Chapter 1 #2
Wes threw up his hands, glaring. “Sure, why not. In between running the pro shop, managing the grounds, and batting off the hands of horny rich women slipping their numbers in my khakis during lessons. Jesus, Levi, you think you can talk to us before you make these sorts of plans? The pressure to pull this shit off falls on all of us.” Wes leaned back heavily in his chair, running a hand through his hair.
He was the darkest of the five of them, with hair the color of their mother’s dark brown.
Levi stared at Wes. “Am I the CEO of this enterprise, or not?”
Wes glared. “Only because you’re the oldest. It sure as hell isn’t because you’re business-minded. Why Dad put you in charge instead of Adam is a mystery.”
Adam was the Cade son who’d actually pandered to the old man.
Did whatever their father had asked of him.
Until their father’s last request placed Adam at Blue Casino, the local competitor giving their club a run for its money.
Not just a run; Blue Casino could very well put Club Tahoe out of business, if Levi and his brothers weren’t careful.
But that didn’t mean Adam would help them out. The bastard.
Adam had had some sort of epiphany during his foray at Blue Casino while scouting out the competition.
He’d decided to remain there, and for some reason, their father, who was the master of manipulation, hadn’t minded.
Rumor was the old man had turned soft the last year of his life, when he’d learned he wouldn’t live much longer.
Two parents dying prematurely—that was some shit-poor luck. But Levi and his brothers would survive like they always did. In any case, Adam was off the list of sons their father could prevail upon postmortem to run Club Tahoe.
“You know Adam’s not an option,” Levi said. “He’s been promoted at Blue Casino and his fiancée works there. We’re the ones who didn’t have jack going on.”
“Speak for yourself,” Wes muttered. “I haven’t given up on the tour.”
No, Wes never acknowledged his rotten streak in golf.
It started at the end of college, when he was in his prime, and had persisted.
Wes had become an assistant pro at Club Tahoe a couple of years back.
After their father’s death, he started running the club as the head pro and gave lessons.
He was probably the most qualified out of the four of them for the positions they held, all things considered.
But Wes never stopped reminding his brothers that it was only a matter of time before he began his real career as a tour pro.
Levi stretched out his legs. “In any case, Dad knew which one of his sons had the charisma, the magnetism, the strength to lead—”
“Are you two finished?” Bran said, then swigged the last of his beer and flagged a waitress. She immediately turned and headed their way with a brilliant smile on her face.
Bran was the second youngest, and though he looked like his brothers—broad shoulders, Cade height—he had dark blond hair he kept longer than the rest of them, with GQ good looks and bright blue eyes that hit the ladies like an arrow.
Bran didn’t have to work to gain female attention, and wasn’t that a damn waste? Nine times out of ten he had no clue when a woman was interested in him. He was quiet—except around Levi and the rest of his brothers—and more of a homebody than a playboy.
“I’m just getting warmed up.” Levi smirked, but it wasn’t true. He was nowhere near prepared to run Club Tahoe, but he’d do it because he was the head of the family now.
Bran shoved a new pint at him. “Drink your beer and put a lid on it. I’ve had a crappy day in the restaurant, and I can’t take you and Wes arguing anymore.”
Wes twirled his lucky ball marker, frowning.
A muscle near Levi’s eye twitched. Damn this job. “What’s going on in the restaurants now?”
Bran rubbed his forehead. “What isn’t going on? Wine orders not showing up. Employees stealing from the till. Waitresses fighting—”
“With each other?” This comment, said excitedly, came from Hunter, the youngest of the five Cades. And the one brother Levi didn’t get along with. At all.
Hunt walked up and took a seat at the table. “Maybe I should handle the restaurants and referee said waitresses. Anyone ever consider a sideshow?” Hunt held up his hands as though framing a billboard. “Ladies of Lake Tahoe: Mud, Lingerie, and Hot Wings. Catchy, right?”
Levi glared at him. “Who invited you?”
Hunt rolled his eyes. “I see you’re in a great mood today. Before you know it, you’ll be just like Dad.”
No one wanted to be like their father. It was why they’d all run from anything having to do with Club Tahoe. Until now. “Fuck you.”
“Jesus Christ, can I finish what I was saying?” Bran exhaled heavily, his bright blue eyes flashing.
“Levi, we have too much on our plates for you and Hunt to keep up the feud. And Hunt, I just got finished telling Levi and Wes to chill out. Don’t you stir the pot.
” Bran took a long swig of the new beer the waitress set in front of him.
“He’s right,” Levi said. “We have to make sure next week goes off without a hitch. We’ve got businessmen with a lot of money coming into town to check out the place.” He cringed. “Put on your best clothes and be on your best behavior.”
“Speak for yourself,” Bran said.
True. Levi wasn’t known for his charming demeanor, though he could charm if he wanted. “Dammit, I’ll even put on a monkey suit. And if I will”—he pointed at each of them—“you all had better. We have to wine and dine these people and convince them that Club Tahoe is the best they’ll find.”
Levi thought of Ms. Wright, his new assistant, and how her Korean language skills might give them a leg up. “Any of you know Dad hired a woman named Emily Wright?” Levi shivered. “I almost ran out of the room, just hearing the name.”
Hunt choked. “Emily Wright?”
Levi’s shoulders tensed. “Yeah, so?”
“Levi, man, how well did you know your ex-girlfriend?” Hunt asked.
Levi ran his tongue across the top of his teeth, mouth shut tightly. “Not well enough,” he growled, barely able to tolerate Hunt’s presence these last four years.
Hunt had the dignity to look ashamed, but only for a split second. “I’ve apologized a million times for that. When are you going to forgive me?”
“You slept with my girlfriend. Who says I have to forgive you?”
Hunt stretched his neck and stood. “I see coming here today was a bad idea. I’ll be in the boathouse if anyone needs me.
Oh, and Levi?” He shot him a hard look. “Emily Wright is Lisa Wright’s half-sister.
You know, Lisa, the girl you claimed to love?
If you’d loved her so much, maybe you should have taken the time to get to know her. Or at least remember she had a sister.”
Fuck me.