“Not sure. I haven’t told her yet. I’m afraid she’ll make things more complicated than it is.”
“She’s a woman for a reason, dude. It’s her job.”
They shared a grin, and Tristan leaned back in the rocker. They sat in a comfortable silence that men understood and women bitched about. Within the silence, emotions worked their way out. “You really gonna try to take the company from me?” Cal finally asked.
Tristan waited awhile before answering. Just sipped his coffee and considered. “I’m not doing it to hurt you. I just feel it’s best for the company to incorporate flipping houses and real estate. I think it’s smart to have Dalton run the woodworking part, even though he sometimes goes nuts with his creative crap and pisses customers off. He’s still the best.”
“He is one talented son of a bitch.”
“Makes his ego even bigger than it should be,” Tristan said. “At first I didn’t want to stay here. I had my own life in New York, and I liked it. But being back in Harrington, building houses again, working in the company, things started to stir. Now I want to stay. This is my home, but I can’t continue as a lackey, Cal. I can’t be ignored. And if I have to fight you to take control of the company to make my voice heard, I will.”
Cal listened to the calm explanation and waited for the rage to hit. But it never came. He actually understood what his brother was saying. Oh, hell, he didn’t like it, and he intended to make his own points known, but Tristan had never gotten the shot he always craved. His father had refused to let him have his dream. And the company was called Pierce Brothers. Founded by his mother for all three sons.
Not just Cal.
The acceptance was hard. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and there’d be a mess of pitfalls and stumbles, but Cal wanted to try. Because last night in the bar, with his brothers, he’d found a happiness he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“I’ll try.”
Tristan gave him an assessing look. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not. When Dad refused to listen, and you took off to New York, I was sick. I felt like I had let you down. I told myself I was doing what was best for all of us, but the bottom line is I never fought for you. I don’t think I wanted to. I liked being the one to call the shots. And even though Dad was hard to work with, there was a payoff being the only Pierce brother here. Makes me feel like shit, but I’m being honest. Maybe it’s time we try again.”
“You’re open to letting me flip and do real estate?”
Cal nodded slowly. “We have to go slow. And we have to do everything possible to make sure Morgan gets her perfect house and we turn a profit by end of year. After that, yes, I’ll work with you.”
Tristan gazed at him for a look time. “You’ve said this before and things didn’t change.”
“I want to try again. Give me another shot.”
His brother sipped his coffee. “Okay.”
It was the best they were gonna get. Cal was satisfied. Nothing was guaranteed, and their promise could explode before they even got close, but steps had finally been taken.
For the first time, Cal felt like they had a true chance.
chapter twenty
Let’s cancel the party. Stay home alone. In bed.”
Morgan ducked as Cal dove for her, throwing her hands up to ward him off. The sexy gleam of mischief in his eyes told her he’d hunt her down and ravish her. “No!” she said. “It’s been a few weeks since we’ve all been in the same room together. It’ll be fun.”
“I see my brothers enough, thank you very much. They just want a home-cooked meal. They’re spoiled.”
“Brady and Sydney are coming, too, along with Becca. Behave.”
“But you like it when I don’t.” Her gaze dropped to his straining jeans, and Morgan had to fight her own impulse to have a quickie before everyone showed up. Goodness, she was becoming quite a sexual harlot. It seemed every time they were in the same room together¸ they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Restraining themselves on the job site only added to the delicious excitement and tension, until they fell into bed together and made love for hours.
She blocked him by shoving a cutting board and fat tomato at him. “Later. I want to get the appetizers ready before they come.”
Cal let out a breath and dropped them on the counter. “Fine. But my brothers live here, for God’s sake. Why do they get special treatment? They should be helping in the kitchen.”
“Because it’s nice to do things for family.”
“I’m nice. I keep Dalton stocked in Hershey bars. And I ordered that ridiculous French wine Tristan drinks like water. Cost me a fortune.”