Page 39 of My Three Rivals

“I don’t think this investment is lost,” Maverick insisted. “I’ve looked at the vineyard’s numbers. They’ve made some profit in the past, but it hasn’t done nearly as well as it should because of poor management. If we could get a handle on it, trim some excessive costs, reduce unnecessary labor, do things ourselves…”

He eyed me speculatively, and I considered his angle. “What the hell do we know about running a vineyard?”

“I’ve been poking around, learning some of it,” Maverick admitted. “I don’t think it’s outside our wheelhouse. In the end, it’s another business, making a product. We’ve owned factories before.”

“Why do I feel like Tegan would lose it if she heard you comparing her vineyard to a factory?” Wyatt quipped, and we all laughed.

“My point is, we can do this. And I’m sure Tegan needs all the help she can get.”

Yes, she does. She’s floundering, and we are in a position to help her.

I pondered the idea, but it had already taken shape in my mind, well before Wyatt and Maverick had come ambling down the hill to present it.

“If we do this, we still have another obligation to deal with,” I reminded them.

They both balked and nodded.

“The obligation remains, regardless of what we build,” Maverick said.

He was right, of course, but our development was almost guaranteed to produce more of an income, especially short-term.

“Something has to be done about Lou,” I informed them, as if they hadn’t had the same thoughts since we’d taken on the ownership of Five Penny. “This can’t go on forever.”

“It’s already gone on long enough,” Maverick agreed as Wyatt bobbed his head vehemently.

“If we can dim down the animus with Tegan, we’ll have more time to focus on that issue,” Maverick offered brightly.

“All right,” I conceded. “Let’s try it her way—assuming she’ll let us help her. Damn, that woman is as stubborn as a mule.”

Maverick and Wyatt wore identical grins as they agreed, affection tinging their words. “Yeah, she is.”

I rose from my spot and returned their smiles. “Now, if we’re all on the same page again, can we talk about dinner? I wasn’t kidding; I’m fucking starving, boys.”

Chuckling, Wyatt opened the door to let us all through. “Good. I hope you like Sloppy Joes.”

Maverick and I groaned as I swatted him on the back, pushing him over the threshold, the door slamming at our backs.

“You really haven’t learned how to cook since college?” I demanded.

“Not all of us had fancy chefs to teach us growing up,” Wyatt retorted, and I rolled my eyes.

“Like that’s where I learned how to feed myself. Your shitty childhood is no excuse for being an incompetent adult,” I intoned like I always did, the three of us heading into the kitchen.

“No, but laziness is,” Maverick quipped, his body crashing into Wyatt, who stopped abruptly at the kitchen threshold. My smile faded as we took in the sight before us.

Tegan spun to face us, her bright, green eyes uncertain as she mixed something in a wooden bowl. Savory flavors drifted up from the oven as she set down her mixture.

“I was just coming to call you,” she informed us. “Dinner will be ready in about half an hour.”

CHAPTER17

Tegan

Iwaited for one of them to make a smart-ass remark, to jibe about my cooking skills or just march out of the kitchen, leaving me embarrassed by my efforts.

But to my relief and some amazement, Maverick stepped forward, his smile returning as quickly as it had faded.

“Need any help?” he offered.

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