My grandma’s ring would solve my issue for a bit. I had to forget about the sexy cowboy. He was stubborn, so I knew he would call my boys when he arrived at my house and I wasn’t there. I figured I should call the boys before he did.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Justin first. Straight to voicemail. Only rang once. He didn’t even attempt to hide the fact he didn’t want to speak to me. Des’s phone at least rang until I reached his prerecorded message, but neither answered.
A text popped up on the screen, and for a second, I thought one of my boys had replied, but it wasn’t them.
Vinnie: An extra 5k is due Wed for my troubles.
* * *
Sam
I needed to head back to the ranch, but I didn’t want to leave Ivy. I worried she would do something stupid, so the thought of throwing her over my shoulder crossed my mind. I’d sworn off her years ago, but something about seeing that man attacking her had flipped a switch inside of me.
She held her secrets close. I didn’t believe for a second that she fell and got that jagged cut. The town thought Brad was amazing, but I’d seen him gambling and snorting coke outside the bar.
Ivy wasn’t the same woman I loved as a teen. She’d built a wall around her, and she didn’t want anyone’s help. A part of me hated that I couldn’t get over her having an abortion and not even discussing it with me. Angie had shown me proof. A picture of the pregnancy test on Ivy’s bathroom counter. Then Angie called to tell me she took Ivy to the clinic. By the time I got there, she was walking out. I’d rushed the fifty miles, but I was too late.
A baby wasn’t something either of us wanted right after graduation, but we needed to discuss options together. She didn’t even give me the decency of a call. That type of betrayal hit close to my heart. I’d even confronted her about where she was, and she giggled and said she went shopping.
I shook off the memory from over thirty years ago as I headed to the ranch.
I hadn’t expected Antonio Ross and his wife to show up now. It seemed the billionaire wasn’t alone. Two black SUVs lined the driveway, and I hadn’t missed the third black SUV at the edge of my property. I had the room for them in the main house, but it would be tight. I was resolved to make it work. If Antonio became a silent partner, I’d be one step closer to my plan of expanding the ranch, but I needed more funding.
I parked my truck near the garage and grabbed the box of pups before I opened the door. Antonio was a few feet away when I stepped onto the gravel driveway. A short woman with fiery red hair stood next to him. Her eyes were on the box in my hands.
“Welcome to C-Man’s Wellness Retreat.” I’d named the future wellness retreat C-Man because I thought it sound like sea man. I loved my years out to sea with the Navy. My last name also started with a C.
I set the puppies on the ground next to my foot.
Antonio cleared his throat and held out his hand. “Sorry we didn’t give you a heads up. This morning during a meeting with my brothers and other investors, I mentioned your project, and that I planned to come check it out. Our kids are with their grandparents for the weekend, and Kat wanted a little escape. When I arrived at the airport, those fuckers were already on my jet.” He waved to a group of two men and a woman standing near the stables. “You can never have enough people backing your project. Zack will help things move quicker.”
My eyes went to the group of men. The only other person I recognized was Zack Tucker, the former president of the United States. I was not expecting to see him.
“Well, let’s go inside to talk.”
Eddy, my foreman, was gathering the luggage. He gave me a wave as I walked by and opened the door to the farmhouse. The men, woman, and Kat filed through the entryway, and I directed them to the dining room.
“What can I get you guys to drink or eat?”
Kat shook her head. “We’re good. I want to get settled and then wander around and see what this place has to offer. I’ll tell you right now I’m on board.”
I had a little self-doubt about my project. “Okay. Give the staff some time, and they will get the rooms set up in the main house. I’ll run into town and grab extra food and we’ll have a cookout tonight.”
Antonio waved his hand. “You don’t have to go out of your way for us. I didn’t formally introduce you to my wife, Kat. Next to her are Alex and his wife Bridget, and finally, you have Zack.”
Right, like the former president was just an ordinary person. I’d done enough research to know Kat and Antonio were in the top twenty percent of the richest people in the world. Jaxson, had recommend I reach out to the Ross family.
Jaxson didn’t come to the main house much. He’d taken over the hunting cabin a few miles away as a place to recover. We hadn’t talked about what had happened. Every time I broached the subject, he clammed up. The relationship between my boys and I wasn’t the best, mostly because I’d left them so much with their mom, and she’d been a horrible mother. I’d failed as a parent, but I’d do anything my boys wanted.
Kat pulled out a dining room table chair and sat down. “I do have to be honest with you about one thing. Your idea is great, but I want to expand on it.”
Great, here comes the part where if you want my money, you have to do things my way. I figured these men would want to help wounded soldiers, but I guessed I was wrong. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t hear her out though.
“What are your ideas?”
Her lip twisted. “They aren’t that bad, I promise.”
I winced, knowing I’d fucked up.