Yeah, right. She forced herself to cut her way-too-clear vision off at the pass. He couldn’t even look at me when he was on the phone.
She glanced at the bay and then into the house again, deliberately envisioning herself alone on the couch this time. Thankfully, it was just as easy for her to see that picture, and to also visualize padding along the hardwood in her bare feet, a breeze blowing through pretty sheers while she did a puzzle or came up with a new coffee flavor.
She’d never needed a man in her life. Why should now be any different?
But as she walked back down the dune to head back to the marina for the sailing class she’d signed up for yesterday, she tried to ignore the fact that on both the night they’d met and yesterday afternoon out on the beach, Quinn had made everything feel different.
Especially her heart.
ETHAN AND DEREK were leaning against the wall outside Chandler’s office talking, while Sierra paced nearby. She wore a fitted cream skirt and a peach blouse, and her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She’d obviously dressed primly in an effort to please their grandfather, because Sierra was an island girl through and through and outside of her restaurant could usually be found wearing flowing skirts and beachy clothes. Even Ethan was wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, which was a step up from his normal fishing gear.
“Who do we want to do the talking?” Derek asked. “I’d be more than happy to give Chandler a piece of my mind.”
Quinn practically laughed out loud at that suggestion. “Anyone but you.” Derek would be too much of a hothead. And since Ethan saw his grandfather on a weekly basis, after this mess was worked out, he’d still have to see his grandfather every week, while the others could go back to their regular lives off-island, at least part-time. Sierra wasn’t even a consideration in talking with the old man, unfortunately, simply because Chandler didn’t have nearly enough respect for women. And Quinn knew he was too sidetracked by getting over to see Shelley to think straight.
“I’ll do it,” Sierra said.
All four brothers shook their heads. “No,” they said in unison. Sierra was definitely strong enough to handle going head-to-head with their grandfather on an issue of this magnitude, but the four of them had always protected her at all costs. There was no need for her to take the heat when they were around.
“Why not? I spend the most time with him other than Dad.”
“He also excluded you, Sierra,” Trent said. “This could get ugly. We don’t want to get you in the middle of this mess.”
“I can handle him.” She settled her hand on her hip and glared at them.
Quinn could imagine Shelley being just as confident and determined as his sister. He draped an arm over her shoulder, hoping to smooth things over.
“Chandler is no match for you, and we all know that,” Quinn said. “But you and Ethan have to live near him long after we leave the island. Let us take the hit.”
She frowned but said, “Okay, but if I feel like I need to step in, I’m not going to stay quiet in the background.”
“My vote is for Trent to do the talking,” Quinn suggested, knowing that his brother was the most even-tempered of them all.
With everyone in full agreement, they headed into Chandler’s office.
Their grandfather was waiting for them behind his massive wooden desk. Didi stood by his side, professional as ever, with a friendly smile on her lips.
The five of them stood in front of his desk, with their hands at their sides, except Sierra, whose hands fell rebelliously to her hips. They held their heads high, shoulders back, presenting a united front against a one-person firing squad in a wheelchair.
“Good morning, Grandfather,” Trent said. “You look well rested.”
Chandler’s white shirt was perfectly pressed, his tie tightly knotted. Quinn had very few memories of his grandfather wearing anything other than dress clothes, and pristine, expensive ones at that. His hands were folded across his lap, and Quinn wondered how he felt about being in the wheelchair. He had such a commanding presence, whether he was standing or sitting made no difference, but he was a controlling man. Having to rely on anyone, much less a nurse to take his blood pressure and administer medications, had to rub him the wrong way.
Their grandfather nodded, eyeing Sierra curiously, clearly wondering why she was there. “I’m fine.”
Trent wasted no time getting to the heart of their decision. “We’ve read your mandate, and we believe we can come to an amicable agreement as long as you agree to our revisions of the terms.”
Chandler’s dark brows drew together. “Revisions? Have you done your due diligence already? Looked over the financials, the strategic plans for the resort?”