Summer Days (Fool's Gold #7)

“People really hate you,” Dante said cheerfully, his long legs stretched out in front of him.

They were sitting in the bar at Ronan’s Folly. Rafe had moved back to a suite there, and Dante had joined him to wrap up a few business details. In a couple of days, they would both head to San Francisco. There was no reason to stay in Fool’s Gold. It wasn’t as if anyone wanted him around.

The situation was too pathetic for him to stand, he thought grimly, as he gripped his Scotch.

“It’s an interesting insight into human behavior,” his partner continued. “Technically, Heidi is the one who broke the rules. She deceived everyone. All you did was scratch out a few tentative plans for some houses. Yet she’s forgiven and you’re the devil.”

“Thanks for the recap.”

Dante looked around. “I like it here.”

“You’re a sick guy.”

“Maybe. But there’s a sense of community. Heidi’s the pretty, helpless woman done wrong by the big, bad developer.”

“I didn’t develop shit.”

“But you could have. And your sins would be much greater. I respect the sense of loyalty.”

“I hope you respect the lack of profits. There’s no way we’re going to be able to develop any houses around here.”

“Not on your mother’s land, no. But there might be other places. After all, the casino is still going to need to hire people.”

Rafe shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m done with Fool’s Gold.” His initial instincts had been right. He should never have come back.

“Then I might look around.”

“Help yourself.”

Rafe started to say more, only to be distracted by angry, stomping footsteps approaching. He looked around and spotted Shane headed toward him. His brother didn’t look happy.

“Brace yourself,” Rafe muttered.

He and Dante both stood as Shane came to a stop in front of them.

“You’re back,” Rafe said.

“Obviously.”

“This is Dante Jefferson, my business partner.”

Dante and Shane shook hands.

“Nice to meet you,” Dante said cheerfully.

“Are you as much of a jackass as my brother?” Shane asked.

Dante grinned. “No. Not even close.”

“Good.” Shane turned to Rafe. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Rafe sank back into the overstuffed chair. He understood his brother well enough to know Shane didn’t actually want an answer.

“You knew I wanted to bring my horses here,” Shane continued, taking the chair opposite, his dark eyes bright with fury. “I’ve put a bid on a hundred adjoining acres. I’m breeding horses, Rafe. I can’t have a development pushing up against my land. I’d already talked to Mom about leasing some of her land for grazing. We were going to grow hay, maybe some other crops. Where do you get off trying to destroy all of that?”

“Technically, he didn’t do anything,” Dante pointed out, his tone cheerful. “There were a few drawings, a couple of conversations.”

“You should stay out of this,” Shane told him.

Dante raised both his hands. “I’m just saying.”

“You didn’t tell me about your plans,” Rafe said, surprised Shane and May had decided so much between them.

“I didn’t want to hear why it wouldn’t work.”

Rafe frowned. “I wouldn’t say that. You know what you’re doing when it comes to horses.”

“Gee, thanks. I appreciate the endorsement, but you’ll have to forgive me for not expecting you to be supportive. If I remember correctly, you hounded me about college, even though I had no interest in going. When I was eighteen and took off to work on a ranch, you told me that if I failed, I was on my own. That you didn’t agree with my decision and that you wouldn’t be there for me.”

Rafe winced. “I didn’t mean it that way. I wanted the best for you.”

“You don’t get to decide what that is.”

“You’re right.”

“Too little, too late.” Shane leaned toward him. “You do this all the time, Rafe. You butt in, make pronouncements, demand action. You don’t ask, you decide. You’re not interested in our opinions. I guess you think we’re not bright enough to have figured it out for ourselves.”

“That’s not true.” Rafe was once again left wondering when he’d become the bad guy.

“Sure it is. You haven’t spoken to Clay or Evie in years. That’s not because of them. You think they’re wasting their lives. Sure, you worked hard to support all of us, and we appreciate that. But the price is too high. You expect ownership in return for what you did, and no one wants to give you that.”

Shane rose. “You’re not going to develop the ranch. Mom and Glen’s idea for the vacation homes is great, but there won’t be anything else. No housing development, no retail. Nothing. We’re keeping the rest of it for horses and farming. You got that?”

Rafe nodded.

Shane left.

Rafe leaned back in his chair. “Be grateful you’re an only child.”