Meddling with a Millionaire (Case Brothers 1)

From the beginning, he’d been the one to reject love and rely on more practical reasons to get married. But what Cody shared with Jaime wasn’t just passionate love or friendship. It was deeper, more elemental. Permanent and unshakable.

“You’re a natural,” Jaime said. “You’ll make a great father.”

Yes, he would. And he’d make a great husband as well.

“So, what do you think of my son?” Cody asked, smiling down at the sleeping infant.

Nathan had a lump in his throat as he observed his happy friend. “I think you’re the luckiest man alive.”

Emma stopped the car in front of her father’s house and braced herself for battle. The four-hour drive from Houston to the hospital in Dallas had given her plenty of time to sort through her jumbled emotions. She knew what to do about Nathan.

But first, she wanted to settle things with her father. She’d left the hospital after the briefest of congratulations because she wanted this confrontation behind her.

As she crossed the driveway to the front door, another car drove up. Nathan. What was he doing here? She waited for him at the foot of the steps, her heart bucking wildly as he advanced toward her.

“I don’t want to fight with you,” he said, drawing close enough to touch her.

She took a half step back, afraid if he took her in his arms, she would dissolve. “I don’t want to fight with you, either.” Side by side they climbed to the front door. “What are you doing here?”

Nathan opened the door so she could enter. “I know your father didn’t give you back your trust fund.”

“Cody.” She shook her head as they crossed the grand hall, their footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. “Just once I wish my family would let me take care of things my way.”

“Like telling me about the baby as soon as you knew you were pregnant?”

Grinding her teeth had become an all-too-frequent habit since Nathan had come back into her life. “Okay, I should have come to you sooner.”

“You’re damn right.”

She cocked her head and regarded his stern expression and the uncompromising glint in his gray eyes. “But I had things I needed to think over.”

“Such as reconsidering your refusal to marry me?”

“Can we have this discussion after I’ve gotten my father to agree to give me back my trust fund?”

“Let me help you with that.”

“I can take care of it myself.” They neared the hallway outside her father’s study. She whirled on Nathan and put her hand on his chest. “You stay here. This is between my father and me. I need to do it alone.” She emphasized the last word and hoped Nathan would stay put.

He captured her fingers and brought them to his lips for a quick kiss. Releasing her, he leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”

Heart tripping unsteadily, Emma gave a satisfied nod and walked on. The speech she’d prepared for her father vanished from her mind as she neared his study. The door stood open so she stepped in.

“Hello, Daddy.”

Her father looked up from the papers on his desk. “Hello, Emma.” He came to her, took her hands, and kissed her cheek. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” The words slipped out automatically. “I was at the hospital visiting your first grandchild. He’s beautiful.”

“I’m heading over in a few minutes,” her father said, surveying her with a slight frown. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Cody told me about the baby.”

She was going to kill her brother.

“I hope you’re here to tell me you’re going to marry Nathan.”