Page 48 of The Spice Is Nice

Seth’s eyes narrowed, but his mouth curved. He liked this. Liked that I was putting it together, and how it affected me. “That’s right. You think the Hollis family didn’t talk around town about your little boyfriend’s intervention in Dad’s deal? There’s a reason Dad wants the land. The mining rights alone on that property would have brought in a hefty sum. And I was promised half of it. Half. Do you understand what that means? That was my future. My money. Gone because your asshole boyfriend played hero.” He slammed his fist into the counter.

I jolted, struck by a single thought. “Was it you who ran me and Colt off the road during the storm?”

An evil smirk grew across his face. “No. But oh, when Dad heard the news… And then Chris Magnus goes and throws his support behind the sheriff? Dad has been on a rampage all week. The ODRR needed to be taught a lesson. You don’t fuck with the Brewsters.”

I swallowed back a lump. His eyes went from calculating to raw and wicked. My calm demeanor was diminishing fast. I started looking for an escape. But if I ran around the counter, he’d catch me.

“Forget Dad. What really eats away at me, Ivy, is knowing that you—my woman—turned against me.”

“I wasneveryour woman, Seth.”

“You were my woman the second you climbed on the back of my bike. I own you.” He lashed out over the counter so fast, grabbing my arm, that I didn’t have time to get away. He pulled me against the counter, the edge digging into my stomach. I yelped and winced at the pain. My wrist uncovered, the gold bracelet stared him right in the face. He smacked his lips, calculating, putting more of the puzzle together. “Nice. Use that little breaking and entering trick I taught you, snooping around my motel room?”

He yanked the bracelet off my arm and pocketed it.

“No!” I shouted.

He pulled my arm further over the counter, bringing my face in front of his. “Now, you’ve had your fun playing around this town. Time to stop pretending you’re somebody you’re not. We’re leaving. And none of this has to get any worse for anyone else.” His putrid breath made my skin crawl.

“What do you mean? I’m not going anywhere with you. Not now, not ever.”

His mask dropped completely. The tendons in his neck strained. I winced again when he smacked the counter with his other hand.

“Don’t force me to hurt you. You don’t come with me, then things get much worse on the ranch for your boyfriend and his pals. Even worse for your sisters.”

The blood drained from my face at his threats. I had hesitated about going to the sheriff before. I wouldn’t do anything that might hurt my sisters. Now, it could happen anyway. Unless I went with Seth.

“You put me in prison, Ivy. Do you know what prisonis like? Don’t worry, I plan to show you. Because you’re coming with me. You owe me years of your life?—”

The bell above the door chimed.

“Oh my God, is this the place? Chelsea, look at these boots!” Maisy gushed as she walked into my shop.

Chapter 19

Room For You

Ivy

I’d never been soglad to see people walk into my shop like this. Maisy wasn’t alone; Chelsea and Rex, Richard and Brooks, too, followed her inside. No matter how hesitant I’d been about them Sunday night, they were here.

Seth’s grip released like a switch had been flipped. He dropped back, eyeing the men who had entered. They eyed him back. They couldn’t have seen what happened. Or if they had, they were too polite to bring it up. Either way, the men stayed nearby, and I was very grateful.

Maisy gravitated toward the boot wall, running her hand along the leather with the practiced eye of someone who knew quality.

“I love this,” Chelsea held up a denim jacket with embroidered wildflowers on the back, tilting her head like she was mentally pairing it with three different outfits.

Oblivious to the threatening man at the counter, the two women waved at me. I returned the wave, putting on a brave smile, while every muscle in my body was still coiledtight, adrenaline with nowhere to go, arm throbbing where his fingers had been.

“Hi everyone. I hoped you’d stop by to see me and my collection of boots.” I didn’t dare bring up Colt, not in front of Seth. I didn’t want him to have any indication that these people were connected to Colt in any way, for fear they’d be added to Seth’s list of people he’d harm.

“Oh, believe me, we’re here to shop, but we also wanted to spend time with you,” Maisy said, her eyes darting between Seth and me. “Unless this is a bad time?”

“Your timing is perfect. He was just leaving.” I glared at him.

Seth tugged at the lapels of his jacket, rolling his shoulders, as if transforming. The snarl gone, replaced by a smile that, if one didn’t know him, might be considered handsome.

“Ladies,” he started, warm as sunshine. “If you’re looking for a great pair of boots, you won’t find anything better than what Ivy sells. She’s the best in the county.” He shot me a look that promised this wasn’t over, and moved toward the door. “I’ll be in touch again, Ivy. You can count on that.”