"There's always Option One."
"I can't," I said sharply. "I can't hurt Hazel."
"Holy smokes!" Mace said, coming around from his desk. "You like her!"
"Of course I like her," I replied. "Hazel is a very likable person."
"I meanlikeher," Mace insisted. I sighed. Mace slung an arm around my shoulder. "My baby's all grown up and settling down."
"That's my line! Get off," I complained to my twin. He stepped back, grinning.
"Besides, what's not to like? She's a great cook. She's good with our little brothers. She's not a skeeze, out for my money, and she has her own business. She's perfect. Unlike you, I know a good thing when I see it. I'm not going to screw it up."
* * *
The rest of the day,I couldn't stop grinning whenever I thought about Hazel. I knew I should be worried about McKenna and my conference center, but I was still awash in the good feelings. Even a mandatory family meeting didn't kill it.
We all assembled in the large ballroom on the third floor of the estate. Ever since I read the story about what happened to Wes Holbrook in his family ballroom, I was a little antsy in the space.
Remy had a projector and screen set up. I scooted around it and sat next to Mace. "I can't believe I have to come to this meeting. I was just at the family meeting in Manhattan." Greg would force us to have family meetings in Manhattan, but usually it was a little more free-form and included alcohol.
"And now you're here," Hunter said at the front of the room. The screen flashed to an agenda.
"First order of business—the motorcycle racing."
"Archer, you ratted us out?" Eli exclaimed.
"You can't drive your motorcycle in the middle of the night," Hunter told them. "I've told you to stop. I better not hear one more complaint. Eli, you and Tristan are on notice. Next." Eli glared at me. I bared my teeth at him, and he quickly turned around and looked straight ahead.
"I love watching your inner dad come out," Mace whispered to me. I kicked my twin.
"Dentist appointments are coming up," Hunter was saying. "I have a whole day booked. Everyone is waking up early."
"Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?" Garrett asked, interrupting Hunter.
"Which one of your many complaints is it, Garrett?" Hunter asked, clearly annoyed.
"McKenna—"
"That is a business matter," Hunter said.
Remy's hand shot up.
"What is it, Remington?"
"I have us down for the volunteer day."
"Remy, that's on the agenda. All of you can see the agenda. It's right here on the screen. We are going in order. Now, moving on."
Remy's hand shot up again. I stifled a laugh at the expression on Hunter's face.
"I need goats."
"What the—" Hunter clamped his mouth shut. "Why?"
"To eat the weeds on cleanup day. A pack of goats is just what we need to clear the way for the art trail."
"Is it?" Mace asked.
