“Of course they’re tearing it down. Despite what you and your grandfather think, the inn’s only real value is the land, for which the developer is willing to pay an obscene amount of money. And that’s thanks to Richard. Without him, this deal wouldn’t have—”
“A deal that Grandpa never authorized. You have no right to sign an agreement on his behalf. You have no right to sell the inn out from under him. I won’t let you.”
“You listen to me, young lady. This is my father we’re talking about, not yours. I have every right to act on his behalf. He no longer has the mental capacity to make decisions that are in his best interest.”
“Is that why you’re here, Bri? To run some kind of test on Grandpa to prove he isn’t of sound mind? Because if it is, you’re wasting your time. He’s as sharp as ever and fully recovered from his stroke. Something all of you would know if you’d bothered to come see him before now.”
Ellie’s cell phone vibrated on the desk. It was Nate. “I have to take this.” Ignoring her mother and Richard calling her out for how she’d spoken to her sister, Ellie got up from her chair on shaky legs. She rounded the desk, brushing past Richard, who she was positive intentionally knocked his elbow against hers as she opened the office door. After stepping into the hall, she closed the door behind her and leaned against the wall. “Did you find him?” she whispered into the phone.
“I did, but we have a problem. He’s in the middle of a poker game, and he’s winning. I gather this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him, so unless you want me to drag him out of here kicking and screaming, you need to give me something to work with.”
“Put him on the phone.”
Nate laughed. “You’re full of surprises, Ellie. Even I wouldn’t mess with you when you use that tone of voice.”
“I wish it worked on my mother. Let’s hope it works on her father.”
“Everything okay?”
“No. They can’t be reasoned with, Nate. They’re completely ignoring Grandpa’s feelings and wishes. All they see is dollar signs.”
“Hang on. Joe, your granddaughter needs you, so get your ass out of the chair and let’s go.”
Ellie smiled at Nate’s take-no-prisoners voice, hoping it was enough to convince her grandfather to fold and come peacefully. In the background, other voices joined Joe’s so she couldn’t make out what was said. Then Nate came back on the line. “That didn’t go as I expected.” At the sound of a door closing, the muffled voices were replaced by the chirping of birds. “Unless you want me to carry him and his chair out of there, he’s not leaving. He’s as stubborn as Mrs. M. But I have a feeling what it comes down to is he’s afraid he’ll let you down, Ellie.”
“Why? He’s doing so well.”
“He doesn’t think your mother will agree. He’s sure she’ll test him and just as sure he’ll fail. From what I just saw, he might be right, Ellie. His hand shook, and he was slurring his words. The stress seems to have aggravated his symptoms.”
Her heart hurt for her grandfather, and in that moment she hated her mother for what she was doing. “Tell Grandpa it’s okay and to enjoy his poker game. I’ll handle my mother. I’m sorry I wasted your time, Nate. But at least I know he’s all right. Thank you for tracking him down.”
“It’s not a big deal. But the judge implied you don’t need Joe, Ellie. He said you have the means to stop your mother.”
“I do. I’d just hoped it wouldn’t come to this.” Because she knew exactly what would happen when she informed her mother that Grandpa Joe had changed his will and given Ellie power of attorney.
Chapter Three
Nate glanced at the inn across the lake, wondering if he should head back and act the part of Ellie’s scary boyfriend. She’d sounded upset and maybe a little panicked. He didn’t like thinking of her facing down her mother and brother-in-law on her own. But as he walked through the trees to the canoe he’d pulled up on the rocky shore, he imagined what his sisters would say.
He had five of them—all older and strong-minded. They were never shy about sharing their opinions with him. About anything and everything but mostly about women and his love life. No doubt they’d roll their eyes at the thought of him paddling to Ellie’s rescue. Easy for them—they hadn’t met her family. Still, Ellie hadn’t asked for his help. She also didn’t come across as a woman who needed rescuing.
Then again, he didn’t know her all that well. They’d spent a grand total of eight hours in each other’s company. Very enjoyable hours, he conceded, remembering his time with her at his best friend’s wedding. They’d had a lot of fun together, despite an attraction that had a neon stop sign flashing in his brain before the night was over.
While Ellie was head-turningly gorgeous, and she’d definitely turned his head with all that long dark hair and her big violet eyes, she was also Mrs. M’s granddaughter, which meant she was off-limits. Something he should have reminded himself of when Mrs. M had shared her fake-relationship plan with him. He might have if he hadn’t been looking for a little normalcy and some lighthearted fun after spending months undercover tracking the men he held responsible for his childhood best friend’s murder.
Nate had gotten a hell of a lot more than he’d bargained for when he’d kissed Ellie. Mrs. M hadn’t been wrong when she’d said he looked stunned. He had been. He’d also been angry at himself for not cluing in to what Mrs. M was really up to. She didn’t want him to play Ellie’s fake boyfriend. She wanted him to take on the role for real.
Mrs. M had orchestrated that kiss between them for one reason and one reason only. To ensure that Nate did what he was doing right now—obsess about a kiss that had shaken him to his core. Obsess about a woman who’d turned his impression of her on its ear with one devastatingly passionate kiss. Under the sweet, unassuming demeanor Ellie showed to the world was a sexy-as-hell woman with unexplored depths and desires.
And he was the idiot who’d put the down-and-dirty option on the table. But in his defense he’d been teasing Ellie, having a little fun with her. The joke was clearly on him. It was a good thing he didn’t plan on sticking around for long, or he might be tempted to strip away those demure layers to the real woman beneath.
He returned to the cabin and sat on the front step, checking the messages on his phone. There were two from Gina, Brodie’s widow. The three of them had grown up together. Gina was the reason Nate had stopped in to check on Mrs. M. He had time to kill before he met up with her tomorrow. He was about to respond to her latest message when he sensed a change in the air. He looked around for a sign of an incoming threat. Somewhere behind the cabin, trees rustled and a branch snapped. He went for the gun in his ankle holster, placing it beside him on the step. These days, he couldn’t be too careful. He’d stirred up a lot of heat this past week.
The rustling got louder, and a male voice cursed. Nate relaxed. He knew that voice. “Watch where you step, Roberts. I saw a copperhead sunning himself on a rock not five minutes ago.” He laughed when his former partner sprinted past the front of the cabin.