Foolish Heart (MacLarens 0f Fire Mountain Contemporary Book 9) Page 5

  Cassie laughed. “Ask anyone in the room. They’ll all give you the same story. Okay if I take Paige away for a bit? The ladies want some time with her.”

  Dropping his arm, he nodded. “No problem. Make sure you ladies eat your share of the food Annie’s prepared.”

  “Has that ever been a problem?” Cassie slipped her arm through Paige’s, guiding her to a patio off the living room.

  As they walked past the others, Paige’s eyes locked on Nesto’s for a split second before his smile faded and he looked away. She didn’t have time to consider how to react before her phone rang. Pulling it from her pocket, she excused herself, moving toward Heath’s office.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Paige. It’s Paul.”

  Nesto watched as Paige took her phone and disappeared into Heath’s office. He couldn’t help wondering who was on the other end. Her parents, worthless brother, maybe a boyfriend. The thought of her with someone else hadn’t been a serious notion. At least he hadn’t allowed it to be until now.

  Excusing himself, he walked toward the office, unsure of his intentions. Getting closer, he paused when he heard Paige’s raised voice. Nesto had heard the same tone before—a mix of anger and confusion, a woman trying to stay calm when all her instincts screamed for her to shout. Curious, he moved closer, trying not to seem obvious to the others standing twenty feet away.

  Paige’s hand shook as she held the phone to her ear. “How the hell did you get this number?”

  “What? You don’t want to talk to your own brother?” His voice dripped with sarcasm, sending her tension skyrocketing.

  “Where are you? I’ve been desperate with worry. I even hired an investigator to look for you.”

  “Bad idea, Paige. Look, I know the folks found some stuff at their places.”

  She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Stuff. Is that what you’re calling the crap you’re into?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, sis. I’m a businessman, nothing more. Anyway, that’s not why I called.”

  Sucking in a breath, she steadied herself against Heath’s desk. “I don’t understand.”

  “I’ve set up a new business arrangement, and it’s out your way. Thought maybe we could meet and catch up.”

  The tone of his voice shook her. She’d heard it before. Each time he’d lied to her about something. “What kind of business arrangement?”

  “Thought I’d explain it all when we get together. Later this week work for you?”

  At one point, a call from Paul with a request to meet would’ve been good news. No longer. “Look. I know what you’re into and I want nothing to do with it—or you. I gave up my life to help you, and for what?” Taking a breath, she rubbed a hand across her forehead. “You’ve made your choice. Don’t even consider involving me.”

  Paige hung up, reeling from the call. Before talking with him, she and her parents had no proof Paul actually owned the labs they’d found on their properties. He’d disappeared before they could confront him. Now her heart sank, knowing the truth.

  The sweet boy she’d protected growing up had buried himself so far down the rabbit hole, she’d never be able to pull him out. The truth stung. He manufactured and sold meth, and who knew what else, on property owned by her parents. They could lose everything if the feds discovered the operations on their land.

  Not only had Paul put himself in a reprehensible position, but when his actions were discovered, he might very well take the rest of his family down with him.

  Chapter Five

  Nesto moved away from the door, rejoining Kade and the others around a table loaded with chips, salsa, and other appetizers. Keeping his back to the office, he glanced over his shoulder to see Paige walk out, her face ashen.

  He’d heard enough to know she was in some kind of trouble. It shouldn’t matter—he didn’t want it to matter. Paige’s business was her own and he wouldn’t allow himself to care.

  “Paige.” Kade waved her over. “There are some people I don’t think you’ve met.” Ignoring the scorching look Nesto sent him, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, introducing her.

  “Glad to meet you, Paige. Welcome to the company.” Sean shook her hand, followed by the others.

  “Heard you’re staying in one of the cabins.” Mitch looked at Nesto, clasping him on the shoulder. “Annie said you’re in the one next to this miscreant. Let us know if he gets to be too annoying and we’ll have a word with him.”

