Read Online Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears - Free Book Online

he brought over the cattle last week? What would he gain by telling his brother—other than trouble?
    â€œBut Cash doesn’t know about August. He still thinks I’m interested in you.” Royal spat. “I’ve never been interested in you.”
    No. Just my land. Just like August. She glanced at Harrison. The last thing she needed was for Royal to expose her sham of a betrothal to the one person in town who might half care what happened to her.
    â€œNow, Royal, this is no time to belittle others, especially your future sister-in-law.” Harrison slid in between her and Royal, his arms cocked on his hips as if he’d defend her—even though he couldn’t see his own toes. “I know you thought picking on her was fun in grade school, but I will not tolerate that in my classroom or we’ll have to go outside.”
    â€œI don’t even have to touch you, Gray. All I have to do is tell the school board you’ve been smooching and that’s the end of you.”
    â€œThat might get female teachers fired, but I doubt they’d care so much with me. And it’s an empty threat considering I haven’t been kissing anyone.”
    â€œYou denying what Cash saw?”
    â€œYes.” Harrison nodded, and Royal took a step forward.
    She pushed her way in between them and poked Royal in the chest. “Tell Cash to get his eyes checked.”
    Royal jabbed her back in the shoulder. “And you . . .”
    Thankfully Harrison couldn’t see how hard Royal had poked her. She didn’t know what would happen if the two of them started a wrestling match ten minutes before class. The school board might not fire Harrison for kissing, but they might for fighting in front of students.
    Royal prodded her again. “I find it interesting that when I asked August if he knew where you were and what you were doing, he said you’d be at your ranch, like usual.”
    She swallowed, but she didn’t have to explain herself to Royal. “I don’t answer to August—and surely not to you.”
    â€œI’m sure my brother will love to hear that.” Royal backed up and measured her with a haughty glare. “August isn’t going to marry you once Cash and I tell him what you’re up to. He might not be the sharpest stick in the woodpile, but he ain’t so ugly he has to settlefor a woman like you.” Royal stormed away and slammed the door, which bounced back open.
    She huffed, picked up the chalk and notebook paper, and stalked over to the chalkboard.
    Harrison came closer, scratching his chin. “Aren’t you worried about August backing out on you?”
    She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug and started writing. “I doubt Royal will tell him we were kissing, so—”
    â€œBut we weren’t kissing!” Harrison’s forehead furrowed.
    â€œRight.” The chalk cracked and fell from her hand. She leaned over to pick up one of the broken pieces. “Who’d ever want to kiss me?” She muttered under her breath. “Absurd.”

    Why was she getting so upset over the truth? Wasn’t she happy they’d not kissed? He’d have ruined her upcoming wedding. “What’d you say?” Maybe he’d misheard her.
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œSo you’re not worried about August?” Surely no man would be happy about his fiancée kissing another, but was Royal right? Had she not told August she was helping him? If she’d helped him in secret because she thought August would be jealous, he wouldn’t like the news Cash would surely spread.
    â€œNo, if Royal really thought he could talk August out of marrying me with hearsay, he’d not have bothered to come hereand threaten me. I don’t know how he learned that August and I were marrying, but if he thought your kissing me—”
    â€œBut I wasn’t kissing—”
    â€œFine, you wouldn’t be