Chapter 6
CADEN
A knock sounded on my office door, and I straightened in my desk chair. “Come in.”
It was probably for the best that I’d been interrupted because I was about ready to pull out my hair.
I’d spent all morning going over the changes Gabe had put in place at The Peaks.
He was sucking the life and soul out of my favorite place on Earth.
He’d canceled the weekly field games where families could partake in competitions like potato sack races and cornhole.
He’d ditched our outdoor movie showings for a wine-tasting event that cost a fortune.
And, worst of all, he’d suggested switching our trail rides for polo. Clara would’ve been beside herself.
My assistant, Jalen, walked in. He smiled, and his perfectly straight, white teeth gleamed against his tanned skin. But we’d been working together long enough for me to know that the smile he wore meant bad news.
“What happened now?” I grumbled.
Jalen winced. “I’ve been working on getting eyes and ears in all the helpful places.”
I nodded.
“And a little birdie at The Terrace told me your father made a lunch reservation at one for your family.”
I grimaced and checked my phone. No texts or missed calls. I opened my email. Nothing. “I take it you didn’t get a call from his assistant.”
“Nope.” Jalen popped the P on the word.
I let out a growl of frustration. “He probably told Gabe to tell me.”
“Good thing I’ve got us covered, and you’re already looking dapper enough for a casual family lunch that is actually anything but.”
I chuckled. “Have I told you yet how damned glad I am that you came out here with me?”
Jalen waved me off. “Like I would leave you to deal with these vultures alone. You can thank me with spa credits and introductions to rugged mountain men.”
My lips twitched. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Come on, up you go so you’re not late.”
I shoved back from my desk. “Can you do me a favor and have the stables pull the logs for the past several months? I want to gauge interest in the trail rides. And set up a meeting with Juliana so we can talk about their programming.”
“I’ll get on it right now.”
“Thank you.”
I strode out of my office and down the hall toward the lodge’s main entryway.
The space was massive, with thick, dark wood beams overhead and stone walls.
Guests milled about, planning their afternoon activities.
Each staff member greeted me with a dip of the head and some version of hello, sir.
I hated the term, but it was one of my father’s requirements.
It felt stuffy, forced, and antiquated to me.
I wanted the respect I got to be earned, not required.
Weaving through the lobby, I found my way out to the back patio, where a gorgeous terrace overlooked a pool and the mountains. A young hostess beamed up at me. “Mr. Shaw. Good afternoon, sir.”
“Hi, Anna. I believe my father made a reservation for lunch.”
She nodded. “Right this way, sir.”
I followed her through the array of tables. Almost all of them were full, this being our busy season. “How are things going here?”
She cast a look over her shoulder, confused. “In what way?”
“Just wondering how everything’s running. Is there anything you would change in how we’re operating?”
Anna stopped in front of an empty table, flicking her auburn hair over one shoulder nervously. “You want to know if I’d change anything?”
I nodded. “You’re the boots on the ground and have a better idea of what’s working or not than I ever will.”
Her eyes flared. “Wow, that’s not what your brother thinks.” She immediately flushed. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I held up a hand to stop her. “No apologies needed. I have met my brother before.”
Anna stifled a laugh and then worried her lip. “I think keeping a handful of tables free for walk-ins would be good. Guests get annoyed when they learn that reservations are often made weeks before. They don’t always think of that when going on vacation.”
“That’s a great idea. Might even be better to make the more casual restaurants not require reservations at all.”
She nodded eagerly. “Most people don’t plan out their vacation schedules. It ruins the spontaneity you have when you get away.”
“So true. Thanks for the insight, Anna. I appreciate it.”
She smiled widely back at me. “Anytime. Can I get you something to drink while you wait?”
“I’d love an iced tea. Thanks.”
She headed off as I slid into one of the empty chairs. A minute later, another server hurried over to me. “Here you go, sir. Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you, Henry. I’m good.”
He nodded. “Just flag me down if that changes.”
I leaned back in my chair, taking in the view. There was nothing like the Cedar Ridge mountains. It didn’t matter what amazing sights I saw in my travels; nothing compared to this. There was a calmness about the range, an unparalleled peace.
