Everywhere and Every Way(84)

Uh-oh.

Dalton stretched like he didn’t give a care in the world. “Who’s Sandy Harper?”

“She’s the real estate agent over at the Sand Acre mall. Her father is Jack. He hired us to redo his deck. Remember that job?”

Dalton scratched his head. “Oh, yeah. What a nightmare. I kept telling him we needed to do redwood maple, but he was stuck on some cheap Trex imitation wood. Does he think we’re, like, fucking Home Depot or something? Of course, I refused until he agreed to let me show him how the redwood would look.”

Tristan ground his teeth, reminding her of Cal’s habit. He practically hissed the words out. “You can’t refuse a client because you don’t like their choices! I was just negotiating a property and ready to close with a huge profit margin. Until Sandy Harper walked in and said her client refused. When I asked why, she said her father has a pile of wood and no deck and she didn’t trust me. What the hell did you do, Dalton?”

Dalton narrowed his gaze. “I ordered the sample so I could show him how it would look. He’s gonna love it and book me for the job. I planned to go out there tomorrow. I’ll handle it.”

Tristan raked his fingers through his hair. The strands fell back in perfect precision. So different from Cal’s, who always had hat head or looked like he had rolled right out of bed. Of course, it made him look so sexy, she hid his combs. “You always say you’ll handle it,” Tristan said bitterly. “You’re not Michelangelo, and sometimes you need to suck it up and do what the client wants.”

“Even if it’s wrong? If I didn’t think he’d go for the redwood, I would’ve shut my mouth and given him the Trex. He doesn’t want the Trex. He wants to be impressed and in love with his new deck. When did that become wrong? I do my job with pride.”

“I’d rather you do your job and get paid.”

Dalton shook his head in disgust. “Why are you buying property anyway, dude? That’s not your role here. Your ass should be in this house with Morgan and me to get this done in time. Instead, you’re playing real estate games, and you’re no Million Dollar Listing agent. You’re not even half as good-looking and you have a hell of a lot less money.”

Morgan bit her lip and tried to step in. “Umm, guys, how about we talk about this later? We’re tired, it’s hot, and it’s been a long day.”

“Are you kidding me? That show is a joke. I could outsell any of those agents, because I know how to redo a property. I pull my weight on this project every day. Is it wrong that I’m the only one who can see the future? Securing this property means we’ll be renovating the project, then we can sell it for a huge profit. Sticking with only building is a mistake.”

“We’re not even gonna be here next year, dude!” Dalton yelled. “I thought the plan was we get in and get out. Cal wants this company, not us.”

“Cal isn’t capable of running this company the way I can. He’s not Dad. I’ve been thinking about this problem for a long time and finally came to a decision.” His jaw clenched. “I want to run Pierce Brothers. I think it’s time for a change around here.”

The silence was deafening. Dalton stared in shock at his brother. “You never wanted Pierce Brothers.”

Tristan’s eyes turned cold. “Yes, I did. I was pushed out and decided not to fight. But this time I’m not giving up. The company needs a visionary, and Cal isn’t ready to make the changes.”

Dalton took a step back. “You’d turn on him?” he asked. “On me?”

“I’m not turning on anyone. I’m just claiming what’s been mine all along.”

“Is that how you see it, little brother?”

The familiar voice rang through the air. Cal stood framed by the doorway, his gaze expressionless as he took in the exchange. Dalton muttered a curse. Emotions swirled and crested in the room, and raw masculine energy pressed down upon Morgan. This was a testosterone battle way out of her league. Still, she needed to try.

Pasting a smile on her face, she stepped forward. “Cal, I just think things got a bit out of control. Maybe we can take a break. Regroup. Let’s quit for the day.”

“I appreciate your trying to help, Morgan. I really do. But I think it’s best if you leave now.”

She glanced back and forth between the three of them. Half of her stubbornly refused to leave him, but this was a family crisis they needed to solve themselves. There must be a way for them to find each other again. Maybe if she left, the fight would turn and they’d make up. Maybe they could be a family once more.