The Naked Truth (The Honeybrook Hamdens)

“Julie, I was wondering if we might have a word alone. I’m sure your friend won’t mind.” He glanced at Chase, then added, “All the tools you need should be right where I showed you.”

“Actually,” Julie cut in, “Like I said, I should really be getting back to the hotel.”

Troy’s grip on her arm tightened and he led her back out to the stage. She didn’t have time to check if Chase or Trina were following or not because Troy’s heated whisper was already commanding her attention.

“This is the last time I’m asking. Come back.”

“Troy—“

“I’m not giving up. I won’t lie, I didn’t think you could do this—“

“So why don’t you sabotage me?”

“Because this show is just as important to me as it is to you. You know that.”

“I’m sure you have a point, Troy, why don’t you get to it?”

“We were good together. You and me. We could make a partnership out of this.”

“If you think for a second that I would—“

“I do. I know you had feelings for me. Once you see that what I did was really for both of us—“

“For both of us? Are you out of your mind?” She pulled her arm from his grip, then turned to find Chase, but he was nowhere to be found. She furrowed her brow and searched the room, but then Troy was talking again, louder this time and more insistent.

“Look, whatever you think of how things went down, there’s only one thing that I know for sure.”

“That you’re a complete asshole?”

“That I can give you everything you want. I have the connections, the skills, the talent. All you need to do is say yes, Julie, and all of this can be yours. You’ll have everything you ever wanted faster than you can imagine.”

She scanned the room again and found Chase standing beside the catwalk, hammer in hand.

“I can make my own way. Thanks.”

She shot Troy a glare, then started off toward Chase. “Are you ready?”

He didn’t look at her as he followed her out the building, but once they were out on the city streets she let everything fly.

“Can you believe the nerve of that guy? Seriously.” She glowered, and then glanced at Chase. He was studying the cars as they streamed past, apparently lost in thoughts of his own.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Come on.”

“That was the guy?” He raised his eyebrows.

“What can I say? I was an idiot.”

“You’ve never been an idiot.” He fell silent again and his gaze fell on the road. When they reached the crosswalk, though, Julie started again.

“The guy steals my designs and then he tries to tell me it’s for my own good? If it wasn’t for him—“

“You’d still be in Honeybrook fixing a house and not going anywhere.”

“What do you mean?”