“Nice surprise, you being on time.”
And my father could ruin that serenity in a second.
I looked up at him, my mother and brother in tow. “Good to see you, too.”
A muscle in Gabe’s cheek ticked, and I knew he was annoyed that I’d made it to our little family gathering.
My mom maneuvered around my father and bent to kiss my cheek. “You’re looking handsome today.”
I was surprised she hadn’t remarked on the circles under my eyes.
Ones there because I’d tossed and turned all night reliving that damned kiss with Grae.
It would take time to burn her out of my system and memory, and having her play the dutiful girlfriend wouldn’t help.
Yet, I wasn’t bailing on our bargain. There was too much at stake.
“Thanks, Mom. You look beautiful.” The truth was, she looked exhausted, but I couldn’t say that. I stood and pulled out the chair next to me.
She took it and patted my hand. “Such a gentleman.”
Gabe grumbled something under his breath that I couldn’t make out.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” a high-pitched voice called.
I fought the urge to groan as Lena bounded up to our table.
Gabe’s fiancée beamed at us, but the smile was as fake as her tan. “My appointment at the spa ran late. Baby,” she cooed, kissing Gabe’s cheek. “I missed you.”
Gabe’s arm encircled her waist in a proprietary hold. “I keep telling you that you need to keep a better eye on the time.”
She pouted. “I know, but I wanted to make sure I was looking my best for our lunch.”
Dad chuckled as he took the seat next to Mom. “Can’t complain about that, Gabe.”
“I guess not.”
Lena hurried to take the chair next to me before Gabe could pull one out for her. She fluttered her eyelashes in my direction. “How are you settling in, Caden?”
“Fine.”
She laughed. “So verbose.”
Gabe took the last remaining seat. “You know my brother doesn’t have much of a vocabulary.”
Mom frowned at him. “That’s not very nice, Gabriel.”
Gabe waved her off. “Caden knows I’m kidding.”
My brother could slit my throat and still say he was kidding.
Thankfully, Henry approached at that moment to take all our orders. When he finished, Dad leaned back in his chair. “I just had a meeting with Erika about the gala.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. Dad would try to suck all the vitality out of an event that was supposed to be life-giving. He’d turn it into a stuffy affair that was just a bunch of rich people showing off their wealth with extravagant outfits and vehicles.
Mom beamed at him. “She always does such a lovely job.”
“She needs to step it up this year if Lewis will be here. We need to be number one on that Luxury Travel list. And Clive Jones will be here, as well.”
I fought the groan that wanted to surface. If there was one person my father would want to impress, it was Clive. As the head of one of the top banks and investment firms in the country, Clive had every power player on speed dial.
Mom’s lips tipped down. “Isn’t it enough to just be together as a family and enjoy the event?”
Dad reached over and patted her hand. “Of course, we’ll enjoy it. But success is important, too.”
I swore I saw my mom deflate at those words.
I knew she longed for the family we’d had before Clara passed away.
My sister had a way of bringing out the best in all of us, and losing her had taken away our North Star in many ways.
But even when she was with us, my father had always had a vicious need to be the best, and Gabe had followed in those footsteps.
“I’ve been combing through all the latest lines out of Paris and New York, looking for the perfect dress,” Lena cooed. She shifted so she gave me a shot of her cleavage, and I leaned toward my mom.
“I’m sure you’ll look beautiful,” Mom said, but her words had no heart.
Lena beamed at Gabe. “Have to look perfect for my baby.”
I had the sudden urge to vomit.
“What about you, Caden?” Dad asked, zeroing in on me. “You can’t bring some random floozy.”
Gabe scoffed. “You know he will. It’ll probably be some girl who looks more like a stripper than anything else.”
“Actually, I’ve been seeing someone. I’ll be bringing her.”
Dad arched a brow. “This is the first I’m hearing of this.”
The urge to roll my eyes was so strong. “It was new, and we have a shared history, so I wanted to tread carefully until we were sure it was going somewhere.”
Mom’s eyes brightened, and I saw color in her cheeks for the first time in months. “Now you’re just teasing us. Who is it?”
