Defensiveness prickled along the back of my neck, but he sounded more like he was attempting conversation than digging for information. “Did Hank show you?”
“He’s been telling everyone who’ll listen that you’ve been out there with him.”
Acid flared up my throat. “He’s exaggerating. It was barely two days.”
“He likes having you around, but you never said if you were moving to town.”
First Teller. Now Tate. I glanced down to the bedroom. Good. The door was shut, but my suitcase was around the corner anyway. “I guess we’ll have to see.” My gaze followed Autumn as she ran to answer a knock on the door. Darin was on her hip again.
Myles lingered by us. He was holding Elsa while Wynter bent over the table with Scarlett, Brinley, and Chance sorting candy.
“Myles works from his home not far from Mama.” Tate said it like a challenge. “Foster House is in Denver.”
Another point made. “The casino isn’t like that.”
“I still fly to Foster House,” Myles said more conversationally, “but soon, my brother Lane will be training on-site. In a couple of years, he might be there permanently.”
Meaning Myles found running a company fromanother state had its challenges, and he thought it was ideal to have the boss there full-time.
“I hired a manager,” Myles added as if trying to keep from taking sides.
“I am the guy the board hired to run the casino.”
“Autumn’s not going to move,” Tate said only loud enough for me and Myles to hear.
“Then don’t give her a reason to.”
He drew in a steady breath. Myles tipped his head down.
“It’s not up to me, Gideon. If we don’t buy that place, and if your dad doesn’t sell to you, then who’ll buy it? Some Hollywood asshole who doesn’t give a shit about Montana or that land’s history.”
Clearly, having an outsider buy that place was a general concern with everyone. “Its history ismyhistory. My great-grandfather worked his ass off to secure that place after he lost everything else.” My grandfather had told me the story many times.
“Then we can’t have it going to some bastard who’s going to parade their rich friends through—or worse, turn it into a rental and ruin our property value.”
I took a long sip of my drink. The heat of the alcohol burned down my throat, giving a place for my rising anger to latch on to. Awareness crept in. I was getting upset and savoring the flavor of alcohol on my tongue.
No. I put the glass by the edge of the sink. Tate’s words were exactly what Dad had worried I’d do. “I’m not some rich prick.” I kept my voice low.
Tate shrugged. “In the end, it’s your dad’s decision. Don’t take your anger out on my sister.”
“I don’t think that’s what he’s doing with her.” Myles smirked.
Tate shot him a dirty look. “Don’t do that to me.” He held his hands up. “Can we call a truce? At least for tonight? My kids love Halloween, and it’s Friday, so we don’t have to rush them to bed. I’m also not above a steep candy tax, and I need to see what Brinley has to pay with.”
Wynter was digging in another cupboard. She withdrew a bag of freeze-dried yogurt bites. “Aunt Autumn came through again. Lucky Elsa.”
I had wondered who the hell would eat those.
Autumn lifted her head from where she was recording the candy count with Chance. “There’s too much competition for the funnest aunt. I have to stay stockpiled.” She smiled at me, and she looked so damn happy surrounded by kids, my heart twisted like a dishrag.
I worked in a place where people went toescapethis. I made it happen for them. But this was the first time I’d wondered why anyone would want a break from this kind of life. And that was terrifying.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Autumn
Last night, after a short, hushed conversation with Tate and Myles, Gideon had grown ever quieter. We’d had amazing sex after everyone had left, and we’d both had way too much fun with those ridiculous suspenders, but I hadn’t asked him what was bothering him. I didn’t think he’d lash out like last time, but it was unlikely he’d tell me.
