Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Grim’s jaw went tight. “I love you. I don’t say it because I maybe don’t feel like I should. Or I don’t feel like I deserve it. I’ve been quiet because I don’t want to screw things up, but I’m mad, too. It’s all a fucking storm inside me.”
Dad put a hand on Grim’s shoulder, looking him straight in the eyes. “You don’t ever hold back on me because you’re worried I’ll kick you out or stop caring about you. Never going to happen. I know more than most that family doesn’t have to be blood. You are my son, Jared. I’m human and I make mistakes. I expect you to love me anyway.”
“I do,” Grim said, and there was a sheen of tears in his eyes.
“As Josh said, don’t expect me to be less,” Dad said and pulled Grim in for another hug. “I love you, son. Nothing’s going to change that.”
There was a sniffling sound, and Grim hugged him fiercely.
“Would now be a good time to tell them that we changed our wills and split the estate three ways?” Pops asked.
Grim sighed and looked more calm as he pulled back. “Of course you did. I don’t expect anything like that. Dad, Pops, having you in my life is more than enough.”
Josh rolled his eyes. Grim wasn’t very aware. “They’re talking about you. Years ago Lexi had them pull her out of the will since Dad gave Lucas their father’s estate.”
“She doesn’t do too poorly on her own. That was the funniest part. I was worried about how hard a ranching life is, and then her books exploded,” Dad said, sounding far calmer than he’d been. “No, Lexi asked that we leave everything to her siblings. To Olivia and Josh and Jared.”
Now there was no way to mistake the tears in his brother’s eyes. “I don’t…”
It was his turn to give Grim a hug. “You do deserve it, and before you get worried, Olivia and I were in full agreement. You’re not leaving all this chaos to us. We need you.”
Grim held him every bit as hard as Nic had held on to their momma.
When Grim finally let go there was resolve in his eyes. “She’s mad at us. She thinks we betrayed her.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll be sleeping on the damn couch for a couple of weeks,” his dad said, settling in next to Pops.
“Nah, she’ll give in once she realizes we’re all presenting a united front,” Pops corrected. “You just watch. Abby’s going to be our secret weapon when it comes to Nicole. Now let’s call in Ben and figure out what’s going on with that girl so we can kick whoever’s ass we need to and move on to the baby-making part. I’m not joking. I miss having kids around.”
“I’m getting him a puppy,” Dad promised. “You three will take all the time you need. But he’s right. We do need a plan.”
Josh sat beside his brother and listened to his fathers.
Chapter Fifteen
Nicole felt oddly calm as Abby handed her the glass of white wine. She was wrapped in a blanket, feeling warmer than she had before.
Before she’d realized they’d lied to her. That they’d set their dogs on her.
Kim entered the room, slipping her cell phone into her pocket. She’d been pacing on the balcony, talking animatedly to whoever was on the other end of the line. “Okay, I’m fairly certain no one’s tipped off the police. I have a friend of mine monitoring their radio and communications. Don’t ask. He won’t get caught. He’s quite brilliant at what he does. I think the Dawson brothers were telling us the truth.”
“Oh, Chase would never lie.” Abby sat down beside her. “Ben might, but Chase is a terrible liar. I hope Harlow’s okay. She looked so upset.”
“Is she in love with Josh?” Nicole had to ask.
Abby’s eyes widened. “No. They’ve never even hinted at that. They’ve always been in brother-sister mode.”
“She didn’t seem to like me.”
“She doesn’t know you, sweetie,” Abby said. “And she’s got reasons to be on guard. Reasons her fathers seem to have forgotten. Or rather they seem to have forgotten how to handle her with any delicacy.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Heather said, seeming to get down to business. “What does is figuring out how to handle this case. The Holloways are getting impatient with me. I talked to my husband and business partners, and we think creating a false trail might be the best way to handle the situation for the time being.”
“What do you mean?” She was in such a weird place. Abby had brought her up to this ridiculous suite and wrapped her in a blanket, fussing over her like she cared. Like she really was her kid and she loved her. Now Heath…Kim was acting like she worked for her and not her in-laws. She would have believed she was dreaming, that this was a fond fantasy, if it hadn’t been for one thing.