heart attack.”
“The first thing Warner Colfax did after buying out his partner was change the name of the company to Colfax Inc., which should tell you something.”
She smiled. “He wanted the world to know the company was his and his alone.”
“It’s natural. First thing Deke did when he bought the old hardware store was change the name. Aaron and I call our consulting firm Fletcher Consulting.”
“I get that. What surprises me is that Warner Colfax overlooked his own son when it came to selecting a CEO.”
“I’m guessing Quinn didn’t prove to be management material.”
“Think Jillian will leave him?”
“Beats me.” Mason positioned a glass. “But I’ve got a hunch that if she does, she’ll wait until after the merger is settled one way or the other. Too much money involved. Deke says the company is structured so that spouses, like Jillian, own a noncontrolling block of shares, but if there’s a divorce, the spouse loses those shares. According to Deke, that’s what happened to Warner Colfax’s first wife, Quinn’s mother. Warner dumped her for a woman who is less than half his age. The former Mrs. Colfax probably got a nice settlement, but she had to forfeit her shares in the corporation.” Mason paused for emphasis. “The idea is that all shares remain within the Colfax family.”
Lucy looked through the kitchen window, watching the evening light fade from the old orchard. “But now the rules have been broken because I inherited Mary Colfax’s shares.”
“Yes.”
Mason went quiet. She turned around and found him watching her with an intent expression.
“What?” she asked.
“I meant what I said earlier today, Lucy. You don’t want to get into the middle of the Colfax family feud.”
“Thank you for your advice,” she said very formally.
“But you’re not going to take it. You want to explain why not?”
“Not yet. I’m still thinking about it.”
“Then let’s try another subject. What are you going to do about Nolan Kelly? He’s after the listing on this place, and he’s not going to stop coming at you.”
“I know.”
“He was planning to drive out here to see you this afternoon.”
She went back to the frying pan. “Was he?”
“I told him you were busy shopping. Then he said he would drop by tonight. I told him you had other plans.”
She stilled in the act of picking up the bottle of olive oil. “You did?”
“Yeah. Figured I’d head him off at the pass for you.”
She turned deliberately toward him, one hand braced on the old tile counter. “Excuse me?”
“You know he’s just going to pressure you into listing the house with him.”
“So you took the liberty of informing him that I was busy all afternoon and evening?”
“Sure. Why not? You said yourself you didn’t want to talk to him about the property yet.”
“You took it upon yourself to inform him that I was unavailable.”
Mason’s brows scrunched together in a wary expression. “You look mad.”
“Annoyed. Irritated. But lucky for you, I am not yet mad. You’ve never seen me mad, and it’s probably best that way. But let’s get something straight here. You are not my personal secretary. I’m a big girl now. I can take care of my own business. I do not need anyone to schedule my life and my appointments while I’m in town. Are we very clear on that?”
Mason managed to look both crushed and bewildered. “I was just trying to do you a favor.”
She aimed a finger at him. “When I want a favor from you, I will request said favor. Do I make myself clear?”
“No favors.” He held up a hand, palm out. “No problem.”
Great.
Now she had probably hurt his feelings. Or not. It was hard to tell with Mason Fletcher.
She smiled.
“I’m glad we have an understanding,” she said. “You can finish setting the table now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He completed the process with his usual efficient, competent ease. Memories of the night he had driven her home from
“The first thing Warner Colfax did after buying out his partner was change the name of the company to Colfax Inc., which should tell you something.”
She smiled. “He wanted the world to know the company was his and his alone.”
“It’s natural. First thing Deke did when he bought the old hardware store was change the name. Aaron and I call our consulting firm Fletcher Consulting.”
“I get that. What surprises me is that Warner Colfax overlooked his own son when it came to selecting a CEO.”
“I’m guessing Quinn didn’t prove to be management material.”
“Think Jillian will leave him?”
“Beats me.” Mason positioned a glass. “But I’ve got a hunch that if she does, she’ll wait until after the merger is settled one way or the other. Too much money involved. Deke says the company is structured so that spouses, like Jillian, own a noncontrolling block of shares, but if there’s a divorce, the spouse loses those shares. According to Deke, that’s what happened to Warner Colfax’s first wife, Quinn’s mother. Warner dumped her for a woman who is less than half his age. The former Mrs. Colfax probably got a nice settlement, but she had to forfeit her shares in the corporation.” Mason paused for emphasis. “The idea is that all shares remain within the Colfax family.”
Lucy looked through the kitchen window, watching the evening light fade from the old orchard. “But now the rules have been broken because I inherited Mary Colfax’s shares.”
“Yes.”
Mason went quiet. She turned around and found him watching her with an intent expression.
“What?” she asked.
“I meant what I said earlier today, Lucy. You don’t want to get into the middle of the Colfax family feud.”
“Thank you for your advice,” she said very formally.
“But you’re not going to take it. You want to explain why not?”
“Not yet. I’m still thinking about it.”
“Then let’s try another subject. What are you going to do about Nolan Kelly? He’s after the listing on this place, and he’s not going to stop coming at you.”
“I know.”
“He was planning to drive out here to see you this afternoon.”
She went back to the frying pan. “Was he?”
“I told him you were busy shopping. Then he said he would drop by tonight. I told him you had other plans.”
She stilled in the act of picking up the bottle of olive oil. “You did?”
“Yeah. Figured I’d head him off at the pass for you.”
She turned deliberately toward him, one hand braced on the old tile counter. “Excuse me?”
“You know he’s just going to pressure you into listing the house with him.”
“So you took the liberty of informing him that I was busy all afternoon and evening?”
“Sure. Why not? You said yourself you didn’t want to talk to him about the property yet.”
“You took it upon yourself to inform him that I was unavailable.”
Mason’s brows scrunched together in a wary expression. “You look mad.”
“Annoyed. Irritated. But lucky for you, I am not yet mad. You’ve never seen me mad, and it’s probably best that way. But let’s get something straight here. You are not my personal secretary. I’m a big girl now. I can take care of my own business. I do not need anyone to schedule my life and my appointments while I’m in town. Are we very clear on that?”
Mason managed to look both crushed and bewildered. “I was just trying to do you a favor.”
She aimed a finger at him. “When I want a favor from you, I will request said favor. Do I make myself clear?”
“No favors.” He held up a hand, palm out. “No problem.”
Great.
Now she had probably hurt his feelings. Or not. It was hard to tell with Mason Fletcher.
She smiled.
“I’m glad we have an understanding,” she said. “You can finish setting the table now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He completed the process with his usual efficient, competent ease. Memories of the night he had driven her home from
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