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“I go by Fortune. Toby goes by Fortune Jones.” Angie flinched. Christopher hadn’t meant to bite out the words. There was a beat of awkward silence before Toby changed the subject.
“Did you know that Marcos and Wendy are opening a new restaurant in Horseback Hollow?” he asked Christopher.
“Seriously?” Christopher said. He’d only been away a couple of months and he felt like a stranger.
“We’re opening The Hollows Cantina next month. In fact, my wife, Wendy, and I are in the process of packing up and moving there with our daughter, MaryAnne.” Marcos paused, a thoughtful look washing over his face. He turned to Christopher. “So if you and Toby are brothers, that means Liam Fortune Jones is your brother, too?”
Christopher nodded.
Marcos smiled. “I’ve hired his fiancée, Julia Tierney, to be the assistant manager at the restaurant.”
Christopher forced a smile.
“I had no idea that you were leaving Red Rock, or that Julia would be working for you,” Christopher said.
“I kept it on the down low until I was sure that everything would pan out,” said Marcos. “This is a great opportunity for my family, and having my own restaurant will be a dream come true. Really, we owe this happy decision to Julia. She is the one who talked us into opening a place in Horseback Hollow. Your future sister-in-law should work for the Horseback Hollow Chamber of Commerce—she can’t say enough good about the place.”
“Congratulations,” said Angie. “We will be sure to come in after the Cantina opens.”
“I have your contact information,” said Marcos, “and I will make sure that the two of you are invited to the grand opening. The Fortunes are like family, and family always sticks together.”
Toby shot Christopher a knowing look. “Yes, they do.”
“In fact, Fortune,” Marcos said to Christopher, “I’d better see you at the grand opening celebration, too. Especially now that I know that you’re a native son of Horseback Hollow.”
Christopher gave a wry smile. “Yeah, well, don’t go spreading that around.”
Everybody laughed, unaware or ignoring the fact that Christopher wasn’t kidding.
“I need to get back to work,” Marcos said. “So please excuse me and enjoy your lunch.”
The men shook hands again and Marcos planted another kiss on Angie’s cheek before he moved on to greet the next table of guests.
“When are Julia and Liam getting married?” asked Christopher.
“That remains to be seen,” said Toby. “It’s a big step that he’s committed to one woman. Julia is good for him. She gets him, but doesn’t let him get away with squat. I think she’s about the only woman who could make an honest man out of him.”
Nodding, Christopher gave the menu a cursory glance. He wanted to hear the day’s specials, but it would take something extra appealing to sway him away from his favorite beef brisket enchiladas.
Toby looked up from his menu. “It looks like the marriage bug is infesting our family. I just heard that our cousin Amelia Chesterfield Fortune has gotten engaged to some British aristocrat.”
“That just seems so odd,” mused Angie. “She was dancing with Quinn Drummond at our wedding. It was the way they were looking at each other... The two of them seemed so happy. In fact, I would’ve wagered that something was blossoming between them. I just can’t imagine that there’s another man in the picture.”
“Yeah, but I heard the news from Mama and she usually gets things right.” Toby shook his head as if trying to reconcile the idea.
Their server was a woman named DeeDee. Christopher had seen her socially one time, but he hadn’t called her again. He hadn’t realized that she worked at Red. Within the first hour of their date, he’d realized DeeDee was after a whole lot more relationship than he was able to give. No sense in stringing her along, even if she was nice. The world was full of nice women and he needed to get to know a lot more of them before he settled down. He found his gaze sliding over to Kinsley’s table yet again. It looked as if they were finishing up with their meals. “Well, if it isn’t Christopher Fortune as I live and breathe,” DeeDee said, a teasing note in her voice. She twisted a strand of her long red hair around her finger as she talked. “It’s been so long since I heard from you, I thought maybe you’d fallen off the face of the earth or maybe you moved to some exotic, faraway land.”
Christopher laughed, keeping things light. “It’s good to see you, DeeDee. How long have you been working here?”
“It’s only my second day.”
“Which explains why I’ve never seen you here,” said Christopher.
