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“Pardon?”

“Get up! Quit hiding in this office. Go find your woman.”

“Tonight?”

“Why not?”

Uh, Graham could think of a thousand reasons, and at least one of them would stick. He was too chicken.

Chapter Eleven

“Good afternoon, son.” Mother air-kissed both sides of Graham’s face.

“Good afternoon. Did you have a nice flight?” Graham looked between his parents and his uncle and aunt.

“Two flights, since we were required to fly via Kansas to pick up Maribel.” Mother rolled her eyes.

Uncle James cast a surly look at his ex-wife. “It’s time Father moved our board meetings back to Chicago. All this extra time in the air takes hours away from the business end of things.”

Dad nodded and turned to Graham. “I’m sure you can’t wait to be back in the city again, as well, son. Help us apply some pressure to the old man. I have no idea why he’s insisting on hanging out in the middle of nowhere. Back in April, it sounded like it would be two or three months, tops, and here we are, four months in, and he seems more entrenched than ever.”

Hmm. Was Grandfather trying to outwait Nadine’s mother? Maybe. But Graham wasn’t going to mention it. Not to this group.

“It certainly isn’t convenient to come to Montana this often,” Aunt Maribel agreed. “Now that Walter has put Tate in charge of this venture — I still can’t believe my son offered to live onsite indefinitely — Walter isn’t needed here anymore. Now it seems he’s just being stubborn.” She lowered her voice. “Have there been other signs he’s declining mentally?”

“Grandfather?” Graham couldn’t have stopped the incredulous laugh had he tried. “Trust me. There’s nothing wrong with his mind. He’s as sharp as ever.”

Uncle James sighed.

Did the man want his father to decline? Was he tired of waiting to take over Sullivan Enterprises? Graham couldn’t see it. The tension between Uncle James and Dad wouldn’t subside at their father’s death, unless… did they plan to divide the empire? How would that work, anyway? James had three kids, and Dad only one. And then there was Grandfather’s daughter, Nadine, and her two sons. Surely, Grandfather’s estate would be fair to each of his offspring.

Had the old man had time to rewrite his will with Nadine, Weston, and Jude in mind? If he planned to leave Sweet River Ranch to that branch of the family, he wouldn’t have named Tate as CEO, would he?

“Paul? What’s my nephew doing here?” Mom’s eyes sharpened as she looked past Graham.

This was no time to be woolgathering. Not when they stood along the fringes of the lodge’s great room in full sight of any guests, including Graham’s least favorite cousin.

“Aunt Bridget!” Paul approached, kissed Mom’s cheek, then tossed a cocky wink in Graham’s direction. “Did Gray forget to mention I was here?”

“He definitely failed in that regard.”

And nearly every other area of life, it seemed at times. And his name was Graham, thanks very much.

“I’m sure you heard Cadence and I postponed our wedding, but I’ve come to get everything back on track. Daniel and Amelia are here, as well.”

“Postponed?” The word shot out of Graham’s mouth. “That’s not the way I heard the story.”

“Your ears are stuffed full of… cotton.”

Mom patted Paul’s arm. “I hope it all works out for you. Cadence is such a lovely girl.”

“She sure is,” Paul agreed with a smirk.

Traitors, both of them. Dad and Uncle James had already drifted a few feet away to confer in low tones, and only Aunt Maribel studied Graham thoughtfully. He was going to have to pull his mom aside and explain a few things to her. Like that he was in love with Cadence?

He was, wasn’t he? But he could hardly proclaim that to anyone until the Fosters and Paul had given up their fools’ quest and returned to Chicago. For all Grandfather’s push last night, Graham wasn’t quite ready to stick his neck out while Paul was around to give it a chop.

Enough. Graham brushed his hands together. “Well, let’s get everyone settled. I believe Grandfather has planned a family get-together this evening, then a full day of board meetings tomorrow.”