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“That takeover could be back on the table for you,” Teddy said, dropping his hands to rest on his desktop. “As a family man myself, I can appreciate when a man makes a mistake and sets it right. You getting things straight with the mother of your child has made me look at you in a new light.”
Pompous old bastard. What Wes really wanted to do was hang up. Teddy Bradford as the arbiter of family values was annoying enough. Knowing that he had somehow gotten the old goat’s approval really stuck in his craw.
“You should know, though,” Teddy continued, in that oh-so-confidential tone, “that we’ve had another offer for the company. I wanted to give you a heads-up before I make any decisions. Maybe we can still work something out on the merger.”
Wes’s expression didn’t give away what he was thinking. Mainly because he wasn’t sure how he felt about any of this. Taking over PlayCo, blending it into his own company had been his purpose for a couple of years now. A part of him was eager at the chance to seal the very deal that had been shattered so completely by the mysterious Maverick. Yet there was another part of Wes that was standing back, wary of this sudden magnanimous burst from the other man.
“Shame about that little gal of yours,” Teddy was saying with a sad shake of his head. “Saw she’s got a set of hearing aids. Looks like she’ll have some challenges ahead.”
Wes gritted his teeth. Caroline was the most amazing kid he’d ever met. Hearing or not, she was way better than this man’s version of challenged.
“I appreciate the phone call,” Wes said, somehow managing to hide the guilt nearly choking him. “But like you said in that press conference, I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.”
“Is that right?”
“Teddy,” Wes said, “there’s a lot going on right now, so I’ll have to get back to you on this.”
“See that you do,” Teddy said, then stabbed a finger at the disconnect button and the screen went dark.
For a second or two,
Wes just sat at his desk as fury ebbed and flowed inside him. At Bradford. At the situation he’d found himself in. At himself for dragging Belle and Caro into this mess. The merger with PlayCo was huge. He was being offered the very merger he’d been working toward for two years. But taking it, he might have to swallow more than he was willing to. And Wes didn’t know if he could do it. Or even if he was interested in trying.
Still, there was more to think about here than just himself. Expanding the company meant hiring more people, and that was good for everyone. And hadn’t this been exactly what he’d been aiming for all along? So what was he waiting for? Why was he easing back from the very thing he’d been counting on?
He scrubbed both hands over his face. “Robin!”
Seconds later, his assistant appeared in the doorway.
“Gather the heads of every department,” he said. “I want them here in an hour, discussing that call from Bradford.”
“Yes, boss.”
When she left, Wes was alone with his thoughts again. And he didn’t much like them.
* * *
Isabelle stopped by the Royal Diner to pick up the lunch she’d ordered. Amanda Battle, the diner’s owner, was at the counter, waiting with Isabelle’s takeout bag. Inside that bag were Wes’s favorites—grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches and fresh onion rings. Not the healthiest lunch in the world, Isabelle thought, but a spontaneous office picnic required more than raw veggies and a salad.
Wes was supposed to come home early and take her and Caro out for the afternoon. But Isabelle had received such great news from home, she hadn’t wanted to wait to see him. So an office picnic sounded like fun. Besides, Wes had been devoting so much time to her and Caro, Isabelle knew he had a lot of work to catch up on. The new toy launch was still a few weeks away, but he had to be on-site to handle any problems that might crop up.
She couldn’t wait to tell him that the toys she’d selected from Wes’s company had already arrived in Swan Hollow. And they’d sent so much more than she’d expected, Isabelle was sure she could supply two or three children’s wards with those toys alone.
But as good as the news was, it also meant she had to leave for home soon. The distribution of toys was always a logistical nightmare, and she had to be there to supervise it all. She hated the thought of leaving, which was silly since that had been the plan all along. But things had changed, hadn’t they? Wes had changed. So maybe after the work was done in Swan Hollow, she and Caro could come back. Maybe.
“Well, it’s about time you came in to see me.”
Isabelle cleared her mind, slid onto one of the counter stools and smiled at Amanda. “Sorry, I’ve been busy.”
“So I heard.” Amanda slid a cup of coffee toward her. “In fact, the whole town’s been talking about you and Wes and your daughter almost nonstop. And you know the diner is the unofficial clearinghouse for information.”
Isabelle winced, knowing that she was the subject of gossip and speculation. But honestly, she’d expected nothing less. Royal’s lifeblood was gossip, and if you wanted to find out the latest news, you came to the Royal Diner.
“Bobbi had your daughter in here yesterday for a milkshake,” Amanda said. “She’s a cutie.”
“Thanks.” Isabelle glanced around the familiar diner and was glad to see it hadn’t changed. Black-and-white floors, red vinyl booths, and the delicious scent of cheeseburgers cooking on the grill. She was also happy to see there weren’t many customers this early in the day.
“How’s Wes taking being an instant daddy?” Amanda asked, leaning against the counter.
