seem to be the most open-minded when it comes to business opportunities.”
“Technically, the place is his now, and he can do what he wants with it. I’m as free as you are to leave if I don’t like it.”
Dismay flashed over Wade’s face and he shook his head in disbelief.
“That can’t be right. As hard as you worked today I would say that you have a right to contest that. He’s taking advantage of you if he expects you to do that kind of backbreaking work for mere room and board.”
“Trey makes sure I have what I need,” Cole said slowly. He glanced toward the stairs watching for his older brother. “I’d get that cleaned up before he gets back if I were you.”
“Have you actually seen it?” Wade asked, scraping the stringy remnants into a newspaper.
“Seen what?”
“Were you permitted to look over your parent’s final will? Your younger brother is a lawyer. Did he review it?”
Cole straightened and looked at him, his eyes narrowing.
“What’re you suggesting?”
“As your uncle, I was just—”
“Less yapping, more working. I’m hungry,” Trey grunted, bringing down another armload.
“When aren’t you?”
Trey gave him a wry smile and a shrug. “I can’t argue that. Would chocolate cake make you move any faster?”
Cole snatched the basket from his brother’s arms. “What’re you waiting on?”
Chapter Seven
Genevieve gratefully took her husband’s arm as they joined the crowd filing into the church. She glanced up at him and he gave her a reassuring nod. He removed his hat as they stepped through the doors into the crowded vestibule. Heads turned in their direction, eyes widening in surprise. She stiffened at the stares, trying to ignore the whispers that started in their wake. Freeing his arm from her grip, Trey wrapped it around her instead. He escorted her through the throng, his imposing size clearing a path. Placing his Stetson on the hat rack, he helped peel her coat off and hung it beneath the hat. Turning, he ran his hand through the long waves of his hair, looking as uncomfortable as she felt.
Ignored by her husband, Rose struggled with removing her wrap in the close confines, and Gen reached to help her. Wade shot them both a look of annoyance as he pushed past to the coat rack. Rose lowered her gaze before her husband’s glare and then her head jerked around. Panic filled her blue eyes as she turned awkwardly, trembling hands covering her rounded stomach.
“Lilly?”
Gen’s heart leapt to her throat at the fear in her new friend’s whisper. Her eyes darted around them for the black velvet of the little girl’s coat. Nothing. She tried to turn, only to catch a sharp elbow in the back. Bending her knees, she peered through the forest of trousers and skirts.
“Lilly!”Rose called, her voice rising in alarm.
Unmindful of the press of bodies, Genevieve spun, looking for her husband. “Trey! We lost Lilly.”
Trey’s head jerked up at her voice. He immediately started to scan the crowd from his vantage. Thankfully, it only took a moment. Easily shouldering people out of his way, he bent and stood with the adorable toddler in the crook of his arm. Gen’s heart skipped a beat as he wiped away a tear from the plump cheek and graced the child with a lopsided grin that made her giggle. He pointed to Rose over the crowd and Lilly crowed in delight, waving from her new perch. People that had, a moment before, cursed his abrupt push through their midst now stared in wonder up at the long-haired man and the raven-haired cherub that wrapped her chubby arms around his neck.
Trey met her gaze as Lilly pressed her cheek against his. Beaming her pride, Gen couldn’t resist blowing him a kiss. He looked startled for a moment and then his broad face split in a smile that lit the room and set more tongues to wagging. Trey pointed toward another set of double doors and turned away. A hand on the small of her back made Gen stiffen.
“Just me, little sister.
“Technically, the place is his now, and he can do what he wants with it. I’m as free as you are to leave if I don’t like it.”
Dismay flashed over Wade’s face and he shook his head in disbelief.
“That can’t be right. As hard as you worked today I would say that you have a right to contest that. He’s taking advantage of you if he expects you to do that kind of backbreaking work for mere room and board.”
“Trey makes sure I have what I need,” Cole said slowly. He glanced toward the stairs watching for his older brother. “I’d get that cleaned up before he gets back if I were you.”
“Have you actually seen it?” Wade asked, scraping the stringy remnants into a newspaper.
“Seen what?”
“Were you permitted to look over your parent’s final will? Your younger brother is a lawyer. Did he review it?”
Cole straightened and looked at him, his eyes narrowing.
“What’re you suggesting?”
“As your uncle, I was just—”
“Less yapping, more working. I’m hungry,” Trey grunted, bringing down another armload.
“When aren’t you?”
Trey gave him a wry smile and a shrug. “I can’t argue that. Would chocolate cake make you move any faster?”
Cole snatched the basket from his brother’s arms. “What’re you waiting on?”
Chapter Seven
Genevieve gratefully took her husband’s arm as they joined the crowd filing into the church. She glanced up at him and he gave her a reassuring nod. He removed his hat as they stepped through the doors into the crowded vestibule. Heads turned in their direction, eyes widening in surprise. She stiffened at the stares, trying to ignore the whispers that started in their wake. Freeing his arm from her grip, Trey wrapped it around her instead. He escorted her through the throng, his imposing size clearing a path. Placing his Stetson on the hat rack, he helped peel her coat off and hung it beneath the hat. Turning, he ran his hand through the long waves of his hair, looking as uncomfortable as she felt.
Ignored by her husband, Rose struggled with removing her wrap in the close confines, and Gen reached to help her. Wade shot them both a look of annoyance as he pushed past to the coat rack. Rose lowered her gaze before her husband’s glare and then her head jerked around. Panic filled her blue eyes as she turned awkwardly, trembling hands covering her rounded stomach.
“Lilly?”
Gen’s heart leapt to her throat at the fear in her new friend’s whisper. Her eyes darted around them for the black velvet of the little girl’s coat. Nothing. She tried to turn, only to catch a sharp elbow in the back. Bending her knees, she peered through the forest of trousers and skirts.
“Lilly!”Rose called, her voice rising in alarm.
Unmindful of the press of bodies, Genevieve spun, looking for her husband. “Trey! We lost Lilly.”
Trey’s head jerked up at her voice. He immediately started to scan the crowd from his vantage. Thankfully, it only took a moment. Easily shouldering people out of his way, he bent and stood with the adorable toddler in the crook of his arm. Gen’s heart skipped a beat as he wiped away a tear from the plump cheek and graced the child with a lopsided grin that made her giggle. He pointed to Rose over the crowd and Lilly crowed in delight, waving from her new perch. People that had, a moment before, cursed his abrupt push through their midst now stared in wonder up at the long-haired man and the raven-haired cherub that wrapped her chubby arms around his neck.
Trey met her gaze as Lilly pressed her cheek against his. Beaming her pride, Gen couldn’t resist blowing him a kiss. He looked startled for a moment and then his broad face split in a smile that lit the room and set more tongues to wagging. Trey pointed toward another set of double doors and turned away. A hand on the small of her back made Gen stiffen.
“Just me, little sister.
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