“Who has the most to gain if you step down, Darci?”

“Uncle John, of course.” She gulped, forcing herself to face up to her suspicions.

“And who is his primary backer?”

“My mother.”

“Why does your mother want you out of here so badly?”

Darci sighed her frustration. “Because she’s afraid I’ll become an old maid, that I’ll never let go of my work long enough to find a man. She wants grandchildren, and she’s getting tired of waiting. I think she’s decided if she rips the corporation from my hands, I’ll get a husband and we’ll all live happily ever after.”

Darci pressed her lips together, trying to halt the flow of angry words, but she knew she had to say it, to let Cole know what he was up against. “I’ve barely had time to date since Daddy got sick. Until she introduced me to Jeffrey. Even then, we didn’t go out that much, but by some stroke of unimaginable luck he said he fell in love with me, anyway.”

Her laugh held an edge of bitterness. “My mother’s promise of a seat in the president’s chair was enough incentive for Jeffrey to agree to anything. I can just imagine what a loving relationship we’d have had.”

“I’m sorry, honey.” He stroked a finger down the side of her cheek, and she resisted the urge to lean into his touch. “They haven’t won yet. I’ve still got my secret weapon.”

“If you’ve got some hidden talent, I could certainly use any brilliant suggestions right now.”

Cole glanced at his watch. “It should be arriving any minute now. In fact, I told it to bring lunch. I figured we could work while we eat.”

Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d been too distraught to eat breakfast. Both of them had quickly dressed and rushed straight to the office, the awkwardness of waking up in the same house washed away by their worry over the immediate future.

Darci bent toward the papers she’d been sorting. She jumped when a loud war whoop echoed throughout the building. “What on earth?” She stood, prepared to go see what was going on.

Cole slipped a hand around her waist and held her back. “Just wait, honey. The show’s only beginning.”

The door banged open and a man walked in. Not just any man, but a real live cowboy, complete with spurs on his boots, a bandanna tied around his throat, and an oversize hat shadowing his face. He strutted in like he claimed ownership, grinning at Cole. “You young fool, how the hell are you?” The man punched Cole in the arm.

“Settle down, old man. This is a place of business, not a rodeo arena.” But Cole’s grin and his welcome was reflected in his voice.

The man turned to Darci with a jaw-splitting grin. “And just who is this little filly?”