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Joel scrubbed a hand over his face before addressing them. “This was not something I wanted you to find out. I know you’re going to be upset, but this isn’t personal. I never wanted to shut you down. I simply wanted to delay your grand opening.”
Chase frowned. “Why?”
“You invited one of my top investors, Ian Stark, to your grand opening,” Joel explained.
At that, Shep cocked his head. “You’re telling us that you had Todd find problems that weren’t there because you were worried about losing a deal to Chase?”
“I know how that sounds, boys, but this is business.” Joel leaned back, his chair squeaking beneath him. “A week ago, we were all ready to sign on a new resort we’re starting next year. Then Stark received your invitation to the grand opening and wanted to delay on signing because he wanted to see what you could do.” Joel paused before his expression became pained. “This isn’t just me here. I’m the small duck in the pond. But I am the link that brought in the investor.”
Nash inhaled sharply, nearly showing teeth. “So, you pulled strings to get Todd to do the inspection?”
“I did what I had to do,” Joel replied. He turned to Chase, and his voice softened. “We’re talking about big money here. Your father understood that sometimes you had to get your hands dirty in this game. You boys need to understand that too. It’s not personal.”
Ice ran through Chase’s blood. He was so damn sick of people telling him that business wasn’t personal. “No, Joel, you’re wrong.” He rose, feeling the shake of his fingers. “This is dirty business. That’s not a game our father ever played.” He took a step forward toward Joel’s desk, then pressed his hands against the desk, leaning in. “Listen to me very carefully. You’re going to call Todd and tell him to pass the ranch in the inspection—not later, not tomorrow, right now.” He leaned even closer and promised, “If that does not happen, I will call every investor in the state of Colorado and share what you’ve done.”
Something crossed Joel’s face then that was so cold compared to the warm man they grew up around. The kind and generous man who had mentored Chase. “I would do that,” Joel said, “but I’m afraid you have no proof, and nothing has changed here. I cannot let your grand opening happen. I’m sorry, boys.”
Shocked by this stranger in front of him, Chase reached into his pocket, taking out his cell phone. He stopped the recording then hit play. Each word spoken from the speaker darkened Joel’s expression.
Nash sidled next to Chase at the desk. His voice was light, his smile cocky. “Luckily for us, we already have an in with a reporter at the newspaper who I’m sure would be all over this story.”
Shep rose, moving to the other side of Chase, showing the solid front they always had between them. “Do not doubt for a second that we will use whatever arsenal we have to bury you with what we know.”
Joel’s chin dipped, something different passing across his expression now. Whether it was remorse or resignation that he had been caught, Chase really didn’t care either way. All that mattered was that Joel reached for the phone on his desk and dialed a number, pressing the phone to his ear.
“Todd, it’s Joel,” he said a second later. “Pass the Blackshaws’ project.” Another pause. “Just do it.” He hung up the phone, staring at Chase. “Boys. Listen—”
Chase was done with him. Done with every goddamn thing that stood in his way lately. Because with all this dealt with, his responsibilities gone from his shoulders, he did not want to be here. There was only one place he wanted to be. “Take this as the warning I mean it to be. Do not come near our mother again.”
“Boys,” Joel repeated.
Chase refused to hear more. Leaving his brothers in the office, he walked briskly past the receptionist and out the front door. The bright sun had him squinting, heating the top of his head as he jogged toward his truck in the parking lot.
When he reached the truck’s door, Shep called out from behind. “Where are you going?”
Chase opened the truck’s door, climbed up, and called back, “To correct a wrong.”
Before Chase could shut the door, Nash yelled, “Go shower first. You look and smell like shit.”
One quick look in the rearview mirror and . . . Fuck.
* * *
Across town, Harper pulled to a stop at the red light. Pedestrians filled the sidewalks on Main Street, most of them tourists. She studied the people, always able to spot a local out of the crowd. They walked a little slower, smiled a bit more at strangers. When she’d moved to Denver, that was what she missed most of all about River Rock.
She passed by three parked cars before she spotted an empty spot and drove into it. She stared at the busy street ahead of her, wondering how Chase was doing. Emma had called and said the guys were on their way to speak to Joel, and also asked Harper to come meet her downtown. She worried about him. And also hoped after today, all this business with the inspector would be done.
Soon, she would check in on him. For now, she exited the car, locking the doors behind her to keep all her boxes of belongings safe. When she moved onto the sidewalk, she spotted Emma and Megan sitting on the bench farther down.
As she drew closer, she called, “Hey.”
Emma and Megan both looked her way, and Emma called her forward with a wave. “We’ve got a seat just for you.”
Harper made it there quickly and sat between them, staring at the faded CLAYTON’S DINER sign atop the front door of the restaurant.
Megan crossed her legs, revealing cute strappy sandals. “Got all your stuff to move in?”
“Yeah.” Harper nodded. “Brody helped me pack as much as we could in the car. I need to make another quick trip home later to grab the rest, but there’s only a few more boxes left.”
