Chapter 1
Present Day
T hey were definitely up to something.
That much was clear, Dylan thought, watching the way that her father couldn’t quite meet her gaze before shifting her attention to her mother to find her smiling hugely, looking happier than she’d ever seen her before and-
Definitely up to something.
That was confirmed seconds later when she slowly shifted her gaze to the Bradfords to find Marc staring intently at a spot on the wall behind her as his wife practically bounced with excitement with a smile that somehow managed to outshine her mother’s.
That was interesting, Dylan thought, watching them for another moment before her gaze dropped to the untouched platters of food spread across the large boardroom table, taking in everything from the platter of finger sandwiches to the bowls of potato salad, pasta salad, assortment of chips and the plethora of baked goods strategically placed in front of them.
Keeping her gaze locked on the two couples sitting across from them, Dylan helped herself to one of the mini cheesecakes adorned with cherry topping, her favorite, while she debated all the possibilities.
Perhaps they were selling B.T. Construction, but something, mostly the fact that they would have broken the news to them from the safety of another continent through a carefully worded email because of the large man glaring at them to her right, told her that probably wasn’t the case.
God, she hoped they didn’t sign B.T. Construction up for another parade because she honestly wasn’t sure that she could handle dressing up like a leprechaun again, not after what happened the last time they tried to stuff her into a pot of gold.
And not after that group of kindergarteners got their hands on her…
Then again, maybe they changed their minds about retiring, Dylan thought, doing her best to avoid looking at the woman sitting to her left.
God, she really didn’t want to think about what happened when her parents made the announcement that they were retiring and Brooke found out that they weren’t giving her B.T. Construction.
God, the screeching…
“Why are we here?” Quinn Bradford, the aforementioned large man glaring to her right, drawled as he began drumming his fingertips against the freshly polished table, the angry cadence echoing softly throughout the large boardroom.
Nibbling on the incredibly delicious treat, Dylan decided to see where this went.
She watched her mother release a satisfied sigh as her gaze shifted to her husband, only to narrow her eyes dangerously when he didn’t respond.
That was followed by a nudge, a resigned sigh, and a grumble before he finally said, “It’s about B.T. Construction.”
“What about it?” Quinn asked as his gaze flickered to his father only to find Marc struggling to bite back a wince.
Finishing off the last bite of cheesecake, Dylan reached for another one as she took in the two men sitting across from them, noting the way that her father shifted uncomfortably in his chair, cleared his throat before opening his mouth only to close it again and sent Marc, his childhood best friend and business partner, a glare.
Curious about that, Dylan watched as Marc matched his glare before her gaze flickered back to her father to find him narrowing his eyes on his best friend, which, of course, was immediately matched by Marc while the two men sat there, glaring in awkward silence while Dylan couldn’t help but wonder if anyone would mind if she ate the last cheesecake.
“We’ve made a decision,” her father bit out after a moment, still glaring at Marc, she’d like to point out.
“And that would be…” Quinn said, still drumming his fingertips against the tabletop while Dylan glanced from the large man who really seemed to love to glare to her right to his father before she glanced at her father and-
“We’ve decided to give one of you B.T. Construction,” her father announced with a heartfelt sigh that had Dylan absently nodding as she reached down into her bag and grabbed the book she’d been reading, realizing that this had nothing to do with her.
With that, she helped herself to a fudge brownie, found where she’d left off, and leaned back in her seat with a satisfied sigh. As much as she loved B.T. Construction, and she did, it just wasn’t something that she was interested in doing for the rest of her life.
Ever since she was a little girl, she had one goal, to restore Blackwood Manor to its previous glory.
She’d dreamed of the day when it would finally be hers, and now, after years of sacrificing, saving, and putting up with Brooke’s bullshit, she was one step closer to making her renovating dreams come true.
She would have preferred to ask her father for help, but since that meant telling him that she bought the house the city tried to condemn seven times in the last five years alone, she’d been left with no choice but to ask Brooke for help instead.
He wouldn’t be happy when he found out what she did, which was why she planned on keeping this from him until after she renovated Blackwood Manor and found a buyer.
Until then, she would have to continue working for B.T. Construction and be at Brooke’s beck and call for a few more years, but it would be worth it. When it was finally done, she would have-
Wait.
What did he just say? Dylan found herself wondering as she slowly looked up from her book and-
“Say that again,” Quinn said before she had the chance even as she told herself that there was no way that her father just said what she thought he said.
Clearing his throat, her father opened his mouth only to close it and glare at Marc, who was staring longingly at the door. When Marc didn’t say anything, her father once again cleared his throat and said, “You have to get married.”
“Never. Fucking. Happening,” Quinn bit out, which, considering what Jenn put him through, was understandable.
“Then, B.T. Construction goes to one of the girls,” her father said as his gaze shifted to her and-
“Pass,” Dylan said, watching as her father cleared his throat, nodded, and murmured, “Understandable,” before his gaze shifted to Brooke. Curious about how she was taking the news, Dylan glanced to her left and took in the calculating gleam in her sister’s eye.
“What else?” Brooke asked, looking really freaking intrigued, which was to be expected considering just how badly her sister wanted to get her hands on B.T. Construction.
When their parents retired two years ago, Brooke expected B.T.
Construction to be handed over to her. Instead, they’d left her in charge of the business side of things and handed over the reins to the construction side to Quinn, forcing them to work together, which was a problem since they hated each other.
Neither one of them had taken it well, but they’d made it work.
Brooke focused on the business side of B.T.
Construction, project proposals, dealt with potential clients and spent most of her time in the office while Quinn spent his time on job sites.
They only communicated when absolutely necessary and that was normally done through texts and emails.
The problem was, that wasn’t enough for Brooke.
She didn’t like sharing, never had, and she hated the fact that she had to share B.T.
Construction with Quinn. She wanted to be in charge and he wanted her to go to hell, which, again considering what Jenn put him through, was understandable.
If Brooke ever got her hands on B.T. Construction, and something told her that was about to happen, Quinn would probably quit.
Then again, Brooke would probably fire him before he got the chance, Dylan thought as his mother handed them each a manilla folder. “What’s this?” Dylan asked as she took the file and couldn’t help but note the way that she was practically bouncing in her seat.
“Everything that you need to know,” Laura said with a satisfied sigh.
Curious, Dylan opened the folder to find what looked like a thick legal document detailing everything they needed to know about this deal, from the timeline to the-
“A baby?” Brooke demanded in disgust while Dylan looked up in time to watch as the four of them nodded firmly.
“That’s the deal. We want B.T. Construction to stay in the family. That’s always been the plan. Whichever one of you gets married and has a child, will get B.T. Construction,” Marc said while Dylan noted the look her mother shared with Laura.
Interesting.
“Tell me that this is a joke,” Quinn bit out.
“This is the deal,” her father reluctantly grumbled when her mother nudged him.
“And if none of us gets married?” Quinn demanded as Dylan glanced back down at the file in her hands and-
“Then, we’ll sell the company to the highest bidder.”