One week later, on Tuesday afternoon, Declan strode into my office with a grim expression.
“I’ve got news. Malcolm is filing a lawsuit.”
“On what grounds?”
“Loss of business opportunity. Since the Halsey Group also planned to lease the adjacent building to open the spa, they’re now claiming that if Gran doesn’t go through with the lease, it’s going to be damaging for the business.”
“Goddamn it. That fucker!” I exclaimed, rising from my chair. “So, what are we doing about it?”
Declan cocked a brow. “You are doing nothing. I am taking care of the lawsuit.”
I groaned, tipping my head back. “I can’t do nothing, Declan. Telling me that is a recipe for disaster.”
“I’m on top of it,” Declan said. “The question is, how do we tell Reese? I just got the paperwork.”
I glanced out the window, taking in the skyline. “I’m going to put Luke on this.”
He was the closest to Reese and Kimberly. Growing up, they were in completely different camps, with Luke considering girls the enemy even though they were close in age. During summer vacation, when Reese and Kimberly were staying with us, they ran away from home. Shortly after that, we realized Luke had disappeared too. He’d gone to find them, and he’d succeeded. They just hadn’t found their way back. When the police discovered them, we were all relieved. The three of them were inseparable for a month afterward, and they remained very close.
“I’ll be in my office if you need me, but be careful how you break the news to the others. Don’t egg them on,” Declan said.
“What do you mean?” I asked impatiently.
Declan grinned. “You have this way of rallying everyone to follow you even when your ideas are shitty.”
“That happens very rarely,” I pointed out.
“What? That people do what you tell them to do?”
“No, that my ideas are shitty. Most of them are good.”
“Remember that one time when you convinced us to put fart bombs under the biology teacher’s seat? Just because you wanted to be the one with the ideas for once instead of Luke.”
Okay, so that was not my proudest moment.
I pointed at him. “Exactly—in school. I’m much wiser now.”
“Right. Whatever you do, don’t involve Tyler.”
“I won’t,” I said with a straight face. Our brother had a hockey career to focus on. But I didn’t promise I wouldn’t get involved.
Declan caught on immediately. “There’s no warning you, is there?”
“You can try, but it won’t work.”
I needed to look that fucker in the eye. He thought he could push us around, did he? Malcolm was in for a nasty surprise.
I was restless after Declan left my office, so I called Luke immediately, and he answered right away. I didn’t often make personal phone calls from the office, but every member of my family picked up at once whenever I did.
“Hey, are you coming up to headquarters today?” I asked.
“No, I’m visiting construction sites. Why?”
“Declan told me that Malcolm is suing Gran and Reese.”
“Fucking hell,” he exclaimed. “I’m gonna punch that moron.”
Luke was so much like me—no wonder Declan was concerned. In fact, all five of us were stubborn and hotheaded. Declan was the only odd duck.
“I haven’t ruled that out,” I said honestly, knowing Luke wasn’t going to judge me. Quite the contrary.
“Good, whatever you’re planning, I’m in. I don’t care what Declan says.”
“For now, I want you to talk to Reese about this.”
“Come on, man. Why are you making me the messenger?”
“You’re closer to her than I am.” That was only partly the reason.
“Try again.”
Damn, my brothers could see right through me. Luckily, I did a better job with negotiations in business matters.
“Fine. You’re better at… talking to people than I am.”
“That’s more like it. I’ll speak to Reese.”
“Make sure she knows we have her back, okay? And in case she wants to confront him, we can both go with her.”
“Duly noted,” Luke said.
“Thanks. I’ll tell the others.”
Declan’s warning rang in my ears. I knew why he’d explicitly mentioned leaving Tyler out of it. The rest of us owned our business. We could take PR shit if it came to that. It was different for Tyler. He belonged to a team. His career depended as much on his talent on ice as it did on what was written about him in the press.
I didn’t want to share this with my brothers to get them riled. I wanted to hear their views on the matter. We always fought back as a group.
I spent a good chunk of the afternoon on family matters, so I ended up working late enough that I had to ask Gran to go home and stay with Paisley so Lexi could leave. It bugged me because I didn’t like missing out on dinner with my daughter. And I’d been looking forward to seeing Lexi. But I had bottle designs and social media campaign budgets to approve.
When I finally left the building, it was 11:00 p.m. Luke hadn’t gotten back to me, and Declan didn’t have any more news. The idea of meeting Malcolm face-to-face was still nagging at me. I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him to fuck off. Intimidation was a strategy that served me well with assholes—but it was a face-to-face kind of thing. I was determined to protect Reese and Gran. I didn’t even care how much it would cost. It didn’t matter.
When I got home, Paisley was already asleep. After a driver picked up Gran, I went to Paisley’s room but only watched her from the doorway; she was a light sleeper, and I didn’t want to wake her. Then I went to my bedroom, but I was filled with too much adrenaline to go to sleep.
I hated that I’d missed dinner with Paisley… and with Lexi. I wondered what she was up to. Was she already asleep? Was she out on the town with friends? Male friends? The thought did not sit well with me.
Damn it, how could I already feel so possessive of her?
Sitting on my bed, I punched in her number. I needed to hear her voice, and I wasn’t used to needing anything or anyone. I hadn’t allowed myself to in a long time. But I was powerless when it came to this woman.
“Hey,” she answered in a breathy voice. “Is anything wrong?”
There was commotion in the background, as if she were outdoors.
“No, why would anything be wrong?”
“It’s late. I thought maybe something happened to Paisley.”
“No, she’s fine. She’s asleep. I just came home. I don’t like missing out on my evenings with her.”
“Did anything happen to make you stay so late?”
“Yeah. Reese’s ex is a jackass. He’s trying to make Gran’s life difficult, and I’m not going to allow it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Declan is already working on the legal aspect.”
“It sounds like you’re working on the illegal one,” she said with a chuckle.
I propped a pillow on my headboard, leaning against it and putting my feet up on the bed.
“No, I want to meet with him and tell him to stop fucking around with my family.”
“Intimidation. I can see that working, Mr. Maxwell.”
“You think I’m intimidating?”
“Hell yeah. When I came in for the interview, I was a mess. No, wait. That was because you were too damn hot. My bad.”
I laughed, running a hand across the pillow next to me. “I wanted to surprise you today,” I said honestly.
“Oooh, how?”
“Can’t tell you. But the day got away from me.”
“Don’t worry. Do whatever you have to do. Family’s important.”
Something twisted in my chest. How was it possible that someone I’d just met understood me so completely?
“I think so too. I’ve always wanted to give Paisley a childhood like the one I had.”
“You’re a great dad, Tate.”
“Thanks.”
Fucking hell, hearing her voice intensified that need to see her.
“Tate, we’re going to…” Her voice faded, and I heard her whisper, “No, thank you. I still have some beer left.”
“Let me know when you want a refill,” a male voice said.
Adrenaline spiked in my veins. “Are you out in town?” I asked.
“Yes. I’m at the lake with a group of friends.”
“Male friends?” I couldn’t keep my tone even.
“It’s a mix. We’re a group of teachers. We hang out in the summer.”
“Any of them interested in you?” I asked, still failing to keep my voice even.
“Mr. Maxwell, what’s this? Are you trying to stake your claim on me? After one kiss?”
“Yes,” I said roughly. “Yes, I am.”
“Tate…”
“I have half a mind to come where you are and make it clear to everyone that you’re off-limits.”
She drew in a sharp breath. “Oh, wow. Well, just so you know, no one is interested in me. Better?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t, though. Not really. I felt possessive of her in a way that consumed me. But all I said was “Good night, Lexi. Have fun.”