After a little more playful banter, DeeDee flipped her hair off her shoulder with a swift swipe of her hand and took their drink orders. Next, she described the day’s specials, which didn’t tempt Christopher’s taste buds away from his usual order. After she left to get their drinks, Christopher recommended some of his favorites from the menu to Toby and Angie.
A few minutes later DeeDee returned with a bottle of champagne and three flutes. “This is for the newlyweds, compliments of Mr. Mendoza and the staff at Red.”
“Oh, my goodness,” said Angie. “Champagne in the middle of the day. How decadent. And how absolutely lovely. Thank you.”
“Well, the way I see it,” said Toby, “I’m only getting married once, and it’s an occasion to celebrate. Right, little brother?”
Toby didn’t wait for Christopher to answer. He put his arm around his bride and leaned in, placing a sound kiss on Angie’s lips. If DeeDee hadn’t been standing there, Christopher might have joked and told them to get a room. But really, it was nice to see Toby and Angie so happy.
“So this is your brother and sister-in-law?” asked DeeDee after she popped the cork and filled the glasses with the bubbly.
Christopher didn’t want to be rude, but he didn’t want to get too personal. “Yes,” he said. “They’re visiting, but I’m on my lunch hour so we should place our orders now.”
“Of course,” said DeeDee, snapping into professional mode. She wrote down their selections and headed toward the kitchen.
After she left, Christopher said, “I just can’t get over the fact that you’re married. But it suits you. It really does.”
Toby gave Angie a little squeeze.
“Where do the adoption proceedings stand?” Christopher asked. Seven months ago, Toby had taken in the Hemings children: eleven-year-old Brian, eight-year-old Justin and seven-year-old Kylie. The kids had had nowhere to turn and faced possible separation when their aunt was ordered into rehab for a drinking problem and child neglect. Both Christopher and Toby had known the kids from the Vicker’s Corners YMCA where they had worked as coaches. Most people would’ve run from that kind of responsibility—Christopher knew he certainly couldn’t have handled it—but Toby hadn’t thought twice before agreeing to take them in.
Unfortunately, the kids’ aunt, who obviously didn’t have the children’s best interests at heart, had decided to try and take the kids from Toby and send them into another unstable situation in California. Her reasoning was the kids should be with relatives. Never mind that the relative she’d chosen was out of work and on parole.
That’s all it took for Toby to decide he needed to legally adopt the children.
“Everything is still pending,” said Toby. “Frankly, it’s taking so long I’m starting to get worried.”
“I just don’t understand what the holdup is,” said Angie. “They not only have a loving home with us, but they also have become part of the family. They call Jeanne Marie and Deke Grandma and Grandpa. They’re calling your sisters and brothers Aunt and Uncle. How anyone could think that uprooting these poor kids is what’s best for them is beyond me. It breaks my heart.”
Toby caressed Angie’s shoulder. “We are going to do everything in our power to make sure they stay with us.”
“What can I do to help?” asked Christopher.
Toby shrugged. “At this point I don’t know what else anyone could do.”
“The Fortune name carries a lot of clout,” said Christopher. “Maybe we can use its influence to get things going in the right direction.”
Toby peered at him. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
Christopher gave a one-shoulder shrug as he rubbed the fingers of his left hand together in the international gesture for money. “Money talks, bro.”
Toby frowned and shook his head. “Please don’t even suggest anything like that. I don’t want to be accused of doing anything unethical. That might hurt the situation more than it helps.”
“Nonsense,” said Christopher. “I think you’re being very shortsighted if you don’t take full advantage of your birthright.”
Christopher saw Toby take in a slow deep breath, as he always did when faced with conflict. It was as if he were framing his response so that he didn’t lose his cool.
“I appreciate your concern, Chris,” said Toby evenly. “But the caseworker told me she’s worried that the Fortunes themselves may be part of the problem. Since the Fortunes invaded Horseback Hollow so many strange things have happened. The authorities still think Orlando Mendoza’s accident might have been directed at the family.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Christopher. “Why would anyone want to hurt the Fortunes? I mean, look at me. I’m living proof. Since I changed my name nothing bad has happened to me.”
