Harrison opened a legal-sized file and lifted it to eye level. “We’ve gathered here today to choose, by popular vote, the new CEO of Hazel’s Dairy Delights.” He paused for effect. Kenzi’s heart tick-tocked with the speed of a woodpecker and was almost as loud.
He dropped his eyes back to the page. “You may vote for any of those who participated in the previous vote. However, I need to inform you that Lunette has asked to be taken out of consideration.”
Heads nodded around the table. Everett scribbled on a yellow sheet of paper and passed it across the table to Guy. Kenzi eyed the two of them as they made eye contact and jerked their chins.
“Julia, we’ll start with you. In the interest of time, please just give us the name of the person you are voting for.”
“I vote for Raquel.”
Harrison wrote Raquel’s name on the whiteboard behind him and put one tally mark below. Kenzi stared at the empty space where her name should be.Come on, Harrison, at least write my name down.
Harrison recapped the pen and consulted his paper. “Hugh Sebald?”
Hugh folded his hands over his stomach. He swiveled in his chair as if he couldn’t hold still. “Kensington,” he said, loud and clear. It almost sounded like he was daring anyone to disagree with him. Kenzi mentally applauded and threw him kisses, she was so happy to see her name on the board with a tally mark.
“Guy Tratto?” Harrison moved things along with efficiency. Kenzi should have bought him a gavel for this meeting. He would have loved it.
“Just so we’re clear—” Guy pointed at the board. “—anyone who participated in the last vote is eligible. Is that right?”
“That’s correct,” Harrison affirmed.
Guy tipped his head and sucked air in through his teeth as if someone were trying to stitch up a gash in his arm. “Nash Westport.”
“What?!” Kenzi and Raquel shot to their feet in tandem.
Raquel pointed one long finger at Nash. “He’s not part of this.”
Kenzi glanced down at Nash. His jaw was hard, the muscles on the side pulsing an uneven beat. His eyes were round with surprise.
“Harrison.” Kenzi worked to calm her voice. She would not lose control, not when she was so close to the finish line. Guy wasn’t volunteering any information aboutwhyhe’d chosen Nash over her, but she didn’t like it. “Can they vote for Nash?”
Harrison was as tense as a bull in the branding shoots. “According to the instructions in the will, any person who participated in the first vote is a potential CEO.”
Kenzi touched her fingertips to the tabletop. Just the tips; her hands posed like tents. “You are the one who drafted the will, Harrison. Is this what Dad had in mind when he had it written?” She didn’t want to call Harrison out in front of everyone in the room, but if he’d screwed up—and cost her a vote—he was going to hear about it. And if he knew Nash was included in the second vote, why didn’t he tell her?
Raquel smacked her hand on the table. “This is ridiculous. Daddy didn’t even know this man. He’s an opportunist who snuck in here and flim-flammed my sister into thinking she was in love.”
The hair on Kenzi’s arms stood up. “No one flim-flammed me, Raquel. I love Nash.” There. She said it out loud in front of her sister and the board and Harrison and the angels in heaven.
Harrison put his hands up to stop the two of them. “The will was written with the exact intent of your father.”
“Then why didn’t you tell us that when it was pertinent?” Kenzi threw all her unspoken accusations at him with her eyes. He should have told her that her “business husband” would become hercompetition. She looked down at Nash again. “Did you know about this?”
“Of course he knew about it!” Raquel huffed. “Why do you think he whisked you away to get married while Dad was on his deathbed? And don’t patronize me by saying it was love—you two hardly know each other.”
The heads at the table swiveled her direction.
Kenzi balked. She couldn’t exactly blurt out that she’dhiredNash to marry her. She lifted her chin. “I’m insulted that you insinuate that the only reason a man would want to marry me is because he wanted to take over the company.”
“Ladies!” Harrison cut in. “Can we please continue?”
Kenzi parked herself in her seat. “Yes. Let’s.”
She glanced at Nash. He shook his head as if saying,I had no idea.
Raquel guided herself into her chair and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Proceed.”
“Wonderful.” Harrison ran his finger down the list in front of him. “Everett Vereb?”
