Page 35 of Indecent Ventures

I’m met with a sea of eye rolls.

I think this is my opening. I clear my throat. “Listen, everyone. Carter’s house has been featured in a ton of magazines. Half the calls we get are from the publicity. I think that if we want to keep growing the business, we need to consider doing more custom work. Not just builder-grade, colonial homes. Innovative homes. Technologically advanced homes. Homes that don’t look like any others.”

Mac has a look of disgust. “You’re not a businessman, Collin.”

“I didn’t realize dropping out of high school and working most of your career as an electrician made you Jeff Bezos.”

Da scrunches his nose. “Who’s dat?”

“The owner of Amazon. He’s a billionaire.”

Mac shakes his head. “Collin, just do your damn job on the weekdays so you can continue your playtime on the weekends. Leave the business decisions to the real adults.”

Braden pounds his fist on the table. “That’s such bullshit, Mac. You know Collin is talented. You’ve seen Carter’s mansion. You know full well it’s nicer than anything you could have ever done. Give him a little credit.”

Mac narrows his eyes. “Credit? Credit for simply being lucky and having a rich best friend. We can’t trust Collin with clients on Carter’s level. Carter might be okay with Collin’s antics and mouth, but normal people aren’t. Dad left me in charge. We stay the course. It’s kept us in business for forty years and it will keep us in business for forty more.”

My father nods his head. “Mac is in charge now, boys. What he says is da way it will be.”

And that’s the end of the conversation.

We finish eating and the kids all head off to the playroom. They chat a bit more about business. I mostly stay quiet. It’s not as if I’m ever heard or my suggestions ever considered.

Ashleigh and Lydia talk about the kids and their upcoming activities. I make a mental note to get to their various sporting events. Of particular significance, Lucy is starting t-ball this spring. I can’t wait to see her out there in her little uniform.

My parents both smile at all of it. They support their grandkids in everything. They miss nothing. Some of their friends spend winters in warmer climates, but my parents refuse to do so. They don’t like to miss anything for the grandkids. Games, recitals, school plays, all of it.

My father eventually turns his attention back to me. “When are ya gonna find a nice girl like Ashleigh and Lydia and settle down? You’re gettin’ a bit old to be running around like ya do.”

“I’m not really the nice girl type. I’m also not sure I’m the settling down type.”

I see Braden trying to hold his laughter. He loves that I’m the big target when it comes to love and marriage. It keeps him out of the line of fire.

My father shakes his head. “Dey have plenty of nice friends. You should meet some of dem.”

“Hmm. I think Braden has interest in them. He likes nice girls more than I do.”

Braden narrows his eyes at me and then turns back to them. “Actually, I just started seeing someone.”

This is news to me. “Who?”

“You met her the other night. Pandora.”

I smile. “Did you open her box yet?”

That earns me another smack to the back of my head. I really need to stay more than an arm’s length away from my father.

“Don’t talk dat way in front of ya mother or ya sisters-in-law.”

I mumble, “Sorry.”

Ashleigh winks and smiles at me. I swear I have days where I think she’s the only one in our family who gets me.

After dinner, my father, brothers, and I traditionally go off to the study to drink whiskey. NJ fell and hurt himself, so Lydia and my mother are dealing with him.

My father turns back as they’re walking out of the room, “Collin, ya comin’?”

“I’m not leaving Ashleigh to clean everything by herself. I’ll be there in a bit.”

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