“Francine? The waitress at the Bright Star?”
“She’s a nice lady, and we have a lot in common. You think you’re the only Jamison getting lucky these days?”
“Dad!”
“Unlike my good friend John Jacob, my foot doesn’t slip.” He winked.
“I thought we agreed that he was…changing a light bulb.” Bo did air quotes with his fingers.
Bo Senior chuckled. “You gonna open those birthday presents?” He pointed to the dining room table.
“How about I cut us another piece of cake and we can go through them together?”
“Sounds good.” Bo Senior stood up. “Listen, Cassie is going to be helping me set up an estate, and I’d like you to take a look at some papers. I want you to get an idea of my…what do you fancy finance guys say? Net worth?”
Bo smiled. “Sure, I’ll take a look.”
Bo went into the kitchen and got the cake, forks, and something else to drink while Bo Senior went into his bedroom. When he got back to the living room, there was an old shoebox and some papers spread out on the coffee table.
Bo handed his dad the plate. “Let’s have a look.”
Bo sifted through the documents, not really knowing what to expect. His father had worked on the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch most of his life and wasn’t frivolous. He was a salt-of-the-earth man with basic needs. His father had owned one pick-up truck his entire life and his prized possession was his horse Sundance. Bo never wanted for anything, and his father never made a fuss when he needed something. Bo Senior didn’t bat an eye when he got accepted into four expensive Ivy League schools. He told him to pick the one he wanted to attend and he was on his way.
As Bo perused the papers, it was becoming clear that the seemingly random pieces of paper were anything but. Bo Senior had a hefty sum of shares in Blake Enterprises. He assumed they lived on the ranch in the house rent-free, but his father had a deed to the house. There were statements from an investment firm and a battered old savings passbook from the local bank. He flipped through it to the find that his father had millions of dollars in the bank.
“I don’t know what to say.” Bo sank down on the arm of the couch.
“That’s pretty much everything and it all goes to you. The ownership papers for Sundance and the recipe for my moonshine are in the cookie jar.” Bo Senior forked some cake into his mouth.
“If I knew you could make this kind of money being a ranch manager, I wouldn’t have bothered going to college.” Bo shook his head. Just when he thought he knew everything about his father, something new would crop up.
“Nonsense. College was a good investment. You put all that book smarts to good use. Look at you now. CFO of Blake Enterprises. John Jacob wouldn’t trust just anybody with that job, even if you are family. Now let’s get to opening those presents.”
Bo ripped into the boxes with fervor to find culinary utensils, electronic gadgets, books, cologne, and clothes. He put the gift from John Jacob off to the side. It was a tradition that he opened his gift from his surrogate uncle together. There was an envelope with a red ribbon on it from the ladies, who’d all had jaw-breaking grins when they’d handed it to him. He cautiously opened it.
“You have been selected to receive a week-long vacation at Executive Desires, an exclusive all-inclusive luxury resort for discerning wealthy businessmen. Please call your personal travel assistant Amber when you are ready indulge in your wildest fantasies.”
Bo Senior grinned when he read the card. “Sounds fancy and frisky. You have time to book that vacation?”
“I’ll be in New Mexico for a week and then I’m headed back home.”
“You have a month off, don’t you?”
“No thanks to J.J.,” he replied.
“I say go for it.”
* * *
Bo got on the road in the wee hours of the morning. He liked driving when traffic was light. He blasted what he called traveled music, upbeat tunes that got the adrenaline pumping while he settled in for the long ride. And if he needed a nerdy fix, he brought a few audio books he got for his birthday. He promised himself he wouldn’t obsess about work. The company wouldn’t go out of business while he was away, but Blake Enterprises was ingrained in his blood. J.J. had reminded him that he needed to balance work with pleasure too, and he felt like he was making up for lost time with his dating adventures.
