Free Unexpectedly You by Lily Santana Page A

What about your men?”
    “Good night, Emma.”
    Emma’s gaze implored him. “But what about your offer?”
    “Offer expired.”
    Mitch watched the light die in her eyes, and uneasiness about her predicament grew in his chest. Could she convince her neighbors of his good intentions? She’d spearheaded the challenge against him. Most of the other members had simply followed her lead. Emma had been the catalyst, refusing to budge from her position.
    Even though he refused to allow a glimmer of hope to bloom, he recalled seeing her with Bruin. The guy must be hanging around because he was romantically interested in her. Maybe she could influence him? But the visual of Bruin and Emma getting it on left a sour taste in his mouth.
    Ah, hell, what other option did he really have? Admit to his old man that he had failed? Admit he’d been a stubborn mule and that he’d risked everything, including his brother’s business, because he had a gut feeling Bella Del Mar was an undiscovered gold mine?
    He hadn’t anticipated the influence of the woman standing before him. She was responsible for his project being in the shitter. She alone could change his fate. Could he trust her to have his back? Would the threat of losing her home be enough of an incentive for her to change her tune? There was only one way to find out.
    Before she’d taken two steps, he flung the door shut.
    “Here’s what I’m offering, sweetheart.”
    * * *
    Emma stumbled to a stop. Her gaze flew to his. She tried to slow her pulse, which raced like she’d just run a four-minute mile. Mitch’s touch had wreaked havoc inside her body. She breathed through the feeling of vertigo that overcame her. It was as if she’d drunk half the bottle of tequila.
    As soon as she’d answered Tim Brooks’s call and heard his patronizing words, all she could think about was seeing Samantha’s disappointment in the morning when she found out she would not be able to go to her dream school. Or that there was a very good chance the bank would foreclose on their home. Her stomach roiled worse than a category five hurricane.
    Mitch started pacing, not bothering to look at her. “This is nonnegotiable. Do you understand?”
    She nodded quickly, not trusting her voice.
    “Here’s the plan. You have one week. One week, Emma, starting tomorrow to fix my PR problem. You should know how to do that, right? Or do you only know how to fuck with someone’s reputation?” He stopped pacing and stood so close, her breath caught in her throat. “I want you to work your magic and persuade David Bruin and your neighbors, but mostly Bruin, that my plan for Bella Del Mar is the greatest thing since peanut butter and jelly. Your change-of-heart act has to be so convincing that by Thursday’s meeting, I’ll have the neighbors eating out of my hands. Have I made myself clear?”
    “And how exactly am I going to convince—”
    “Ah-ah,” He lifted his finger to cut her off. “I’m not done. I’ll outline exactly how you’re going to do this.”
    She zipped her lips shut but balled her fingers into a fist at her sides.
    “This is actually the best part.” He wiggled his brow in that annoying way she hated. “You and I will be spending a lot of time in each other’s company in this next week.” He reached out and twirled a handful of her hair in his hands.
    She snatched her hair from his hand. “What do you mean in each other’s company?”
    “I mean we’re going to be inseparable.” He rubbed his palms together. “Like BFFs.”
    Her eyes widened. “BFFs? The tequila pickled your brain.”
    He shook his head. “Nope. Here’s the deal—David and your neighbors see you and me hanging around together, they start to think maybe I’m not the ogre they think I am. Not if Ms. Attila the Task Force thinks I’m nice enough to spend time with.”
    She found it hard to catch a breath. Sweat pooled between her breasts and her upper lip. “Let’s just say I went along with this