I took a deep breath as I walked past her, feeling anxious with every step. I slid gratefully into a chair at the lone table, clearly used for meetings and, judging by the random ketchup and mustard packets, also lunch. I gestured for my sister to take a seat. Heaving a put-upon sigh, she stomped over to the table and sat down. Annabelle followed while Jackson motioned that he was going to wait outside. A part of me wanted him to stay close in case something went wrong, but I just nodded. I was going to make this quick.

“Lexi Brewer, this is Annabelle Martin,” I said.

“Nice to meet you.” Annabelle smiled. She didn’t offer Lexi a handshake as if sensing she might get bit. Smart woman.

“Same.” Lexi’s voice was flat. She turned to me and asked, “One more time, what do you want?”

I studied her face. She was furious. I knew my nonresponsiveness must have pissed her off, but this seemed like something else. I got the feeling something big, something not about me, was wrong.

“What’s happening?” I asked. I leaned forward, holding her gaze with mine. “Why did you think I was going to say ‘I told you so’?”

“Just tell me you didn’t do it,” she said. Her voice wobbled a little, and I could see a sheen of tears in her eyes.

“Do what?” I asked. I steeled myself. My sister’s tears had always gotten to me.

“Chased off my crew,” she said. “When I arrived at eight this morning, Micah, my construction manager, was the only one here. Everyone else was a no-show.”

I leaned back in my seat. “Shit.”

Her features were pinched and her face pale when she turned to me and asked, “Was it you?”

“What?” I cried. “How can you even ask that? I would never. I’m the one who—” I bit off the words before I confessed that I had invested in her career by paying for her education. She didn’t need to know that.

“Who what?” she asked.

“Who is committed to the development of my city,” I said. It sounded ridiculous but I had to pivot somewhere and that was all I had. “I would never sabotage any project, especially yours.”

I held her gaze, and finally, she nodded. “Okay, then.” She exhaled a short, tight breath. “So why are you here?”

“I’ve been thinking about what you said,” I began. I chose my next words carefully. I wanted to be clear that the support I was offering was financial only. “I’d like to help you—”

“Oh, Nicky!” she cried, interrupting me. “Do you mean it? This is so great!”

“Nick,” I corrected her. She ignored me, and I saw a speculative look in Annabelle’s eye. Nicky sounded much more familiar than a business acquaintance. Damn it.