He looked at his phone display. There was another voice mail from Connie, the woman he took out last week. They’d had dinner, saw a movie, and had a great time. But when Connie sent out the signals that she was interested in doing it again, he backed off. Dating was fun but he wasn’t making a soulful connection with anyone. The minute he talked about the latest tech devices or the economy, their eyes would glaze over like they were watching paint dry.
The minute Bo crossed over the New Mexico border a knot formed in the pit of his stomach. He could do this. It was only a week and he hadn’t seen his mom in ages. He was certain Wyatt and Corbett would be stopping by, if only to shoot him their trademark looks of disdain for being away so long. He thought about what Teri-Lyn had said. It didn’t have to be a total train wreck of a reunion. He could make an effort; he was the older brother after all. J.J. made it look so easy. Bo took a deep breath. He could survive this blended family debacle for a week.
* * *
Bo pulled into the expansive driveway of his mother’s two-story Spanish-style home to find her waving from the doorway. She was wearing a pretty pink top, jeans, her favorite hat, and a pair of cowboy boots.
“What have you done with my son?” Evangeline scrambled down the walkway to his car and gave him a big hug.
“I wasn’t aware I’d changed that much. I told you I got contacts.” He kissed her.
She looked him over. “You also got a new haircut and a whole bunch of muscles. How long had I been telling you to lose the glasses and get that new laser surgery?”
“I’m not letting anybody go near my eyes ever since that incident with Tate and the blow torch when we were kids.” It had seemed like a good idea at the time to weld the cracked chrome bumper on John Jacob’s truck in the middle of the night when they’d got home from that party. Too bad they forgot to wear eye protection. Bo Senior and John Jacob were spitting mad and they would have been punished had the hilarity of their singed eyebrows not lightened the mood.
“Still, you look different. I noticed it when you appeared on that cooking show with your friend Michelle.” She stepped back and got a look at him again. “You look just like your damn daddy.”
He’d noticed it too. Bo had gone into the kitchen for a glass of water in the middle of the night to find his father had fallen asleep on the couch. Barring the graying at the temples and the weathered lines on his face, Bo was a chip off the old block. He wondered why he hadn’t realized how similar they were before. Perhaps it was because for years, he thought he was the odd man out at the ranch. When everyone else was making repairs or helping with the horses, he’d had a book in his hand.
“Is that good or bad?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll let you know. How was the drive?”
“Peaceful. I never get tired of the scenery. I just wanted to let you know”—he shuffled his feet—“that I booked a hotel room a few miles away.”
“Why on earth did you do that?”
“Because,” Bo clamped up when he saw his brothers Corbett and Wyatt had exited the house. He put his hands on his mother’s shoulders. “I’d like a peaceful visit.”
“You will do no such thing.” Evangeline looked at her approaching sons. “Boys, tell your brother it’s ridiculous to stay at a hotel.”
He had five years on his younger brothers, who’d grown tremendously since the last time he’d seen them, and they weren’t kids anymore. At first glance it wasn’t obvious they were brothers. Corbett and Wyatt both had their father’s strong features.
From what his mom had told him during their conversation the other day, Corbett h
ad a great job with a brokerage firm and he’d gotten engaged last month. Wyatt was a sophomore in college and hadn’t declared a major yet.
“Corbett, I told you Bo would be here ahead of schedule. He’s compulsive about punctuality.”
Corbett rolled his eyes. “Of course he did. The perfect son always does everything right.”
“Corbett. Wyatt. Good to see you again.” Bo extended his hand.
“What’s the handshake for?” Wyatt lunged at him and gave him a bear hug.
Corbett didn’t look like he was in the hugging mood. Bo shook his hand instead. “Corbett, mom told me you got engaged, congratulations.”
“Wow. You too busy with your flashy job to call?” Corbett huffed.
“I think the last time you picked up the phone and called me, you still had braces.” Bo countered.
“That’s not fair, Corbett.” Wyatt quipped. “Communication is a two-way street. Bo and I send the occasional text to keep up with each other.”
