Love Next Door (Lakeside #1) by Helena Hunting

He chuckles. “So impatient and unrefined. I bet you’re a lot of fun, aren’t you, Dillion? You sure you picked the right Firestone brother to get between the sheets with?”

“Good lord. You are a sexual harassment case in the making. Keep it up, and I’m going to show you how unrefined I am.”

He holds up his hands. “No need to get violent. Come on, Dillion, you and I know the real reason you’re with Van.”

“Which would be what?” I’ve about had it with this guy.

“Van is sitting on a gold mine, but you already knew that, didn’t you? Which is why you’re with him. You already knew what Bee’s place was worth, and now you’re trying to edge your way in and take what should be mine.” He jabs his own chest.

“You hate it here.”

“Not the point! The cottage should have been divided equally among the three of us, and it wasn’t. All I got was fifty grand, and Van got everything else. There are acres of land waiting to be developed.”

I laugh humorlessly. “You’re living in a dream world if you think you’re going to convince the town to let you subdivide Bee’s land and sell it off in parcels. Besides, you’d have to have the will reversed, and that is highly unlikely.” In that moment I realize Bradley already knows that. “Which is exactly what you’re trying to do.”

Bradley smiles brightly. “Wow, smart and beautiful. Now I know why Van is occupying his time with you.”

“I know what you’re trying to do here, but it’s not going to happen. I have things to do that don’t include listening to this crap. It’s time for you to leave.” I step out of the trailer and head for the house. My brother will most definitely be home. He’s not particularly threatening, but at least I won’t be alone with this asshole.

“Your father runs Footprint Renovations,” he says to my back.

I keep walking. It’s not like this isn’t common knowledge. Everyone knows who my dad is, and all he would’ve had to do is look him up on the internet or ask someone in town, and they’d tell him that.

“I hear his business has been doing well lately. Profiting off the wealthy. Making a real name for himself. Big difference from a couple of years ago, when he almost went under.”

I’m halfway to the house when I falter. I can feel the threat in his tone. I spin around and fight the urge to cross my arms, aware it’s a defensive maneuver that will paint me as weak in his eyes. I stalk back over and stop a few feet away. “Get to the point.”

His smarmy smile widens. “We could have a mutually beneficial relationship.” He nods once but doesn’t speak right away, baiting me, keeping me waiting. “I’ve heard he’s looking to expand the business. Seems risky, given everything that’s happening in your family.”

I bite, even though I don’t want to. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s working on the Bowman place right now. Everyone in town is talking about it. Lots of pull that family has. Lots of friends high up there too. Big opportunities for a small-town company, unless, say, something happens to tarnish his reputation. I mean, come on, you’ve got a brother with a DUI charge; who knows what other dirt someone could dig up with that kind of history. Like, say, perhaps the nasty gambling problem your uncle had . . .” He shrugs and arches a brow.

I cannot believe this guy. My uncle only had that one slipup a few years back, and since then he’s been in Gamblers Anonymous. Besides, he doesn’t touch the financials because of it. But the fact that Bradley knows about it shows that he has resources. Everyone has skeletons in their closets. “Is this blackmail? Extortion? What do you want?” I’m so frustrated and, frankly, starting to panic.

He thumbs over his shoulder.

“You want my trailer?” Obviously, I’m being cheeky.

He narrows his eyes. “I want what Donovan has.”

“Regular mind-blowing sex with someone he doesn’t have to pay to pretend to like him?” I’m probably going to regret saying that, but man, it was a good one.

“Oh, sweetheart.” He tsks and shakes his head. “Do you honestly think whatever is going on between you two is going to last?” He leans down, and I try to back away, but I’m trapped between him and his SUV. “Do you know why my brother has a thing for women like you?” He fingers a curl, and I bat his hand away. “Because it makes him feel better about himself. He likes projects, and you’re his newest one. What do you have to offer him, other than the obvious? You come from nothing, and if you don’t do what I want, I’ll destroy your family, and you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

“I can’t do anything to help you with the will even if I wanted to, which I don’t.”

“But you can say that Bee wasn’t in her right mind when she wrote it.” He pulls an envelope from his pocket. “You think you know this family, but you don’t. One way or another, I’ll find a way to get her will reversed.”

“Let me ask you something. Let’s say the will is invalidated. You’d only get one-third of a share. Minus what Bee already gave you. How does that help you?”

“My brother has nothing but this cottage; he’ll need the money. I can buy him out. And my sister.” He smirks. “You’ve met her. Do you think she wants this place? So you can either be on the right side of that deal or the wrong one. It’s up to you, but the wrong side will come with consequences you don’t like.”