Only in My Dreams by Darcy Burke Read Free Book Online

to Ribbon Ridge would interrupt the life she’d built for herself and thrust her back into a situation where she was labeled and coddled and . . . forget it . Her muscles tensed.
    â€œShall I continue?” Aubrey asked quietly.
    â€œPlease,” Mom said with an edge of frustration.
    Aubrey gave a subtle nod. “Like the pubs your father’s company owns, the hotel will pour Archer brews, and its restaurant will also offer five-star cuisine under the direction of Kyle.”
    Everyone’s gaze snapped to Kyle, seated at the end of Sara’s side of the table. Despite his tan, he looked washed out, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, not at all like the carefree beach bum who’d run to south Florida nearly four years ago. His blue-green eyes found hers and he shook his head, his jaw clenching.
    Sara wanted to kick him. An opportunity was falling into his lap, and his reaction was to act like he didn’t want it? It shouldn’t have surprised her given how he’d ditched town, but it still hurt. She peered at him around Mom and Tori, who sat between them. “You should consider it.”
    He showed no sign that he’d heard her.
    Mom clasped Sara’s hand. “Your sister’s right. I hope you’ll at least think about it.”
    When Kyle still didn’t respond, Aubrey coughed delicately. “You’ll each own one-seventh of the property and the businesses on the property, which Alex envisioned as a hotel and restaurant at a minimum. He set aside specific roles for each of you.”
    Liam shook his head. “I already have a job.”
    Kyle crossed his arms and glared across the table at Liam. “Because your life is so much more important than anyone else’s. It’s fine for me and Sara, and probably everyone else, to come home, but not you?”
    â€œI didn’t say that, but as long as you mentioned it . . . ” Liam leaned forward and set his elbows on the table, fixing Kyle with a probing stare. “Just what’s keeping you from coming back here and honoring Alex’s wish? Your über important bartending job? The roots you haven’t put down in Florida?”
    Kyle’s eyes flashed. “Don’t make assumptions.”
    â€œAm I wrong?”
    â€œYou’re an arrogant prick.”
    Liam shrugged, but the tense set of his shoulders said he was anything but nonchalant. “An arrogant prick who’s apparently right.”
    â€œBoys.” Mom’s voice quavered, but it earned everyone’s attention. “I know we’re all hurting. Please don’t take it out on each other.”
    Tori blew her nose, which was red from crying. Without makeup and with her long, straight, auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked young and vulnerable, a word she’d hate to be used to describe her. Tori was as type A as people came. She turned her head toward Aubrey. “You said Kyle is supposed to manage the restaurant. I assume Alex wants—wanted—me to design the hotel?” It made sense because she was an architect at a firm in San Francisco that designed high-end hotels and restaurants around the world.
    Aubrey nodded. “Yes. Liam would oversee the entire project; Evan, the technical aspects of the business; Sara would establish the property as a premier entertainment space; Hayden would manage the hotel; and Derek would work the financials.”
    Hayden linked his fingers together on the tabletop. His lips pressed together in annoyance as he glanced at Liam. “We all have jobs. I can’t just stop working for Archer Enterprises to manage this hotel.”
    Liam nodded in agreement. “Exactly. I sure as hell can’t walk away from my business in Denver.”
    â€œYou’ve made that pretty clear.” Evan’s deep voice drew everyone’s notice. He bent his head back toward the table where his fingers were systematically taking a pen