“Past tense?”
“Katie, if you walk away from this, you’ll regret it. You’ll never find another man like me. You're an idiot if you can’t see what’s in front of you.”
“Idiot and stupid all in one night. Must be my lucky day,” I said breathlessly.
“Take a deep breath, Katie. Did you have a beer at that bar? How many did you have?”
“I’m not drunk. I’m not on my period. And I’m not anything else you wish to blame my outbursts on. You want me to be some perfect little trophy wife that doesn’t give a shit whose tits you stare at or whose number you get. Well, I’m done. I’m done with your controlling ways, and I’m done with you blaming everything on me. You can let the room know that the wedding is off.”
“And who in the world is going to reimburse their tickets? Because I sure as hell am not,” he said.
“We’ll take care of it.”
I turned around and saw Dylan standing behind me. He walked up beside me with a grin on his face and a devilish glint in his eye.
“Should anyone feel the need to be reimbursed for anything, O'Conner Ranch Resorts will take care of it,” Dylan said.
“I’m not talking about the damn dinner,” Michael said. “I’m talking about the airplane tickets.”
“Those as well,” Dylan said. “As the man who runs the Finance Department of this resort, I’ll see to it that each and every one of your guests are treated with the care and respect they deserve.”
“And what about their stay here?” Michael asked.
“I’m sure everyone will enjoy the resort despite not havin’ to attend a weddin’,” Caleb said.
“And we’ll be bookin’ another room for Miss Carr for the night,” Andrew said.
Michael glared at me as the brothers gathered protectively around me. He drew in a deep breath before he turned back to the ballroom, then entered it with his head held high. He clapped his hands together and began his announcement, telling the room there would be no wedding and reassuring everyone that they were welcome to stay and enjoy the facilities.
Then, Wyatt wrapped his arm around my waist and guided me to the elevator.
“Come on. Let’s get you set up somewhere else. You did good, Katie Cat,” he said.
CHAPTER 2
DYLAN
“What the hell do you mean the venue isn’t refundable?”
“I’m sorry, sir. But our policy was clearly outlined in the contract.” I said as I looked Michael straight into his eyes.
“I’m not getting married. This venue cost me ten thousand dollars alone. And you mean to tell me that because my fiancée—”
“Ex-fiancée,” I said with a grin.
“You mean that because Katie fucking Carr ruined this entire thing, that I’m supposed to walk away from ten thousand dollars?” Michael asked.
“Our policy was outlined clearly to you in the contract you signed. Five thousand dollars was a non-refundable deposit, and the other five thousand wasn’t refundable after thirty days,” I said.
“I guarantee you if I look through that fucking contract I won’t see a damn thing like that,” he said.
“You’re welcome to try sir, but I guarantee you, it’s there. However, I have asked every single one of your guests if they wanted their rooms refunded and a credit put toward their airline tickets to get home. Some have taken me up on the offer. Others have not.”
“I’ll take you to fucking court if you think you’re gonna keep ten thousand damn dollars.”
“Then I await the subpoena for court.”
Even though I was keeping my voice steady and eradicating my accent as much as I could to seem professional, I was ready to go to blows. I saw how he’d treated Katie last night.
I saw how he was staring down women as they passed by in their low-cut dresses. I saw how he ignored her and how depressed she looked.
Katie was nothing but radiant in her rehearsal gown. The champagne-colored dress fell over her curves like sunlight pours through the sheer curtains of a window during a sunrise. And a woman who was dressed in such decadence deserved to be treated like the queen she was.
Except all he’d done was ignore her, snuff out her light and rob Katie of the joy I knew she hadn’t felt for a long time. She’d been through so much with the loss of her mother.
She deserved to have the wedding of her dreams.
It wasn’t right. Katie didn’t deserve that, and I was glad she’d called things off.
I was happy for her, and for selfish reasons of my own.
“It’s that bitch’s fault all this went to hell. You wanna charge someone? Charge her,” Michael said.
This man must have a death wish.
“Language, sir. Some of our guests have sensitive ears.”
I felt my jaw clench as I came out from behind the counter. I walked toward the pussy of a man standing in front of me and wrapped my hands around behind my back. I could feel my brothers’ eyes on me, watching my hands ball up into fists as I hid them from our guests. No one needed to see any violence this morning.
But if he threw the first punch, I would be sure to end the fiasco.
“Sir. You have a contract outlining our policy, and I have been more than generous with the guests of this resort. Either you calm your voice and vacate the premises, or I will throw you out myself.”
I looked down at the man, a good four inches shorter than me. My smile was warm, but my eyes were blank.
I wanted him to know I could take him.
I wanted him to know whose territory he was standing in.
I wanted him to tremble in his shined shoes until his millions came falling out of his pockets.
“Hide behind that suit. Pussies do that,” Michael said with a murmur.
“You really should work on that language. Have a good day, Mr. Thompson.”
An older man approached Michael. I assumed he was the douchebag’s father.
“Come on, son. This man isn’t worth your weight in feathers.”
“I hope you will come and enjoy our resort soon,” I said.
“Not a fat chance in hell,” Michael said.
“Son? Decorum. Thompsons always hold themselves with decorum.”
I swallowed my chuckle as the man straightened his suit and headed for the door. He called me a pussy, but he was the one that had backed down. Men were astounding sometimes, and I didn’t know how parents could live with themselves. Raising such insolent and offensive animals to unleash onto the whole of society.
Michael’s father looked back at me, a gleam of anger in his eyes. I knew we would see some court paperwork cross this desk soon, but all I’d have to do is send our lawyer out with a copy of our standard contractual agreement. I’d outline all the extra things I’d offered each individual guest, and no courtroom would side with the likes of “The Thompsons.”
I grinned at them as they made their way out the door, silently wishing it’d hit the asshole on the way out.
“Morning, Dylan.”
Katie’s voice pulled me from my dark trance as my shoulders relaxed. Her tousled blonde tresses and rich chocolate eyes framed a beautiful heart-shaped face.
The delicate curve of her neck reached shoulders that were smattered with freckles from growing up in the sun. Her breasts were ample and perky, and her hips were curved like a racetrack I’d always dreamed of taking a spin on.
“How long have you been standin’ there, doll?” I asked.
“Long enough to know I made the right choice. Thank you… for everything.”
“There’s no need to thank me. You know that.”
“Well I’m grateful anyway. Why do you bury your accent when you’re working,” she asked.
“Because while we cater to a decadent country lifestyle, many people still feel a deep southern accent’s more fittin’ of an idiot than a man in a suit. It’s good to see you out and about. Looks like a night of rest did you some good.” I said.
“If you can call it that,” she said with a snicker. “I’m sorry for hiding.”