading to his private office. “We can talk back here.”

“You’ve been gone three weeks and you’re back a whole day and find out something about Rusty that can’t be discussed over the phone.” Nick laughed. “That’s pretty damn impressive.”

Sam’s gut tightened with guilt. He hadn’t been totally up front and once he exposed the letter, he worried how Nick would handle the news. Surely the death of his mother was still so fresh and raw, but Lori had stated she wanted family there for Nick once she was gone. Apparently, that family was Sam.

They stepped into Sam’s office and he closed the door at his back.

“I’ll get right to the point.” Sam crossed to his desk and picked up the envelope. “I received a letter while I was gone. It sat here for three weeks, so I had no clue it even existed.”

Nick’s eyes landed on the paper, then focused back up onto Sam. “This is about Rusty?”

Sam nodded. “It’s from your mother.”

“My mother?” Nick’s eyes widened, his brows rose. “She left me a letter, too. She said that…”

Silence stretched as Nick’s attention remained on the envelope. Sam waited, giving Nick time to process or make the next move. Nick had to know now exactly what this meant for both of them.