Corbett shot Wyatt a killer look. Bo sighed. He hadn’t been there half a day and they were already bickering.
“Quiet, all of you.” Evangeline put her hand on her hip. “I will not have one of my babies staying at a hotel just because there’s a little friction. We’re family. There’s always going to be friction.”
“Mom, didn’t you hear? There’s no tension on that magical ranch he lives on that’s off-limits to the public,” Corbett said.
Bo tensed. “What the hell are you talking about?” So what if he didn’t live there full time anymore, it was still his home, and nobody insulted the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch.
“Corbett rode by one day when he was in Texas on business and they damn near shot him at the gate for trespassing. I heard there’s several hundred acres there. Is that true?” Wyatt’s eyes widened.
“Security is pretty tight.” Bo winced, thinking of Sam shooting his toy plane out of the sky because she mistook it for a spying device. “If you’re ever in Texas, I’d be happy to give you a tour.” He nodded.
“See, problem solved.” Evangeline threw her hands up in the air. “Corbett, tell your brother that he doesn’t need to stay at a hotel because my children are going to conduct themselves like happy little lambs this week. We’re going to have fun and get along, if it kills us.”
“Mom’s right.” Wyatt smiled.
“What mom said,” Corbett mumbled.
“OK.” Bo removed his bags from the trunk. “What’s on the itinerary for the week?”
“I have a ton of activities we can do, but I thought we’d definitely do lunch, go shopping, and I made us appointments at this new spa that opened.”
“Is it Cactus Springs?”
“Yes.”
He grinned. “Mom, that’s a Blake property, you didn’t need to make a reservation. I put you on the VIP list and you get free services for life. I was going to give it to you as a surprise.”
“Bo, that’s delightful!” She hugged him.
“I’m glad you like it. I’m going to put my things away and then I’d like to take everyone to lunch. Corbett, your fiancée is welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, but Courtney is busy helping out with a fundraiser at her church.” Corbett softened his tone.
“Bo, you remember where your old room is, right? I’ll get changed for lunch.” She turned to Wyatt. “Please change your shirt. I don’t know why you college kids like to look homeless. See how neat and fashionable Bo looks?”
“Yes, Mom.” Wyatt grabbed a bag. “Come on. I’ll help with your bags.”
As Bo followed Wyatt upstairs, he noticed there were a few changes to the décor, but the place was essentially the same as he remembered it. His mom didn’t go overboard with the southwestern motif, but it was a nice blend of New Mexico culture and New York chic.
“Corbett usually has better manners. I think he’s stressed from planning his wedding.” Wyatt dumped the bag on the bed.
“I hear impending matrimony can do that to you.” Bo smiled. It was nice for Wyatt to offer up an excuse, but he and Corbett never had much to say to one another.
“I don’t know what he sees in her. Courtney is a little prissy for my tastes. She won’t drink beer out of a bottle and she eats pizza with a fork and a knife. Everything has to be ‘just so’ or she goes ballistic.”
Bo chuckled. “He’s in love. He probably finds all those things delightful.”
“How about you? You have a girlfriend?”
“I’m happily single these days.” Bo plopped his suitcase on the bed and began putting his things away.
“I would have thought you’d be married by now.”
“I’m in no rush. What about you?”
Wyatt laughed. “I’m having too much fun in college. Why tie myself down now?”
“You have plenty of time for love after you’ve finished school. You any closer to choosing a major?”
“Mom’s been bending your ear.” Wyatt sighed.
“Something wrong?”
“No, it’s just that I’ve been thinking about the future and I’m not sure if I know what I want to do. I have a lot of interests and I want to pick the right career.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad. You still have some time to find your passion. Just don’t take too long.” Bo put a dress shirt on a hanger and placed it in the closet.
“You can’t be serious?” Wyatt looked at him like he was crazy.
“What?”
“Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about how put together you are. Ivy League college, prestigious business school, then going to work for a few Fortune 500 companies before you joined Blake Enterprises and worked your way up to CFO. Mom made a scrapbook of your magnificent feats. You should check it out. It’s on the bookcase next to her bible.”
Bo held up a hand. “My plan worked for me, and you don’t have to use my life as some sort of model. I remember being unsure of what I wanted to do after graduation. I’m a good listener, if you ever want to talk.”
“Thanks.” Wyatt smiled.
“Now let’s get something to eat.”
* * *
His mom made sure his time with her had been jammed packed with activities. She just happened to take him out to dinner twice where a group of her lady friends was dining. He was mortified when she introduced him as her handsome, rich, successful son from Texas who was currently single. A few of the ladies gushed about available daughters and nieces, but he declined the invitation to spice up his nightlife while visiting. When she wasn’t showing him off to her friends, she was taking him shopping for his birthday, insisting he needed to spruce up his wardrobe. He thought his reserved wardrobe had improved tremendously; he’d even bought a colorful tie that looked like one of those abstract paintings Cassidy loved. He wore dark, expensive tailored suits that complimented his physique. Still, he wanted people focused on him, not his attire when he spoke in business meetings. But his mother insisted that a man of his status should have a sharp look. He thought her choices were more Seth’s style, but he was open to trying something new. Swapping out glasses for contacts had made such a dramatic change to his appearance already; people reacted as if he’d gotten cosmetic surgery.
He knew she was just making up for lost time and the mothering felt good. If only his reconnection with his brothers could be as smooth. Corbett was still giving him the cold shoulder, watching him like a hawk when he tried to engage in conversation with his fiancée. Maybe it had something to do with him bringing her over the day he and Wyatt were cleaning out the garage. It was hot and he’d taken his shirt off.
Courtney commented on how handsome he was and rambled on like a teenager for about a half hour until his mom, tired of her ogling him, called her into the house to ask about the wedding invitations. She was so busy grinning and waving that she walked into the door. Corbett was a little upset, while Wyatt got a hearty laugh out of it. But Wyatt seemed genuinely happy to see him, especially after they tabled the college talk.
; Bo would have normally gone kicking and screaming to a pottery class, but he’d resigned himself to following his mother’s lead. Bo was doing his best to make a vase for Teri-Lyn, but he was having trouble getting the hang of the pottery wheel. At the rate he was going, he would consider himself lucky if the end product was an ashtray. His mother was on her third decorative piece that she planned to put in her study.
“So how’s that cantankerous old wind bag doing?” Evangeline blew a loose strand of hair out of her eyes.
“You mean my dad? The love of your life?” He suppressed a smile. “He’s doing just fine. He told me he’s seeing someone.”
“Really?” His mom’s hand slipped, ruining her candy dish.
“Yes. I think it’s a waitress from the Bright Star.”
“Please tell me it’s not Francine. She’s been looking at your dad like he was a pork chop for over three decades. Does she still dress like a two-dollar whore?” She huffed.
“Now, Mother. That wasn’t very nice. Have you been dating?”
“I thought I’d try my hand at Internet dating. There’s a site for seniors. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up on one of their commercials as a success story.”
“Mom, that’s not a good idea. There are some weirdoes using those sites. I don’t want you dating a psychopath.”
“Nonsense. They vet people. I had to answer a thousand questions for the profile.”
Bo stopped molding the vase and looked at her. “I don’t like it, but I know you’re going to do it anyway. Do me a favor? If you find a potential suitor, let me have J.J.’s wife, Sam, check him out before you get married again.”
“Sam? Isn’t she like a trained killer or something?” Evangeline wiped her hands on a towel.
“She’s a security specialist. She takes very good care of the family, and I trust that she’d know how to screen potential suitors and spot red flags.”
She put her hands on her hips. “You sound like you’re sure you know another marriage is down the pipeline for me.”
Executive Desires (The Blake Boys Book 10) Page 2