Page 80 of High Value Target

“Oh, Grady. It’s all so horrible.” She went into his arms.

“Don’t you see what this means? There’s no one left to blackmail your father any longer. You don’t have to worry about how what you do will affect him.”

She nodded. “I know. I thought of that. But, Grady, Palmer is so devastated. I can’t reject him now. I have to wait until he gets through this.”

“And how long is that, exactly?”

“I don’t know. The funeral I suppose.”

Maria came from the kitchen, and they broke apart. “Miss Wyatt, should I serve coffee to everyone?”

“Um, yes, but we need to make up the guest rooms. Palmer and his brother will be staying the night.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see to it.”

“I’ll help you.” Tinsley moved to follow her. She looked over her shoulder at Grady, and mouthed the words,I love you.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The funeral of Palmer’s father, mother, and brother was long and heartbreaking. The entire day was excruciating, and by the end, Tinsley had the headache to end all headaches.

After the burial under the hot Texas sun, mourners were invited to the Wyatt’s estate for coffee and cake.

Tinsley kept going over how she would tell Palmer the engagement was off. She couldn’t think of the words to start. The man had just lost so much. Would this be the straw that broke him?

Greeting guests grew to be too much for her, and tomorrow she would have to go through it all again at the memorial service for Kiley’s grandmother. It was all too much. Tinsley made her escape, claiming to need to check on the coffee service.

She fussed at the table, straightening silverware that didn’t need straightening, and taking a minute for herself.

Perry approached, coming to stand at her side, his hands in his pockets. “How are you, Tinsley?”

“Oh, Perry. I’m okay. How are you holding up? This day must be incredibly hard for you.”

“It is.” He stepped closer, and she took the cue and enfolded him in a hug. He dipped his head to her shoulder. “I can’t believe they’re all gone. Now it’s only Palmer and me. I just can’t wrap my head around it, Tins.”

She patted his back and tried to pull away, but he clutched tighter. “At least we have you.”

“Always,” she murmured.

Palmer walked up, and they broke apart. He put his arm around Tinsley’s waist and spoke to his brother. “Hamm would like to arrange a time for the reading of the will. He suggested next week, but I have a lot to do with the company. We settled on tomorrow afternoon.”

“Good of you to consult with me before you both settled on a date.”

Palmer rolled his eyes. “Don’t start. You know this is hard for me. I’ve got to step up and deal with the company. That wasn’t exactly in my plans, either. Deal with it.”

“Guys—”

Perry stalked off.

“Palmer, he’s hurting, too.”

“We both are. But all the responsibility has fallen to me, not him.”

“Then share it.”

“Share it? He pissed away two million dollars before he came home with his tail between his legs. I’m not letting him anywhere near the company.”

“You may not have a choice, depending on what the will says.”

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