“And you’re mad.”
“No, actually, they made my case about why I don’t want to work here. Dad would be so proud.”
“Dad had nothing to do with just about everything that goes on here now. I changed how we do business with subcontractors and vendors. We don’t make backdoor deals with unions. We don’t cheat employees out of bonuses. And I won’t lock you out of a company that’s as much yours as mine.”
Chance said, “Humph. Mom said you were different.”
Max sat on the chair across from him. “Losing your wife, admitting you’re an alcoholic and going to AA will do that to you.”
Chance sat up. The alcoholic thing floored him, but Kate leaving shocked him so much he forgot he was angry. Though Max and Kate were older, the trio had been like the Three Musketeers before he ran away. Chance had loved Kate like a sister. “You and Kate split up?”
“For eight years. She kept my daughter, Trisha, from me. She just left and didn’t even tell me she was pregnant.”
“Holy cow.”
“It took a while, but we reconciled.”
“And the alcoholic thing? Was that because she left?”
Max shook his head. “I became an alcoholic after you left, Chance.”
He froze. “Me?”
“I loved you, kid. Still do. You’re my brother. I was sorry for everything that happened and I shouldered all the responsibility and the blame. And started drinking. But after Kate left, I realized drinking wasn’t helping and once I got sober, I saw how bad Dad really was. I learned every department, read every lease, talked to every contractor and vendor. And ultimately took over.”
Chance gaped at him. “You kicked Dad out?”
“He resigned—sort of happily, really. His last two years he and Mom traveled.” He shrugged. “I’m not just blowing smoke when I say things have changed. The company is different. I am different. You can trust me.” He rose from his seat. “Rather than talk about what I’ve done, let me give you a tour of the place.” He motioned to a richly detailed, double-door entrance. “And you can see for yourself how different the company is and see for yourself that I’m not running it like Dad.”
Chance also rose, but he rose slowly, without any enthusiasm. He might have a strange sympathy for his brother rattling through him now, but that didn’t mean he wanted to work for him. “I don’t know, Max.”
“Come on. What can it hurt to look?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to. I’ve distanced myself from you and the company.”
“And you hate me?”
“No more than you hate me.”
Max frowned. “Why would I hate you?”
“Because you grew up as the favorite son. The ‘real’ Montgomery child, while I was adopted. Then we all found out I’m as much of a Montgomery as you are. That had to sting.”
“Not really.” He sighed. “Look. I don’t think we hate each other. I think we had one ugly family fight. I’m not going to let that stand in the way of our being a family. Mom wants this.”
A warm feeling flowed through him at the mention of their mom, the woman who loved him even though he was the product of her husband’s affair. So did the reminder that in some respects he owed her.
Max turned him in the direction of his office door. “I’m not going to browbeat you into coming to work for me. We can give Mom a family without you working for me. Hell, you can move back to Tennessee and we can still be a family. But if you like what you see, why wouldn’t you want to work here?”
Chance laughed. “Because I have my own company?”
“Who’s running it while you’re away?”
“I have a manager.”
“Who I am sure would be happy to continue running it.” Max slapped him on the back. “Wait until you see what we’re doing, little brother. You’re going to want to be part of this.”
CHAPTER THREE
SOMETIME AFTER TWO, Chance rushed into the cottage as if late for his own wedding. Tory wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad sign, but it didn’t matter. When he’d come out of his bedroom that morning, she hadn’t talked to him about days off because he seemed so nervous. But whether it was convenient or not, she had to talk to him now—tell him about Jason—so she could at least visit him two days a week.
Bouncing chubby Sam on her hip, she said, “Whoa! Where’s the fire?”
“I’m so sorry for leaving you with them for so long! I didn’t expect to stay with my brother all morning.” He shook his head as if confused. “I didn’t expect to talk more than twenty minutes let alone have lunch with him. I’m so sorry.”
She pointed at her chest. “Nanny.” Pointed at him. “Boss. You call the shots. It’s my job to stay with the kids while you do anything you have to do.” She kissed the top of Sam’s head. “Besides, they’re so adorable. It’s hardly a job to stay with them. More like playing.”
“That’s because they’re good when they’re with you.” He tossed his keys to the table behind the sofa. “I’m seeing a whole new side of them around you.” Leaning down he plucked Cindy from the play yard. Kissed her cheek. “How’s Daddy’s good girl today?”
She cooed a laugh. He kissed her again.
And Tory’s heart swelled. In the years she’d been undergoing surgeries and therapies, she hadn’t really thought about kids. She hadn’t thought about anything but visiting Jason and repairing her own damaged leg. But suddenly these two—feisty Sam and sweet Cindy—brought out longings in her that she couldn’t deny. And she was so afraid she was about to jeopardize being in their lives by asking for time off. But she also had responsibilities to Jason.
“So do you want to go up to the house for your lunch? I apologize that it’s so late. You’re probably starving.”
She ambled toward the sofa. “Actually, Cook had Robert make a delivery today. But I would like to talk to you about something.”
A panicked expression flitted across his face. “Okay.”
She motioned to one of the two chairs near the sofa. “Don’t worry. It’s not really a bad thing.”
He sat, arranging Cindy on his lap. “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”
“I just need a day or two off every week.”
He looked at her. “That’s it?”
“Well, I’ve never been a nanny before, but it seems to be a twenty-four/seven job. And I need two days off because I usually—” She cleared her throat. “It’s just that I have to—” She paused, once again floundering about how to explain her situation. She didn’t want his pity. She also felt odd sharing something so personal with a man she barely knew and she couldn’t do it.
“There’s someplace I like to go twice a week.”
His eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
She settled Sam on her lap and he happily gurgled up at her. “Just a girl thing.”
He studied her face for a few seconds, then said, “Honestly, Tory, I’ve never employed a nanny and I don’t remember the nanny my mom says cared for me, but I do know that everybody’s entitled to a day off every now and again. So if you want two days, you just tell me which two days and I’ll make do.”
“I