Christopher turned his palms up to punctuate his point.
“That is, if you don’t count your running away from home and shunning your entire family as something bad.”
Toby cocked an eyebrow at Christopher.
Christopher locked gazes with his brother and crossed his arms.
“Look, I know this Fortune Foundation gig is still new and exciting to you,” said Toby, “so don’t take this wrong. But someday you’re going to learn that some things are more important than money.”
Christopher glanced over at Kinsley, but she and her friend were gone. His gaze swept the restaurant, but she was nowhere to be seen. How had he not seen her leave?
He picked up his champagne glass and knocked back the contents.
“Come on, Chris,” said Toby. “When are you coming home? No one has seen you in months. They certainly have no idea that you’ve completely disowned Daddy’s name.”
Toby was usually the only one who could see Christopher’s side in times when he and Deke disagreed, which was more often than not. Awkward silence hung in the air and, for once, Christopher didn’t know how to fill it. He didn’t want to fight with Toby, but he wasn’t going back to Horseback Hollow. His life was here now, and he would prefer to keep his old and new lives separate. The contrast between the Joneses and the Fortunes was stark. Christopher couldn’t take the chance of losing the respect he’d earned at the Foundation.
“Man up, Chris,” Toby urged. “Take the high road and be the one who extends the olive branch to Deke.”
“Yeah, well that high road has two lanes. Deke can bring that olive branch to me easier than I can bring it to him. I’m a little too busy right now to coddle a grown man.”
Toby made a tsk sound. “An old man. Don’t wait too long. You may be sorry if you do.”
“Don’t pull that guilt trip crap on me,” said Christopher. “Just don’t. But please do tell me why it’s okay for Deke to resent me for making an honest living in a career I love. For making my own way. For not having dirt under my fingernails. No offense to you, but why should I have to grovel to him because the ranch life is not the kind of life I want? Until Deke understands that, I don’t think we’re going to meet anywhere, much less with an olive branch.”
Truth be told, he would rather be known as James Marshall Fortune’s nephew than as the son of Deke Jones, crusty old cattle rancher. Christopher hoped that Toby wouldn’t make him come out and say that.
Toby stared at Christopher, looking thin-lipped and angry.
“So you’ve got the fancy suits, the brand-new car and a parade of women who think you’re a big shot,” said Toby, virtually rolling his eyes at what he obviously perceived as self-importance. “Looks like you’ve finally achieved your dream, haven’t you?”
“You shouldn’t knock it since you’ve never tried it,” said Christopher. “No offense to you, Angie. I’m just saying.”
Toby took his wife’s hand and laced his fingers through hers. “No loss. Believe me, I wouldn’t trade my life for yours. I couldn’t possibly be any happier than I am with Angie and the kids. On that note, I think we’d better start heading toward home.”
Toby pulled out his wallet and tossed a crisp $100 bill onto the table in payment for the food they hadn’t managed to stay long enough to have delivered to their table. It was probably one of the ten that Christopher had given him as a wedding gift.
Christopher slid the bill back toward his brother. “Here, Toby. I’ve got this.”
Toby stood. “No, you don’t. If you got this, you would stop acting like such a pretentious jackass and come home and make amends with Dad. You may have given up on us, Chris, but we’ll never give up on you. Take care of yourself and call me when you’re ready to talk.”
Chapter Three
With his long lunches and daily putting practice, was it any wonder Christopher Fortune didn’t get much done? Kinsley mused after fielding a call from Emmett Jamison, the head of the Foundation. Even so, she’d covered for Christopher when Mr. Jamison had asked if she’d seen him. She’d explained that he’d taken a late lunch with family visiting from out of town. She didn’t mention that he’d been gone nearly two-and-a-half hours.
She may not have agreed with the way Christopher conducted himself, but she wasn’t about to throw him under the bus. That would just make her look bad in the eyes of Mr. Jamison.
She wanted him to see her as a problem solver, not the type of person who pointed fingers and ratted people out. Besides, with the Fortunes, blood was definitely thicker than water. If she wasn’t careful the situation might get turned around and come back to bite her. She was sure if it came down to her or Christopher Fortune, Emmett Jamison would side with the man whose last name was on his paycheck.
