“This is the Barrett toy company,” Jamison reminded him. “A Barrett has been in charge since the beginning. Family, Luke. That’s what’s important.”

That’s what made all of this so much harder.

“We’re still family, Pop,” he reminded the older man—and himself at the same time. “And remember, you’ve got Cole here to run the business if you ever decide to retire.”

“Cole’s not you,” Jamison said flatly. “I love the boy, but he hasn’t got the head for the business that you do.”

“He’ll come around,” Luke said, though he didn’t really believe it. Hell, it’s why Luke had been Jamison’s choice to run the company in the first place. Cole just wasn’t interested in the day-to-day of running a business. He liked being in charge. Liked the money. But he was a delegator, not a worker.

“You always were a stubborn one,” Jamison muttered.

“Wonder where I got that,” Luke said wryly.

“Touché.” Nodding, his grandfather said, “Fine. You do what you have to do, so will I.”

Luke hated having this simmering tension between him and his grandfather. Jamison Barrett was the rock in Luke’s life. The old man had taught him how to fish, how to throw a fastball and how to tie a bow tie. He’d taught Luke everything about running a business and how to treat employees. He’d been there. Always. And now, Luke felt like he was abandoning him. But damned if he could think of a way to end it so that both of them came out winning.

“Give my love to Gran.”

He left before his grandfather could say anything else, closing the office door behind him. The company headquarters was in Foothill Ranch, California, and most of the windows looked out over palm trees, more buildings and parking lots. Still, there was a greenbelt nearby and enough sunlight pouring through the lightly tinted windows to make the whole place bright.

Jamison’s secretary, Donna, looked up from her computer screen. She was comfortably in her fifties and had been with Jamison for thirty years. “See you, Luke.”

“Yeah,” he answered, giving his grandfather’s door one last look. He didn’t like leaving the old man like this, but what choice did he have?

Still frowning to himself, he asked, “Is Cole here?”

“Yep.” Donna nodded toward a bank of offices across the room.

“Thanks.” Luke headed over to see his cousin. He gave a brisk knock, then opened the door and stuck his head in. “How’s it going?”

“Hey.” Cole looked up and smiled. Even in a suit, he looked like a typical California surfer. Tanned, fit, with sun-streaked blond hair and blue eyes, Cole Barrett was the charmer in the company. He did lunches with prospective clients and took meetings with manufacturers because he could usually smooth-talk people into just about anything. “You here to see Pop?”