Page 41 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

“Family get-together,” Dad muttered. “I suppose he’s including his illegitimate offspring in that.”

“I’m sure he is.” Graham kept his voice as pleasant as possible.

Paul guffawed. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard that rumor. You’re telling me it’s true? The old man has another kid?”

Dad inhaled sharply and skewered his nephew with a deadly look, not that Paul noticed.

Graham had thought it was awkward having Uncle James and Aunt Maribel in the same space, but it was a familiar form of discomfort. Adding Paul to the mix was like tossing a hand grenade into a fire that had been somewhat contained previously.

“Welcome to Sweet River Ranch!” Grandfather’s bright voice came from behind them. “Good flights?”

Never had Graham been so glad to see the older man. Let him handle his messy family.

After kissing Mom and Aunt Maribel and shaking hands with Dad and Uncle James, Grandfather pinned his gaze on Paul. “Is there something I can help you with, young man? Any rumors you’d like to discuss with me?”

Paul retreated a half-step. “No, sir. Everything is fine, sir.”

“I suggest you find a flight back to Chicago very soon. The lodge here seems to be overbooked this coming weekend, and I’d hate for you to find yourself sleeping in the stable.”

Paul’s gaze shifted. “I’ll look into flights, sir.”

“Excellent.” Grandfather turned back to Uncle James and Dad. “Shall we step aside?”

The brothers nodded and closed ranks around their father as they walked away, the women right behind them.

Paul glowered at Graham. “You think you’re really somebody with Walter Sullivan for a grandfather, don’t you?”

There had certainly been times when Graham had held his head high on that account, but he’d come to realize that it was an advantage he’d done nothing to deserve. “I’ve been blessed,” he replied simply.

Paul snorted, sidled closer, and lowered his voice. “You think Cadence is going to fall all over you because you can rescue her from this mess her father put her in? She won’t. She doesn’t dare.”

Graham’s gut tightened. “You don’t love her, so why not let her go graciously?”

“It’s not up to me.”

“Sure, it is.”

“Nope. I’d release her — again — if I could, but I’m kind of over a barrel here, same as her. It’s a thing with our fathers and their companies.” His cousin shrugged. “It can’t be helped, but we only need to stay married for two or three years. I’m willing to make the sacrifice for the good of Bradley Consortium.”

“For money, you mean.”

“Well, yeah. You’d do the same.”

“I don’t think so.”

“If you had it in your power to keep your old man’s business from going belly-up and taking your own fortune with it? I’m pretty sure you’d do what you could.”

“Not if it included ruining someone else’s life.”

“Ruin?” Paul laughed harshly. “I’m not that bad. She can give me a son, whom I’ll retain custody of in the divorce settlement. I guess if she wants access, she’ll stick around longer, but she’ll probably be glad to be rid of any reminders of me. Not that I plan on being abusive or anything like that. Just… I get that I’m not her favorite person at the moment, and that’s not likely to change.”

If Graham slugged his cousin, he’d be on the hard floor calling uncle in seconds. Still, the temptation had never been stronger. He clenched his fists. Clenched his jaw.

Paul smirked. “And you can be there to pick up the pieces, cousin. All’s fair in love and war, right?”

Graham pivoted on his heel and strode away.

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