“What are you talking about?” Nolan hadn’t let me in on the joke yet, and that’s what it had to be. A joke. A bad nightmare.
“Sell your property to me, rid yourself of the convict, and take the life I’m offering. You know I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
This was getting out of control. I pushed from the table. “Nolan, I’m here to talk about my land.”
“And I’m talking about our future.”
“We have no future!”
I lowered my voice as the waiter crossed behind us. God, since when was Jackson’s this busy on a Thursday night? I avoided the gaze of Mrs. Greentree as she and her husband greeted the server. The gossip would spread about this tonight. I had to get out before word got back to Maddox.
“Do not confuse this for what it is,” I said.
“And what is it?” Nolan folded his hands and held my gaze. “Why should we restrict our interests to your property?”
“Because that is our only common interest.”
“If you give me the chance, I could make a good life for you. Your property is worthless without your candy shop. I’ll rebuild it. Your grandfather’s debts are known to the town. I’ll arrest his bookie and debt holders. His medical bills? Paid. Do you understand what I’m offering you? This isn’t just a property sale.”
I swallowed, hard. “No. You’re buying me.”
“I’m giving you an opportunity.”
“You aren’t that noble. You’re after more than charity.”
Nolan grinned. “Is it a crime to want you?”
“Don’t speak to me like that.”
“Why? Maddox does worse.” His words edged, but it was his fingers that worried me, digging and twisting and ripping the cloth napkin. “Maybe I’ve been chasing you wrong. I’ve been kind, I’ve been logical. But you don’t want those things, do you?”
I leaned away. “You have no idea what I want.”
“Do you like danger? Excitement?”
“Stop it, Nolan.”
“Maybe you’d like to be bent over the table like a filthy whore?”
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that.”
Nolan imagined it, and I couldn’t stop those foul fantasies. The thought rooted in him. If I ever gave him the chance, if I ever trapped myself alone with him…he’d take what he wanted.
“I’m offering this once, Josie,” he said. “If you agree to this sale, everything is yours. I’ll rebuild the shop, take care of Granddad, and give you a life of luxury and fame. I’ll need an honest, beautiful woman on my arm to propel myself into politics. You are that woman. We could be happy.”
“I don’t love you.”
“Maddox can’t give you those things.”
“This isn’t about him.”
“Of course it is! You’re obsessed with that man and can’t see him for the demon he is. It’s time you realize he can’t support you.”
“He’s trying,” I said.
His voice chilled. “And if something should happen? If he returns to jail? If something else—”
“Threaten him once and the negotiations end.”
Nolan leaned back, swirling his wine. “This is my only offer, Josie. I want you. Let me prove myself worthy of you.”
“How?”
“One night.”
I stiffened, and everything inside me turned to ash. “What kind of night?”
“You aren’t that naïve.”
“You aren’t that perverted.”
“I want one night with you in my bed. Then you’ll see we have a connection. We’ll make a deal and begin planning for the future.” Nolan leaned closer, smiling over his wine. “No one will know. I won’t tell Maddox. You won’t tell Delta. It’ll be our little secret.”
Those were the secrets that consumed people, tore them open and bled their conscience dry.
This wasn’t what Granddad wanted for either of us. Losing our property was horrible enough. Losing myself to…letting Nolan…
I couldn’t, but I couldn’t afford not to. I reached for the wine. Nolan grinned.
“How long do I have to decide?” I asked.
“Does it take that much thought? Figure it out before dessert. I plan to eat it off of you.”
My heart thudded, too hard, too fast, too frightened.
“If I refuse…” I whispered. “What happens to Maddox?”
Nolan didn’t answer. His eyes narrowed, and a vein throbbed in his forehead. “Ask him yourself.”
A shadow fell over the table. I didn’t move, didn’t speak. Maddox stalked behind me, ripping a chair from a nearby table to join ours.