Between Commitment and Betrayal (Hardy Billionaire Brothers, #1)(21)

“I don’t think I’ll need to, Everly. You’re as small as a raindrop.” I grasped the rope so I could crouch between them and walk in.

She narrowed her eyes. “Rainwater can be dangerous. It can flood … take a life, wash away cars, it can move mountains. A raindrop is small but together, with others, they’re a force.”

I could tell right then, Everly was going to be a problem. “There’s only one of you here in front of me today.”

She let a small smile escape before she straightened and widened her stance. “Let’s see what you got. Come at me.”

I met her gaze, determined, focused, brilliant. It held no fear, like she knew she was capable of more than I’d come at her with.

Something stirred deep within me, something that shouldn’t have at all. I enjoyed taking a woman and making her mine, enjoyed ravaging her and controlling her when she wanted it.

I’d come at a woman in just that way before because she’d wanted it, not for her to defend herself.

So, I gave a half-ass effort as I walked toward her, reaching my hand out to grab her arm. She grasped my hand in just the right way and twisted it fast. She swung it over her head and cranked on it so hard that had I not curved my body and fallen to the ground that instant, I’d have a broken wrist. “Jesus Christ, Everly, what the fuck?” I bellowed.

I didn’t mean to yell, but it didn’t matter. She was beaming down at me, her pearly whites so bright against her lips that I immediately wanted to say sorry for my outburst. “Rule number one—you can’t underestimate your opponent and give them the upper hand. It only takes one raindrop to bring you down it seems.”

I glanced up in utter disbelief. “You … You almost broke my arm. I didn’t expect you to—”

“Yes, again, underestimating probably isn’t a good idea.”

Shit. I knew that. I’d played sports forever and the underdog was always capable of the win, could always gain the upper hand when they were underestimated. Yet, this was different. “You’re not even half my size.”

“I know. It’s extremely invigorating to know what the body is capable of.”

I grumbled, “I guess the job is yours.” I snatched my hand out of hers and got up. “When do you want to start, Raindrop?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like nicknames. Everyone just calls me Evie. And today if possible. I worked back in my hometown and hate to not be working.”

“Right, can I ask why you left that hometown of yours?” I was prying, and I knew it. Yet, I needed to know the type of person I was dealing with.

Her face fell, she shut off all emotion, and she didn’t elaborate. “Sometimes, people just need a change.”

I had a feeling she was about to change my life in more ways than one.



OUR GAZES WERE at war with one another, like we were both recalling the first time we’d met. “Hard to forget that, Everly. You can take care of yourself in a ring, you can take care of yourself now. Let’s work through this, huh? We’ll ride out the marriage, and that way the shares won’t be given to an anonymous company.”

“If we’re doing this, I’m not living with you.” She almost bared her teeth as she said it, blue eyes burning bright with hatred toward me suddenly.

“I have a guesthouse. Completely detached from my own,” I informed her, straightening the suit jacket I was so sick of wearing already.

“Of course you do. Everyone here does.” She shut her eyes, frustrated. “I’m not like you all, Mr. Hardy. I can’t … I don’t live this lifestyle like Melinda and Anastasia and—”

“Don’t include me in the lineup,” Dom jumped in, a small smile on his face. She glanced over at him, and I saw how her eyes softened.

“Dom, you know how ridiculous this is,” Evie said to my brother. Seeing how they'd became friends, how he could calm her in this moment pissed me off. It pissed me off because I wasn't me.

“It’s only a change in location and a license for a year,” I reminded her, stopping her from engaging with my brother any further. This was between her and me. “Have your own life. It won’t really interfere with mine.” She chewed her cheek for a moment, and I knew I had her. “If you can’t handle it, I can try to work with Melinda and Anastasia about your mother’s yoga studio.”

That had her narrowing her eyes. Everly didn’t want to ask that woman for anything. I understood why too. She’d been vicious to her since the moment they’d first met. “There will be rules if we do this.”

I smiled in triumph. “Of course there will be.”

She stood so abruptly the chair flew out from behind her, but I caught it before it hit the ground. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I need to read over the will again.”

“If you agree”—Mrs. Johnson cleared her throat—“there will be further stipulations that can’t be read until month three of your marriage.”

“What?” we both said in unison.

“It’s unconventional, but I assure you, it’s nothing you can’t handle and—”

“We need to see the documentation.”

“Legally, I’m contracted—” She glanced at my legal team. Well, they were also Carl’s legal team. “My hands are tied, Declan.”