Page 101 of The Usual Family Mayhem

“Thank you for agreeing to see us here today.” Harlan watched Gram during his greeting.

Her noncommittal response wasn’t a surprise. “Hmmm.”

“Brock Deavers, this is Magnolia Nottingham and CeliaWindsor.” The wattage of Harlan’s smile didn’t flicker when he looked in my direction. “You know Kasey.”

I was about to see Harlan in his finest lobbying form.

“Of course. She’s been doing advance work for me on this proposal.” Brock’sdo not blow thisexpression dared me to disagree. “Assistant work.”

Calling him a jackass had been too nice.

“Magnolia, it’s a pleasure.” Brock extended his hand to Gram.

She took it but delivered a shot as well. “Call me Ms. Nottingham.”

Score one for Gram.

“Please sit.” Celia gestured toward the other side of the table. Doing so meant she avoided a formal greeting from Brock. Good choice.

They all sat down. I pulled over a chair and joined them.

“Kasey, I can handle the details and overview. You don’t need to wade through the finer points with us.” Brock opened a binder and pulled out what looked like a report. Apparently he’d been busy in between his rounds of golf. “Why don’t you—”

“My granddaughter stays.”

Second point to Gram.

Brock wore a tight smile. “Of course.”

“We’re happy to have Kasey here,” Harlan said but couldn’t possibly mean. “We’re talking about a proposal that benefits the entire family.”

“Uh-huh.” Gram wasn’t giving an inch.

“Right. Well, you know why we asked to see you today.” Harlan relaxed into his chair, coming off very much at home in the annex, where he wasn’t actually welcome.

Gram looked Harlan up and down, letting him know she was not impressed. “Not really since we’ve made it clear the business is not for sale.”

Gram reached for her glass of tea. She didn’t offer anyone else a drink. That had to be killing her. Southern hospitality and a certain level of graciousness were ingrained in her DNA. She’d been the perfect hostess for most of her life. Not greeting her guests with a smile, not putting out a spread of fresh pastries and suitable drinks, went against everything she believed in. They might not know it, but her actions telegraphed how little she thought of her unwanted guests.

“I know you’ve said your position is firm, Mags.” Harlan passed glossy-covered folders around the table. “I think once you’ve heard the offer you might change your mind.”

“Doubt it.”

Honestly, Gram didn’t need me for this. She could hold her own with almost anyone. People mistook her cute, tiny grandmother persona for weakness. The dumbasses. She had a backbone of steel and a deep dislike of Harlan, so this could devolve quickly.

“Kasey knows this is a good deal. One you should consider.” Brock stared at me. Put his whole you’re-about-to-be-firedhmpfbehind it. “Correct?”

Since I expected to lose my job within the next few days, possibly minutes, what did I have to lose by going against him? Hell, I was shocked I still had the job, so whatever punishment he thought he could levy didn’t really pack a punch.

My real concern and the reason I refused to move from my chair was Harlan and his whims. I didn’t trust him as far as I could drop-kick him... and I really wanted to drop-kick him.

What was stopping him from running me out of town and out of Jackson’s life and still waging a campaign of destruction against Mags’ Desserts? In Harlan’s mind, absolutely nothing. He wanted the business and was willing to destroy his relationships with everyone around him to get it.

“Are we interrupting?”

I spun around at the sound of Jackson’s voice. He walked in with... Micah.

I did not see that shocker coming but now I knew exactly why Jackson asked me to trust him. The man had a plan.

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