Her Naughty Holiday (Men at Work 2)

“You the man,” Hunter said, raising his hands in surrender. Clover had put all the dishes on the table and everyone was taking their seats. Hunter sat at the opposite end of the table, the head.

“You’re sitting in Clover’s spot,” Erick said.

“Am I?” Hunter said. “I always sit at the end of our table at home.”

“It’s okay,” Clover said. “I’ll move.” She picked up her new wineglass and moved it from the head to the seat nearest Erick, who was considering telling Hunter that it was exactly where Clover had been sitting when he’d fucked her there on Monday morning. He thought better of it but at least the memory kept him from stabbing Hunter with the carving fork.

“So how’s business going, sis?” Hunter asked. “You selling a lot of flowers this year?”

“Flowers and trees and garden equipment.” She picked up her wineglass and took a sip of it. Erick saw her hands were shaking, but she was doing a good job faking a good mood. “In fact, I have some news.”

“Good news?” Kelly asked as she sat opposite Clover.

“Great news,” Clover said. “PNW Garden Supply offered to buy me out. I have until Monday to accept their offer. But it’s a good offer.”

“How much?” Hunter asked, leaning in and grinning.

“Five million,” Clover said.

The room went silent immediately, a shocked silence much like the one that had greeted the news that Erick’s daughter was a felon.

“Five million dollars?” Hunter repeated.

“Yes,” Clover said.

“Jesus...” Hunter sat back. “I had no idea your business was worth anything.”

“Gee, thanks,” Clover said.

“You know what I mean,” Hunter said. “That’s a lot of money for some flowers.”

“It’s a nursery with two locations and over four acres of prime real estate,” Clover said. “I don’t sell boutonnieres to prom kids, okay?”

“Clover, that’s fantastic news,” Val said, clapping her hands. “Now you can stop working all the time and get your life together.”

“And maybe give me some more grandbabies,” David said, slapping Clover on the shoulder and kissing her on the cheek.

“What are you going to do with all that money?” Kelly asked. “Buy a bigger house? Travel?”

“Yes, baby, what are you going to do?” Val asked. “I’d say invest it. Hunter can help you.”

“Sure, sis. You’ll want to invest at least a big chunk of that money. Or are you planning on starting a new business?”

“Oh, God, I hope not,” Val said, sinking into her chair. “Clover needs time off for herself. Not more work. She’s thirty and it’s time for her to settle down.”

“You really should think about having kids,” Hunter said. “Trust me, it’s not as hard as everyone says it is.”

“Seriously, though, Clo,” Kelly said. “What on earth would you do with so much money?”

Clover glanced up at Erick and Erick met her eyes. She had a strange look on her face. She looked oddly...calm? No, not calm. She looked determined. She looked like she was about to say something that maybe she shouldn’t say.

“Actually,” Clover said. “I think I’ll do what Ruthie suggested and blow it all on male escorts.”

13

ERICK LAUGHED SO hard Clover thought he’d fall over. Not surprisingly, he was the only one in the room laughing.

“What?” Clover asked, glancing around the table at her family. “You don’t like that idea?”