Left at loose ends, he paced. When that failed to calm him, he retreated to his office and fiddled with papers, none of which caught his full attention. He was trying for the third time to add up a simple column of figures when he realized he was no longer alone. He glanced up and found not one, but six pairs of prying eyes studying him with amusement.

“What’s the matter with the bunch of you?” he grumbled, staring sourly at his sons and their wives. If he could have kept them away from this event, he would have, but he hadn’t wanted to send the wrong message to Janet. He was very aware of how sensitive she was about not being accepted in Los Piños, despite the cavalier attitude she had expressed on the subject.

“We heard you were driving the entire staff nuts,” Luke said. “Consuela thought you might need company.”

“Consuela is a busybody.” He noticed Jordan and Cody rolling their eyes. “And you two can be uninvited, you know.”

“Us?” Jordan said innocently, exchanging a look with his younger brother. “What did we do?”

“We’re giving him a taste of his own medicine,” Cody retorted, clearly undaunted by the threat. “Looks like he can’t take it.”

Harlan heard the sound of footsteps clattering down the stairs. “Aren’t those your little hellions I hear?” he demanded. “Damn, but they make a racket. Can’t you control them?”

“Those are your precious grandchildren,” Luke corrected. “And you’re the one who said you wanted this to be a family event. How come, Daddy? You have big plans for tonight? Maybe an announcement of some kind?”

Harlan was startled by the suggestion, even though he could see how they might have leapt to that conclusion. “Don’t go getting ideas. This shindig’s just to let Janet get to know the family and some of my friends.”

“How big’s the guest list?” Jordan prodded, his expression entirely too smug.

“Two hundred, okay?” Harlan retorted, frowning at him. “Once I got started, I figured I might as well invite everybody at once.”

“I hope Janet’s not expecting an intimate little gathering,” Jessie said worriedly. “I’ll never forget that birthday party you threw for me when I was first married to Erik. I’d never seen that many people gathered together outside of a church revival in my entire life.”

“Well, we’ll know soon enough,” Kelly stated. “She and Jenny are just pulling up.” She grinned at her father-in-law. “Did you tell her to come early to play hostess?”

Harlan shook his head in disgust at their teasing. “Never mind what I told her,” he said as he strode past them.

“He must not think we’re up to the responsibility,” Kelly said to Jessie and Melissa. “Think we should stage a protest?”

“I’m for it,” Melissa teased.