  The smile on Paige’s face faltered before she pulled herself together. “I don’t think you have to worry. He and I go way back. Right, Nesto?” She locked her gaze with his, daring him to argue.

  Staring at her, his jaw tightened as he nodded. “Sure. Way back.”

  Several of the men glanced between the two, keeping silent as their gazes narrowed.

  “Have you had a chance to get with the girls?” Kade asked.

  “Not yet. I’m headed their way now. Good to meet all of you.” She didn’t look at Nesto as she made her way past several other people before disappearing outside.

  Kade watched Nesto’s gaze follow Paige out the door. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he turned him toward the bar.

  “Another beer?” Kade reached into the undercounter refrigerator, pulling out two bottles, handing one to Nesto.

  “A whiskey would be better, but yeah, I’ll take it.”

  Both remained silent as they took a few sips, watching the others mingle. “At least you didn’t walk away from Paige this time. It’s a step in the right direction.”

  Shaking his head, Nesto looked through the window at the group of women. He couldn’t take his gaze off Paige—her beautiful face, laughing eyes. There was something else in her expression, though. Strain, a pinched look he’d seen before, and sallow skin few, except Nesto, would notice.

  He thought of the phone call, her frantic voice, then hard resolve before she hung up. In all the years they were together, he’d seen her this way only a couple times and both involved her brother. She knew Nesto’s opinion of Paul and her numerous attempts to help a brother who didn’t care about her or her family. Still, he understood. Family came first, the same as it did for the people gathered today.

  “Okay, boys. Steaks and burgers are ready to grill.” Rafe looked around the room. “This is your time to shine.”

  “Or crash and burn,” Sean called out, invoking the others to slug his arm or pop him upside the head. Ducking, he moved away. “Hey. Just telling it like it is.”

  Mitch held up his beer, tipping it toward him. “Little brother, if you’re going to whine like a girl, I’d suggest you stay in here with the women and toss salads. Leave the grilling to the real men.”

  “Not a chance, bro,” Sean laughed. “Someone’s got to baste the meat.”

  “All right. Enough banter. It’s time to work.” Heath walked into the room holding a tray loaded with raw meat.

  “We’re on.” Kade nudged Nesto, who set his empty bottle on the counter, not taking his eyes off Paige. “Let’s eat, then saddle our horses. I’m ready to get out of here.”

  Paige sat next to Brooke, doing her best to down the food on her plate. The tension churning in her stomach, causing the meal to taste bitter, didn’t surprise her. Between Paul’s call, Nesto’s surly manner, and general nerves about starting a new job, all she wanted was to go back to the cabin, take a long bath, and go to bed early.

  She’d been on an emotional roller coaster far too long. The call from her parents over two years ago, then leaving Nesto behind, had triggered a series of disappointments with little to boost her spirits. Blaming herself for the way she’d walked out, then her failure to help Paul, sat heavy on her heart. If she could go back, do it all again, she’d refuse her parents’ request, forcing them to deal with her brother on their own. Paige wondered if she’d held firm, would she still be taking quick sidelong glances at Nesto sitting at the far end of the table, or would she be next to him, a ring on her finger. Kade
’s voice jolted her back to the present.

  “Sorry to cut this short, but Nesto and I have plans.”

  Mitch looked at Kade. “And what would those be?”

  “A long trail ride, and no, you aren’t invited.”

  “Ah, that’s sweet.” Sean held up his glass. “Here’s to male bonding.”

  Brooke stifled a chuckle. Kade had already mentioned his plans, getting her full support. He and Nesto rarely had time to themselves, and she knew how much the friendship meant to each of them. She turned toward Paige.

  “How about we help Mom clean up, then we can go into town with the girls. I need some more maternity clothes, and there’s a new shop in the mall I want to check out.”

  Paige didn’t feel much like shopping, but the expression on Brooke’s face forced her to change her mind. “Sounds good.”