Kinsley drummed her fingers on the desk. The Fortunes were all about family. She knew Mr. Jamison would excuse him for that. She couldn’t deny that she envied Christopher and his huge support system. What was it like to come from such a large, protective family that would circle the wagons at a moment’s notice?
Kinsley had no idea. Growing up the only child of an alcoholic father and a mother who couldn’t stand up for herself didn’t give her much experience to draw from.
She and her mother only had each other to intervene when her father was on a drunken bender. When they did stand up to him, there was always hell to pay.
Her grandmother—her mom’s mom—had passed away when Kinsley was about eight, but Grandma hadn’t had the wherewithal to extract her daughter from what Kinsley would later look back on and realize was a situation that had robbed her mother of her life.
But wasn’t hindsight always perfect?
From the moment Kinsley was old enough to realize she could take care of herself, she vowed she would never personally depend on a man. For that matter, she preferred to not depend on anyone, because didn’t people always let you down?
She’d only had two boyfriends, and both of them had proven that to be true. They were hard lessons, but she’d learned. And she prided herself on not repeating the same mistakes.
Family ranks or not, Emmett had said he was concerned because he had received a call from a woman named Judy Davis who was perplexed because she’d emailed the community relations office three times about a donation she wanted to make and still hadn’t heard back. She was beginning to think the Foundation didn’t want her money.
Kinsley made an excuse that there had been technical difficulties with the email account and had assured Mr. Jamison that she and Christopher would make sure everything was working as it should as soon as he got back...which should be any minute.
Technically, Christopher was being difficult. Right? Did that count as technical difficulties? She hoped so. Because it was all she had.
She would cover for Christopher this time, but they were definitely going to have a little heart to heart.
She wrote down Judy Davis’s information and assured Mr. Jamison that they would follow up with her today and make sure she knew how much her donation was needed and appreciated.
Kinsley’s cheeks burned.
She didn’t appreciate being left holding the bag for matters like this, especially when it was something Christopher had insisted on handling. The new Foundation Community Relations email address had been her idea, but they had decided to split the work: as she went out into the community, Kinsley would get the word out about the new way to contact the Foundation; as vice president of community relations, Christopher had insisted on being the one to respond to the emails.
Thank goodness Kinsley had insisted on knowing the password. Christopher had agreed that it was a good idea for more than one person to have access to the account, but he had assured her that he would check it regularly. She had taken him at his word. Kinsley mentally kicked herself for trusting so blindly. People might have been reaching out for help or there could be more potential funding for the Foundation in these unread messages. Yet Christopher was too busy perfecting his putt...and she’d covered for him.
Feeling like a fool, Kinsley gritted her teeth as she typed in the URL to bring up the login page so she could sign into the account.
As a Fortune, Christopher was set for life. Unlike the other family members who worked at the Foundation, he didn’t seem grounded in the realities of what mere mortals had to face in the world.
No, Christopher Fortune was fat, spoiled and smug—
Well, maybe not fat. Kinsley hated herself for it, but somehow her gaze always managed to find its way to Christopher’s abs. The way his expensive, tailored dress shirts tapered in at his trim waist, she could plainly see that the guy didn’t have an ounce of fat on his body.
No, he was all broad shoulders and six-pack abs—or at least she imagined he was sporting a six-pack under his buttoned up exterior. Who wouldn’t be if they had time to work out daily? Actually, it didn’t matter what Christopher Fortune was packing under his crisp cotton shirt. Mr. Vice President was still spoiled and smug. And completely irresponsible when it came to doing his job.
When the login page came up, she was relieved to see that it hadn’t been that long since Christopher had checked the account. In fact, it had only been two days. She scrolled through the ten emails in search of Judy Davis’s three messages. When she found them, she realized the three emails had arrived within a span of 36 hours.
Mr. Jamison had been under the impression that she’d been waiting a long time to hear back. Though it really hadn’t been an excessively long time since Christopher had checked the account, it did need to be monitored regularly. Several times a day, in fact, to keep something like this from happening.