“Grae Hartley.”
The pure joy on my mother’s face had guilt churning in my stomach. “Oh, Caden. That’s wonderful. She’s just the partner you need. She’s kind but strong enough not to take any flack from you. And a beauty on top of it, which I’m sure doesn’t hurt.”
Lena scrunched up her nose. “Isn’t that Nash’s sister? The one who leads the hiking trips? She’s probably constantly covered in dirt.”
I cleared my throat to hide my laugh. “She does lead several outdoor excursions.”
Dad lifted his drink and took a sip as he studied me. “At least she comes from a respectable family.”
Gabe’s jaw worked back and forth. “But Lena’s right. That’s not exactly a job fit for someone of our station.”
Mom waved him off. “Grae is doing something she loves and making a living at it. I think that’s incredibly honorable, especially given she doesn’t need to work. And she’s always been willing to lend me a hand with things at the foundation.”
I didn’t miss how her gaze shifted to Lena when she said that. Lena had lived off her trust fund in San Francisco until she met Gabe, and he started footing the bill. She’d gone to college, but I thought it was more in the service of finding a husband than anything else.
Her cheeks flushed. “I guess I just have different priorities. I want to make sure I’m available to support Gabe however he needs me.”
Gabe lifted her hand to his lips. “And I appreciate that, baby.”
Dad ran a finger over the rim of his glass.
“This could be good. The Hartleys are well thought of in the local community and beyond. Sharing the news of your settling down with a local girl whose family has been through so much might be just what our colleagues need for them to trust you a bit more.”
My grip on my iced tea tightened. Of course, my father would only see Grae as a pawn in whatever power games he played. “What I care about is that I’ve met an incredible woman. She cares about the people around her and challenges me in ways no one ever has.”
He waved me off. “Sure, sure. But I know Clive will be glad to hear you’ve settled down.”
Gabe’s grip on his glass tightened. “When does he arrive?”
“A few weeks. He’ll be hosting his company’s annual retreat here this year, and we need to wow him. I want both of you to draft plans. We’ll let Clive choose which one he likes best.”
Gabe’s jaw worked back and forth in irritation, but there was a glint in my father’s eyes that I knew well. He loved pitting Gabe and me against each other. This was just another chance to do it.
By the time we’d finished lunch, I was about ready to punch someone. My mom could sense it because she pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear, “So pleased for you and Grae. This would make Clara so happy.”
My gut twisted. What would my sister have to say about this charade? She’d probably issue a warning about how it would all come back to bite me.
“Love you, Mom.” It was all I could say that wouldn’t be a lie.
“Jocelyn,” Lena began. “Why don’t we go check out the aesthetic design options for the gala? I want to make sure whatever dress I get doesn’t clash.”
Mom smiled, but it was strained. “Sure, that sounds like a good plan.”
As they left, Dad turned to Gabe and me. “I expect you to make sure we are prepared for Lewis’s and Clive’s visits. Do whatever it takes.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He simply left, expecting that Gabe and I would bow to his dictates.
I headed out the moment he disappeared into the lodge. I didn’t have any desire to listen to whatever bullshit Gabe would spew. I strode through the grand lobby and out into the sunshine, needing to go for a drive. Maybe I could disappear to my spot for an hour and rein in my temper.
Footsteps sounded behind me as I headed for my SUV. “What the hell was that all about?” Gabe snapped.
“You mean why did you forget to tell me about lunch?” I asked without stopping.
“A sudden girlfriend won’t keep you off Dad’s shit list.”
I shrugged. “Not worried about what he thinks.” That would be true if it didn’t affect my mom. Whenever there was tension between us, it sent her spiraling, and she’d been through enough.
Gabe scoffed. “I guess I don’t blame you. Grae always was a hot piece of ass. Wouldn’t mind having a little taste—”
I moved so fast that he didn’t have a chance to react. I slammed Gabe up against my SUV. “Say another word, and you will live to regret it.”
Gabe laughed, but it had a maniacal and hysterical quality to it. “Well, I’ll be damned. Caden Shaw has a weakness, after all. Good to know.”