  “Great. I’ll borrow Mom’s SUV so we can all fit. I know Jesse and Cassie want to come.” She leaned closer. “Plus, Lainey is pregnant. She called me last week after she and Cam found out.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Although she barely knew her, Paige felt genuinely happy for Lainey, even as a hard knot of longing settled in her chest. “Have they announced it to the rest of the family?”

  Brooke started to speak, then closed her mouth when Cam stood up, grabbing Lainey’s hand.

  “As you all know, Matt and Cassie, Trey and Jesse, and Kade and Brooke are pregnant. Not to be outdone, we’d like to share that Lainey and I have also entered the same club.”

  Congratulations and general commotion at the announcement gave Paige the opening she needed to excuse herself. Seeking a few minutes of solitude, she walked inside, making her way to the back of the house where a large family room held hundreds of books, games, and a large screen television. Walking past the bookcases, she ran her fingers over the titles, not so much to select one as to distract her from her shaky emotional state. By the time she returned to the table, she hoped Nesto and Kade would’ve left for their ride.

  “Paige?”

  Her heart thudded in her chest at the sound of the voice that could send heat raging through her body. Fingers stilling on a title, she dropped her arm, turning to face Nesto. She found it hard to breathe when her gaze locked on the hard, yet vulnerable look on his face—an expression she hadn’t expected.

  Clearing his throat, he moved closer. “Are you all right?”

  She found it hard to form the right words. She wanted to lash out at him for his boorish behavior, at the same time wanting to rush into his arms, find comfort in his touch. Instead, she stayed put.

  “I’m fine.” Clasping her hands together, she raised her chin, refusing to look away. She had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of chipping another hole out of her already tenuous state.

  Nodding, his throat worked, the vein in his neck pulsing, as if he wanted to say more. Instead, he turned away.

  Paige didn’t want him to leave, but couldn’t bring herself to confide in him. “Um…thanks for asking.”

  Pausing for an instant, he looked over his shoulder. “Sure.”

  Lowering herself into a nearby chair, she buried her face in her hands. At this moment, she hated her brother with an intensity beyond anything she could’ve ever imagined. Worse, she hated herself. She’d been so focused on helping Paul and keeping Nesto out of trouble by knowing about her brother’s actions, she’d lost touch with what made a true relationship.

  No matter what obstacles they faced, Nesto had always stood with her. In so many ways, he let her know his devotion held no limits, his love no boundaries. All she had to do was ask and he’d be right there with her. Instead, she’d made all the wrong decisions. In her mind, they were for the right reasons, but none of that mattered now as his footsteps echoed down the hall.

  Nesto would find a way to work with her, tolerate Paige’s presence, but she’d never feel his arms around her or hear his whispered words of affection. Those were buried in the past, along with his love for her.

  MacLaren Enterprises

  Paige walked into the conference room Monday morning, scanning the table for Brooke, spotting an empty seat next to her. To her relief, Nesto hadn’t arrived, which gave her time to settle in without his intense gaze.

  After the shopping trip, she’d begged off dinner in favor of a long, hot bath. She’d bought cheese and wine while out with the ladies—enjoying them while taking a long soak. She wrestled with what to do next. It hadn’t helped that Paul had tried to reach her again and she’d ignored his call.

  Drying off, she slipped into her robe, poured another glass of wine, and settled on the sofa. The view through the picture window captivated her, making it easy to get lost in the beauty of the Northern Arizona mountains. She understood why Brooke loved it here.

  Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to consider how to move forward. She’d give her job a hundred percent, do what she’d trained for, and make a place for herself in the company. Dealing with the other issues were more complicated.

  A tortuous hour later, after allowing her mind to consider one option, then another, Paige finally made a difficult decision. It didn’t give her peace, but offered hope, which was all she would allow herself to expect.

  “All right. It appears we’re all here.” Heath’s booming voice brought her attention back to the meeting.

  She glanced up, seeing Nesto directly across from her, his gaze locked on hers. Although he said nothing, she could feel the intensity of his stare and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. The smirk on his face irked her.

