Page 44 of Clear Blue Sky

“She didn’t get the manuscript until four weeks ago. Her assistant read it and thought it had merit. Brandi sent him a revise and resubmit with our suggestions on what we feel would be a better book. He’s still pushing to speak to her face-to-face. If all this wasn’t happening, that would still be a huge red flag, and at this point, we’d reject just because we don’t need high-maintenance authors. Maybe she should take that meeting with—”

“Absolutely not.” Nelson shook his head. “I don’t want her anywhere near him.”

“You didn’t let me finish.” Lake set his beverage on the counter. “I would go with her and we’d do it at your restaurant. We’d make sure that someone from Jared’s office was there. Maybe someone off duty.”

“I can guarantee you that Marcus won’t like you being part of the meeting.” Nelson lowered his chin. “This is about manipulating and controlling whatever his endgame is.”

“Up until recently, the line he submitted to was mine. The transition to making Brandi head of everything took time. We needed our writers and our staff to trust the process. However, it hasn’t been announced in any major publishing forum. That won’t happen until after my mother’s movie comes out. He doesn’t know that I don’t have anything to do with the military thriller line. Even if he did, my last name is still Grant. When my father retires, I will still own half that company. Just because my sister will run the day-to-day, that doesn’t mean she and I won’t be making all the decisions together. We can approach the meeting as I pushed her into listening to his ideas. That I wanted the meeting.”

Nelson lifted his beer and guzzled it down. The alcohol couldn’t hit his bloodstream fast enough. He had to admit that everything Lake said made sense, except for one thing. “He’ll know it’s a setup and he’ll be full of more crap. I don’t want more games. I need to know what the hell his real plan is, but he’s one step ahead of me.”

“I don’t pretend to understand your world. I’ve never served in the military, but I have been involved in a few scandals. I’ve been manipulated by some crazy-ass people in my day, and the one thing I’ve learned from those experiences is sometimes you have to play their game in order to come out on top.”

Nelson stood, inching closer to the living room. He planted his hands on his hips and let out a slow breath, doing his best to calm his nerves. “When my brothers and I bought Blue Moon, it was meant to be a new beginning for us. For Phoenix, it gave him the excuse to leave the military after an injury that was going to force him out of being in the field. Maverick had already had one foot out the door. His girlfriend wasn’t a fan of the three of us being in business together, whether it be back in North Carolina or up here. In the end, she told him it was either her or us.”

“That’s a terrible position to put anyone in.”

“Maverick didn’t even blink,” Nelson said. “But it did fundamentally change him.”

“I’m sure it has.”

“Living here has been good for all of us. We’re putting down roots, something we’ve never done.” Nelson turned. “I care about your sister.”

“I can see that.” Lake leaned to the right. “I’m butting in where I don’t belong, but I sense that you don’t know if you want this relationship or not.”

Nelson chuckled. “Neither one of us can be completely committed to it. We’ve each got one foot in and one foot ready to run.”

“I appreciate your honesty.”

Nelson strolled back to the kitchen island. “I’ll agree to the meeting with Marcus on two conditions.”

“What are they?”

“It takes place in my restaurant and you let me bug the table so I can listen in.”

Lake nodded. “We’ll set it up.”

“Set what up?” Brandi strolled into the kitchen.

Tiki was one step behind, although she stopped at the bassinet, taking a quick peek inside.

“Your brother talked me into letting you and him meet with Marcus.” Nelson reached across the counter. He gripped the red wine bottle and poured it into Brandi’s glass. He climbed up on the stool and rested his elbow on the island.

“Let me? Wrong choice of words.” She patted the center of his chest before easing in between his legs. “And why do I want my big brother tagging along? Don’t you think that will tip him off we’re up to something?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time you and I met with an author together,” Lake said.

Nelson wrapped an arm around Brandi’s waist, letting his hand fall on her hip. He hadn’t shown affection for a woman in front of a group in a long time. He thought it would feel awkward, especially around Lake and his wife.

But it didn’t.

“What would seem weird is if I attended the meeting,” Nelson said. “Besides, I’m guessing he wants to see how I react and what I might overhear. He’s been out in the open with everything he’s done until tonight. He needs to gather more intel, but he needs to do it without us watching. It’s why he didn’t eat at my restaurant tonight and why he rented a boat from a dock in the village and not Reese.” He rested his chin on her shoulder. “I’m sure Stacey giving him a hard time pissed him off. That’s going to put him on the defensive and it might force him to show his hand.”

“Or it might make him hostile,” Lake said.

“That is a concern, which is why I want the table bugged and I want at least one trooper in the building.”

Lake glanced at his watch. “It’s almost ten. Let’s send this email first thing in the morning and try to get this meeting set up tomorrow.”

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