Call You Mine (The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #4) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,12

will make him feel better?

“My agent threatened to drop my ass,” he continues. “It’s the stupid will. I already told him I’m not going to live in Baker’s Creek.”

“We’re not?”

After my father’s funeral, the fun part began. His lawyer announced that we’re inheriting all his shit. There’s a catch, though. We have to stay in Baker’s Creek for eighteen months, starting next week. Not only that, but we can’t leave town. William Aldridge was insane, even though the bloodsucking lawyer swears he was in his rightful mind when he wrote his last will and testament.

I don’t care about the fucking money or his assets. However, if we decide not to follow the stipulations, he pretty much ruins the town and all of his employees.

He scrubs his face down with both hands.

“Think about the implications,” he states. “My son will be three by the time we leave. He might get attached to a bunch of losers who can’t pick up the phone to say happy birthday every year. He’s had enough disappointment in his life, and he’s not even two.”

I pat his back. There’s nothing I can say because I’ve been there on the receiving end of getting attached and then disregarded. We could talk for hours about the pros and cons of the stupid will. There are no pros; the list of cons is lengthy.

I switch gears and propose, “Grace and I want you to come to live with us in Seattle.”

“You two are finally together?”

“I’m the one with the jokes, not you.” I head to his fridge, looking for something to drink. “Anyway, we can help you with Arden while you concentrate on getting that knee…I don’t know, fixed? Is that the term?”

“Home is here, in Vancouver,” he states.

“You want us to move here so we can help you?” I offer.

He smiles. “The other fuckers could learn a lesson or two about how to be a brother from you.”

“I know I’m awesome as fuck, but I’m serious, man. You and Arden are alone most of the time. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone close by to give you a hand?”

He looks at his watch, then at me. “Why don’t I get through this meeting and then we can talk about the future?”

“Sounds like a plan,” I answer instead of arguing with him.

I don’t want to think that he’s in denial, but maybe he needs to reassess his goals. If I had an injury like his, I’d accept all the help I could get so I can get back on my feet. As they say, everyone feels and reacts differently. That reminds me of Hayes and his impromptu visit.

“Did Hayes come to visit you?”

He shakes his head. “Should I be expecting a visit from him?”

I shrug one shoulder. “Probably.”

“What did he want?”

“He apologized for being an asshole,” I respond and wave a hand. “It’s mostly a shitty campaign where he promises to do better but asks to please join him in Baker’s Creek.”

He snorts. “I don’t believe anything he says.”

“Grace says he was being honest.”

“Grace was there?”

“We were hanging out when he came to visit. I wasn’t going to answer the door, but you know her…”

“She’s the sensible one of the two of you,” he remarks.

I scoff. “In any case, he swore to be a good brother from now on, but he asked me to go with him—for the town.”

He snorts. “What if you don’t go? It’s over?”

I shake my head. “Surprisingly, he said something like, if I don’t, he hopes we can stay in touch.”

He sighs.

“As I told Grace, if Blaire forgives him, I’ll do it.”

Mills laughs. “She’s never going to forgive him. Not in a million years.”

“So, we agree. If she does, we go.” I extend my hand, and he shakes it.

His phone chimes. When he looks at it, he grumbles. “The car service is here.” He points at the fridge. “The emergency numbers are there. I should be back soon. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck.”

“How’s babysitting going?”

I smile at the screen. There’s nothing better in the world than staring at Grace’s beautiful face. “It’s been a long-ass day. Arden is on his second nap of the day.”

“It sounds like you should take a nap too,” Grace jokes.

“I might stay for the night,” I state. “It all depends on how Mills is doing after the meeting. We were talking about going to Baker’s Creek.”

She sighs. “That inner battle is killing you, Beac. Just do what’s right for everyone.”

As I’m about to answer, the doorbell rings. I look through