His gestured down the hall again. “I’m guessing you have more to say?”
“I always have more to say.”
He cracked a smile. “I’ve definitely noticed that.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“You don’t get to dictate my emotions. Shall we at least sit down?”
She agreed and started down the hall, trying hard not to be bowled over by the surroundings. It got better and better. The furnishings were gorgeous, but looked comfortable. The artistic touches were understated and classy, while the great room’s high-peaked ceiling was breathtaking.
“Hi, Jules,” came a man’s voice.
She nearly stumbled into the sofa.
“I’m Matt,” he said, rolling to his feet from an armchair. “I was with Caleb when your sister got hurt.”
Jules was momentarily speechless. This man had overheard her tirade? What had she said? She scrambled to remember.
Caleb entered the room behind her. “You sure you don’t want a drink? We’re having beer, but I can open a bottle of wine.”
She turned to glare at him, transmitting her irritation. “You have company?”
“Matt’s a neighbor. He owns the house above the marina.”
“You could have said something.”
“It was hard to get a word in.”
“Don’t mind me,” Matt said, a trace of laughter in his tone.
Jules turned back, embarrassed and annoyed. She wasn’t here for their entertainment. “I obviously didn’t know you were here.”
“You didn’t say anything embarrassing,” Matt said. “In fact, I’m on your side. Caleb shouldn’t have taken advantage of your sister in her moment of weakness.”
“I didn’t,” Caleb protested. “And she’s not in a moment of weakness. She said it herself that she was feeling fine.”
“She’s probably high on painkillers,” Matt said. “She only thinks she feels fine.”
“Shut up,” Caleb said.
Jules couldn’t help but appreciate Matt’s support. “See? Even Matt agrees with me. It’s very nice to meet you, Matt.”
“Care for a beer?” Matt asked her.
“Sounds good,” she said.
“Seriously?” Caleb grumbled. “To him you say yes?”
“I’m a lot more appealing than you.” Matt started across the room. “Women like me.”
“You’ve been divorced a single month, and you’re already a gift to women?”
Matt held his arms wide. “What can I say?”
“He does seem very nice,” Jules said in a clear tone.
“Not to mention handsome.” Matt had reached a wet bar tucked in the corner of the room and bent over to open a hidden fridge.
“He is rather handsome,” Jules said, content to keep the conversation two against one. “And, I bet he’s not trying to undermine or destroy any of the women in his life.”
Caleb’s expression tightened for a second.
“She’s got you there,” Matt said.
“I’m not trying to destroy anyone,” Caleb said.
“Glad to hear it.” Jules made a show of reaching into her handbag. “If you could just sign these papers to guarantee my easement.”
“Melissa said you saw a lawyer.”
“I did see a lawyer.”
Caleb took a couple of steps and lifted a manila envelope from a side table. “So did I. If you could just sign these papers removing the noncompete clause.”
Jules paused. “Do you actually have those papers at the ready?”
He didn’t respond, and she couldn’t tell anything from his expression.
“Because I was bluffing,” she said. She didn’t have papers of any kind in her handbag.
He held up the envelope. “This is a charitable donation to the new health clinic.”
She opened her bag and made a show of peering inside. “I can’t even come that close. All I have are text messages on my phone.”
Matt chuckled as he twisted open a bottle of beer and pushed the fridge shut with his thigh.
“You can’t win,” Caleb said to her.
“Neither can you.”
“So, we should compromise.”
“You don’t want to compromise. You want me gone.”
“I don’t want you gone.” He tossed down the envelope and moved to stand next to an armchair. “Why don’t you sit down?”
Matt arrived and handed her the beer.
She glanced from one man to the other and decided she might as well sit down. If she hoped to reason with Caleb, they’d have to have a conversation. She lowered herself onto the sofa.
Caleb sat, as well.
“He’s not a bad guy,” Matt said.