“How did you manage that?” she asks.
“Mia had three aces, and I had a full house, jacks high.”
Claire shakes her head. “What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m supposed to host a poker tournament out there over Labor Day weekend, which I’m hoping you’ll help me plan…”
Claire sits up straight and looks at him. “Oh, no. That’s not my thing. I’m not your assistant.”
I know she isn’t my assistant, and I can ask Wendy—who is my assistant—to do it, but Claire will enjoy this group. They’re our friends.
“Listen a minute. Gillian Reece, the guest-relations manager at the Shangri-la, will do all the organizing, and your friends will be there. Caroline always comes with Mason. Jonathan Best will bring dealers out from the Shangri-la, and his wife, Maggie Reinhardt, will be there. Jim comes with Kate.”
Her face lights up. “I’ll go, but I’m bringing Tinsley as my date,” Claire announces.
Tinsley sits up. “Me?”
“Sure, why not? If they’re all going to be wrapped up in the game, at least we can enjoy the ranch and hang out together.”
“Great,” I tell them. “It’s called the Magnolia Homestead. I also think it might be a good place for Mom and Dad to go—get out of Vancouver and the craziness there and truly retire.”
Claire nods. “We can check it out and decide. Their friends are there with them in Van City. I don’t think they’re in any hurry to leave.”
“It’s at least something for them to consider.”
“Okay,” Claire relents.
“When are they coming again?” I ask.
“I think they’ll be here on Wednesday. Aren’t you reading your email?” Claire looks at me, confused.
“You know I don’t go into the family email account that often.”
Claire rolls her eyes. I hate it when she does this. She’s stubborn as shit. It’s great in the workplace. She’s tenacious and doesn’t take no—that’s how she landed Tinsley and her team—but on personal issues, she’s determined it’s her way or no way, and that’s hard.
Tinsley stands and picks up her plate.
“I’ll get that,” I tell her. Now I want to throttle Claire. Her arguing made Tinsley uncomfortable. I give Claire the look, and she closes her eyes.
“He has a housekeeper who can do that,” Claire offers.
“That’s okay. Landon cooked, and you brought appetizers and dessert,” Tinsley says. “I made a salad. I can do some dishes.”
“Not necessary,” I insist.
“Well, I’ll at least put these in the kitchen. I should get going. I’ll probably work from my place tomorrow,” she says.
The idea of not seeing her tomorrow bothers me, but also, for business reasons, if she’s going to work, she needs to do it here.
“I need you to work here. We’re worried about the network, remember? I gave you a fob today, and you can come and go as you like.”
Her brow creases. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll call Greg.”
“I can take a rideshare,” she insists.
“Tinsley, you need to use Greg. Right now, Claire and I both use Greg and Stan to cover us seven days a week. I spoke with Jim this week, and he’s looking for a third, female agent to do more with us. I’m not trying to control you, but we don’t know what this threat is. Please?”
“Fine. But I’m only a partner because you paid me some money. Honestly, this isn’t that big a deal.”
“If someone is going after you or trying to steal your work, that’s a threat to us too,” I assure her. “We’re one company now. We’re in this together.”
Claire gives her a big hug, and the look on Tinsley’s face tells me she finally understands. My sister may piss me off a thousand times a day, but I love her.
“Okay,” Tinsley acquiesces. “I guess I didn’t see my computer issues as anything outside of the norm in Silicon Valley. Everyone is hyper-paranoid about it.”
I text Greg that she’s on her way down.
“I think we can all agree we’re beyond the paranoid stage. Greg is in the garage. He’ll be waiting for you.”
She nods. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Come over whenever you’re ready. I’ll try not to walk around in my boxers.”
Claire shakes her head. “That would be disgusting. Please don’t do that. Tinsley will run away for sure.”
The last glance I have of Tinsley is a grin from ear to ear as the elevator doors close. Then she’s gone.
“Thanks for getting her to understand,” Claire says.
“We should have talked about Tomas tonight.” I shake my head. A missed opportunity. “We can’t put that off.”
“I agree. I just didn’t think of it.”
“She’s naïve, and it’s refreshing, but I also want to be sure we protect her.”
Claire nods. “I think she has a good best friend and a few others. We’ll help her navigate this like Tom Sutterland did for us.” Her phone pings. “Stan is downstairs to take me home. Get dressed before she gets here tomorrow.”
I kiss Claire on the cheek. “Promise. Are you going to come over and make sure I haven’t charmed the pants off of her?”
“You better not. I will absolutely castrate you if you cross the line with her.”
“I was only teasing. Don’t make Stan wait.”
“I will be by to check on you tomorrow,” she says as the elevator doors close.
Me: I’m sorry we ran you off.
Tinsley: You didn’t! You both are great at not making me seem like a third wheel.
Me: You certainly aren’t. We’re a good threesome.
Tinsley: ???
Me: Ewww. She’s my sister. You’re the only one I want to bend over the furniture and fuck.
Tinsley: That’s better.
Tinsley: Are you sure you want me to come by tomorrow?
Me: I’d much prefer to come in your pussy.
Tinsley: Not my mouth