  “Rafe, Jace, and I know you’ve all been wondering about the secrecy of this meeting.” He looked at his brothers, then continued. “There has been much happening over the last weeks, most of it behind closed doors. Today, we’re ready to present it all to you. First, however, Jace is going to review some acquisitions of interest to us. We want your initial reactions, but won’t be doing a deep dive into them at this meeting.” Nodding at Jace, Heath took his seat at the head of the table.

  “We have an interest in three potential acquisitions.” Jace walked to the cabinet on the wall, sliding back a large panel. Three names were listed, along with their industries.

  “You’re shitting me.” Sean’s initial reaction to seeing the name of a large and profitable dude ranch broke the ice, causing several people to laugh.

  Jace chuckled, then turned serious. “Not at all. Serenity’s dude ranch and tour operations have become the standard for those companies wanting to be at the top of the industry.” He looked at Sean. “In case I’m not being clear, that would be us. As you know, MacLaren Enterprises does nothing halfway. Neither does Serenity. Plus, they are as committed to programs for disadvantaged children as we are. In a short time, Sean has established our resort division as a strong competitor to Serenity. Instead of fighting them, we’re looking at folding them into our company, which will more than double the resort business. Of course, Sean would most likely oversee the transition and continue to head the division.”

  “Oh Lord.” Sean’s good-natured moan brought more snickers, although they all knew he’d put all his efforts into making it happen. He’d also formed an emotional bond with their program, which offered a camp and skill building for children in the foster care system.

  “As Heath said, we aren’t opening the discussion yet. That will come later.” Sliding back another panel, Jace revealed the second company. “Champion Horse Breeding is looking for a buyer.”

  Kade’s eyes went wide. “No shi...uh, kidding.”

  “Exactly,” Rafe offered. “We’ve been watching them a long time. The founder is in his late eighties with no heirs interested in taking it over. A syndicate of investors is considering a purchase, but they lack the knowledge and depth in the industry.”

  Jace nodded. “Rafe is right. The timing may be perfect. The fact they have operations in Arizona and Montana is a huge plus for us. Again, we’ll table further discussion until later.” Glancing at Heath, he reveale
d the final panel.

  “My God,” Skye gasped. “Does Gage know about this?” She shot a look at her father, whose expression told her Gage already knew. “That scoundrel. He never said a word to me.”

  Rafe sent her an understanding look. “Honey, in Gage’s defense, we required he keep our discussions to himself. Honestly, he didn’t like it one bit. If it makes you feel better, he and Ivan are flying in after lunch to join us. Gage will be staying a few days.”

  The scowl on Skye’s face softened. “In that case, you’re all forgiven.” With Gage living in Houston and Skye in Crooked Tree, they weren’t together as much as they liked. She hoped they’d find a solution before their wedding in a few weeks.

  Rafe barked out a quick laugh. “All right, Jace. I believe it’s safe to continue.”

  “I don’t know if I need to explain this last one. We’ve been partners with Double Ace for close to two years. It’s been a good partnership, but they’d like to change the agreement. Ivan Santiago, Kade’s cousin, has worked out a deal with his father and the other investors to allow us to buy them outright. We’d absorb the business, rebranding it under our name. Because of the issues last year, resulting in threats against our family, they’re willing to offer us an incredible deal. However, as with the other two, we’ll need to go through the process to make a decision, although we believe this one is almost a given.”

  Heath stood, closed the panels, then faced those around the table. “Three excellent possibilities to enlarge our holdings. Each one requires thorough due diligence.”

  “Seems like you’re pretty certain about all of them. Do we really need to discuss this further before taking a vote?” Eric asked.

  Sean cleared his throat. “Easy for you to say. None of the three fall under real estate and development. Kade’s team will have two companies to dig through. At least my team will have just the one.”

  “You make a good point, Sean.” Heath picked up a piece of paper, scanning the contents. “If we decide it’s worth continuing our review of all three, everyone in this room will be involved. We’ll designate work groups to spread it all out.”