The Price of Passion (Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches 1)

“I know. But that plan obviously has its flaws.” Ava looked at her oldest son, then included everyone else when she said, “I’ve decided to hire an outside auditor to go over the books. Once we know how long it’s been happening and how much has been stolen, we can look for the thief.”

“I’m on board with an auditor,” Sebastian murmured, “but we need to keep this quiet. Wingate Enterprises is big business. WinJet alone is a billion-dollar firm. We don’t want outsiders worried about the health of Wingate. Until we get to the bottom of this,” he added, looking at his siblings and cousins, “we keep this in the family.”

“Agreed,” Ava said, then looked around the table.

Everyone else concurred and apparently that was enough for Ava. She stood up and added, “Once we know more, we’ll meet about this again.”

She walked out of the room, and the rest of them were left sitting at the table, staring at each other. Beth looked at Piper. “Did you know about this? Did Mom talk to you first?”

Piper held up both hands and shook her head. “Not a word.”

“Auditors,” Sutton muttered. “If this is as big as Mom thinks it is, we could be in serious trouble.”

“Let’s wait for the reports before we panic,” Piper told him.

“No one is panicking,” Sebastian put in, dropping into his chair again. “But we damn well should start some planning.”

Four

Later that day, Cam followed Olivia Turner around the yard and watched her making notes, taking measurements and so many pictures that he wondered why she didn’t just take a video and leave it at that.

But he appreciated her thoroughness, too. Olivia’s construction company had a great reputation for coming in on time, on budget or under, and her work was always top grade. So whatever estimate she gave him, he’d accept it. Of course, she didn’t know that.

“Okay,” she said, and turned to face him. She tapped her tablet a few more times, then lifted her gaze to his. “I’ve got a good idea of what you’re going for here, and it’s a good plan.”

“Thanks. How long to get your estimate on the job?”

She tipped her head to one side, and her bright red braid swung out and across her shoulder. “For the whole job? I mean, for the remodel on the house as well as the guest cottages and everything else?”

“Yeah. All of it.”

Her eyebrows shot up and her green eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “That’s a big job. You’d basically be hiring my crew for the next six months or more.”

He nodded. “I would be. Can you handle that?”

She took a breath, sighed and looked around the land. He knew what she was seeing. Live oaks, open space filled only with the potential of what it could be, and his house, about two hundred yards from where they were standing. He knew she was seeing it as it would be when the job was completed. He liked that. In his experience, a contractor needed to have imagination and vision as well as talent. Hell, he could see it, too, and wanted it done sooner rather than later. Finally she turned to look at him.

“I’d have to hire on more help—and there are two or three jobs I’ve already lined up,” she warned. “I can’t leave those people hanging.”

“I respect that. The question is,” he continued, “can you juggle those jobs and mine, and still give a hundred percent to all of us?”

At that, she straightened up, lifted her chin and assured him, “I always give a hundred percent. If we take on a job, it gets our best.”

“Good to know.” He nodded, taking the sting out of his question. He had already known about her reputation, but it was good to have it confirmed. “So. The estimate?”

She laughed. “In a hurry?”

“Yeah,” he said, and looked down the path toward the barn and the stables and the fields beyond. He wanted to get going on the next chapter in his life and wasn’t one to just stand around waiting. “I am. Can you handle that?”

She laughed. “I grew up with brothers. I can handle pretty much everything.” Glancing at her tablet again, she added, “I’ll go over these figures and get back to you by day after tomorrow with a firm number.”

“A number,” he reminded her, “that also includes another stable capable of stalling twelve horses.”

She laughed again, shaking her head. “If I stay here much longer, are you going to keep throwing more jobs at me?”

“You never know.” Cam turned to glance at his

house. “You can leave the remodel of the house to the end. I’d rather have the rest up and running as soon as possible.”