Not this time.

Not ever again.

I lean forward and brush my lips across hers. “Say yes, Blue.”

Her mouth opens, and I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tasting and teasing her. She moans softly, pressing her lips harder against mine as she meets me stroke for stroke.

When I pull back, her blue eyes are hazy with the same need that’s pumping through my blood.

“Okay,” she whispers. “Dinner tomorrow.”

Thirty-Six

Lincoln

I’m more anxious than ever to get back to The Gables now that I have a plan, but my meeting with Commodore and the lawyers, minus the one who has now been fired for leaking information, is going longer than I expected. A meeting where we’re talking about the easiest and quietest way to exhume my father’s body isn’t a conversation I ever expected to be having, but it’s happening anyway.

“I think we should do it at night. No one will be the wiser.”

Harrison rolls his eyes. “Like we’re grave robbers? That’s a respectful way to treat our father. Mother will never agree to it, anyway.”

I don’t know why Harrison is here, but Commodore wouldn’t have invited him without a good reason. Keep your enemies close, I suppose. I hate that I have to view my own blood as a potential enemy, but Harrison doesn’t leave me an alternative. After he missed the deadline for the auction bid, it seems clear he’s deliberately sabotaging my efforts.

Commodore assesses Harrison. “Your mother will do what she’s told to do.” He glances at the lawyer. “I don’t want to skulk around at night like we’ve got something to hide. It’s already out. The press can report whatever it wants, and as long as no one is sharing information from the inner circle, we shouldn’t have an issue.” He doesn’t look at Harrison when he says it, but we all know that’s who he’s talking to.

“I vote we have security and a barricade. Keep the press as far away as possible in the event they find out, and we can use a tent to shield what happens from the entrance of the mausoleum to the vehicle,” Harrison says.

Commodore nods. “That’s what we’ll do then. Harrison, you’re in charge of security and setup. Don’t fuck it up.”

My brother sputters, but Commodore is already rolling out of the conference room with the lawyers behind him before he can respond.

“Does he think I’m not capable of doing anything right?”

I look at him. “How’d that bid go for our acquisition?”

Harrison glares. “You think you’re so fucking perfect? That you never fuck anything up? You’re the one who turned this family into a joke ten years ago because of that Gable bitch, and now you’re so fucking wrapped up in her again that you don’t realize she’s playing you.”

I rise and place both hands on the table. “I may not be able to fire you, but I can damn sure beat the shit out of you. You want to keep talking?”