“You made tentative overtures about my seeing Michael. I want Michael legally my grandson and to have my name. I intend to get what I want.”
Now Eli sounded like himself and not a frail, aging man. Nick wondered where the conversation was going and what his dad had in mind.
“I talked to my lawyer today. Harvey came out to the house after lunch. I hate to do this, Nick, but I don’t think you’re taking me seriously or are convinced about how much I want my grandson in my life.”
“Wrong. I’m definitely taking you seriously,” Nick said as he braced for another odious assignment.
“Well, you will now. As of this afternoon, I have two new wills. One leaves the bulk of my estate, the houses, my possessions to you with a trust for Michael and five million when he reaches twenty-one. The other will leaves my sizable fortune to charity with the exception of this house and one million to you.”
“You’re cutting me out of your will,” Nick said, shocked and staring at his father.
“I hope not. I don’t want to have to use that will. If you get Grace Wayland to agree to allowing me to legally have Michael declared a Rafford and to let me know him, I will shred that will and you will get the bulk of everything I own. Otherwise, Nick, your inheritance is cut. You won’t starve or be broke—you’re a multimillionaire already—but I’m worth a lot and I’m sure this will give you an incentive.”
“Damn it, Dad, I can’t move that woman to do what she doesn’t want to do or legally doesn’t have to do,” Nick said. He was barely hanging on to his temper, exasperated with his father’s unreasonable demands.
Eli smiled. “Think about it. You have monumental achievements. Women like you, Nick. I can count on you. Make no mistake though, I mean what I say. Harvey has the wills and my instructions.”
“So exactly what do I have to get her to agree to? Let me get this clear. You want more than a visit with the baby.”
“I want him in the family. I want her to willingly go to court with us and give him the Rafford name.”
“Damn it,” Nick said. There was no point in arguing and the sooner he got out of his father’s presence, the less likely they were to get into a real battle of wills. He stood. “Under the circumstances, I better start making plans. I’ll think over what you want,” he said, glancing at his watch. “I have to go, Dad. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’m sure of your success, Nick.” Eli raised his glass in the gesture of a toast.
“You haven’t met Grace Wayland. She has strong feelings about our family.”
“You’ll convince her otherwise. I’ve never seen the woman you couldn’t wrap around your little finger.”
Nick shook his head and left. As he drove to his condo, he mulled over the turn in his life. His father meant what he’d said. Nick knew it was no idle threat. And he didn’t want to toss away a fortune and give up. Not without a fight.
The problem loomed a full-scale battle. Grace hadn’t wanted to let his dad see the baby, much less actually let him become part of the family.
Nick thought of her green eyes flashing with fire. The prospect of seeing her again was two-edged. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since they met. On the other hand, he had little relish for the struggle to win her over. He had tried reasoning with her. Now he’d just have to try charming her.
He concentrated on driving while he began to map out his next move.
Grace ran over the bookings for the coming week. Christmas was approaching and she had a long list of parties. She glanced up to see her assistant.
“Nick Rafford is here,” Jada announced.
“Tell him to come in,” Grace said. “I’ll get this over with quickly.”
“I don’t think I’d be in a rush,” Jada said, smiling.
Grace was certain he would try to talk her into yielding on her refusal to meet with his father. She’d hated the jump in her pulse when he had called for this appointment. She was just as annoyed now that she experienced a tingling awareness of him as well as being unable to avoid thinking about how she looked. And she had talked too long to him today on the phone. What should have been a five-minute call had turned into half an hour before she realized how much time she was spending.
While she placed papers in a file cabinet, Jada announced Nick.
“Grace, here’s Nick Rafford.”
Hoping she didn’t reveal the physical reaction, the hitch in her breathing at the sight of him, she motioned toward a chair. He was the most handsome man she had ever known. “Please have a seat.”
“Thanks. Ever the businesswoman,” Nick said, smiling with a flash of white teeth that were as flawless and winning as the rest of his appearance. As before, his dark eyes kept her spellbound until she realized she was gazing back, with silence spreading thickly between them.
“So what brings you to my office?” she asked, trying to be brisk and cut the breathlessness from her voice. How could the man stir such a reaction by nothing more than his presence? She was amazed by his effect on her. Men didn’t set her heart racing and make her insides tingly. Nick had never flirted with her and they barely knew each other, yet her response to the sight of him was unmistakable. Worse, he heightened her consciousness of herself, her plain navy skirt and shirt, the shortness of the skirt that didn’t reach her knees. Again she was mindful of her drab, simple office, something she seldom had given a thought about until Nick.
“I assume this is your busiest time of the year, unless June weddings bump Christmas to second place,” he said. He looked relaxed as if in total command of the situation in spite of having been soundly dismissed in their last meeting.
