I’d picked up Harry and we were in Drew’s driveway when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, realized it was my father, and immediately sent it to voicemail. Then we exited the vehicle and proceeded to his front door. Before I could even ring the bell, my phone was vibrating insistently again. This time, I gave in and accepted my father’s call. Obviously, he’d keep calling until I responded. I growled in frustration as I answered. “It’s Saturday. What’s up?”

“No ‘hello’ or ‘how are you,’ Tyler? That’s a terrible way to talk to your father. It’s a worse way to treat your boss,” he grumbled.

I muted the call and looked at Harry. “This may take a minute. Can you go get him packed and ready? I’ll be in as soon as I can.”

Harry nodded. “Good luck.” Then he disappeared into the house without waiting for Drew to come to the door.

After hitting the button, which allowed my father to hear me again, I tried to speak in the evenest tone. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“That’s better.” He softened considerably.

“So, how can I help you this fine Saturday?” I stood on the stoop and rocked on my heels while I waited.

“Well, word has it there’s a property you might be able to close a deal on. I need you on this immediately.” He sounded practically giddy.

“I’ll be on it first thing Monday morning. Good talk.” I prepared to hang up, but he stopped me.

“Not Monday. Now.” His voice had already taken on the low menacing edge I’d learned to avoid as a kid.

“Dad.” I mashed my lips together as I tried to explain my current situation. There’d be no admitting I’d broken up with Paisley and needed some guy time. The discussion would immediately devolve into how I’m not man enough to keep a woman happy, as if he’d ever modeled this with Mom. What did he know? Friendship. Brotherhood. I knew where to hit him. “Here’s the situation.”

“You’re going to try to close me?” He laughed. “Good luck.”

“It’s not that. I just need you to understand where I’m coming from. Let’s forget how hard I work for you and the company all week. Forget that it’s Saturday even. Now, let’s talk about Drew.” I paused for dramatic effect.

“What about Drew? Drew Morgan?” He blew out a breath.

“Yes. Harry and I are with Drew. We’re trying to cheer him up. His uncle just died and…”

“Left him a fucking fortune.” My father laughed hysterically. “So, what about this has him so damaged? The estate taxes? The island house in the Caribbean? The vineyard in Napa?” My father let out a deep belly laugh. “Sorry. Not gonna work on me today, Ty. This is important.”

“More important than being there for a friend?” I hesitated for a second then laid down my final card. “He’s afraid he’s on the same path. He’s scared he’s going to die sad and alone. He worries he’ll never have a wife, a family.”

“Yeah, because they’re such a great comfort, let me tell you.” My father huffed. “I have a wife whose spending habits will keep me working until the day I die, and a son who never wants to work a day in his life.”

“I don’t think that’s quite fair, dad. I travel for you. I work long hours. Hell, it cost me my relationship with Paisley.” I sighed and felt nearly as sad as I pretended.

“What? Paisley?” I could hear his desk chair squeaking and I knew he was working from home instead of the office.

“Yeah. Paisley. He’s not the only one who’s now afraid of never having a family. Apparently, I can’t keep a woman either.” I bit my lip and waited.

“That’s nonsense.”

I smirked. Damn, I’m good.

“You’ll have a family. You just have to set your mind to it. You just decide this is what you’re going to do and then you make it happen. How do you think your mother and I ended up married?” He chuckled.

“I thought you both were vacationing in Catalina, met and fell in love.” I shrugged out of habit, even though he wouldn’t see it.

“Well, son, the truth of the matter is your mother and I fell in lust. We laid out a contract. We signed it. We adhered to it. And that’s why our marriage is solid today.” He slapped the desk.

I bit my lower lip mostly to keep myself quiet. I knew for a fact that my father cheated on my mother on the regular. If this was what constituted a solid marriage, I wanted no part of it. “I guess I thought I’d marry for love,” I murmured. “I thought I’d meet someone and we’d have all kinds of things in common. I thought we’d build something together.”

“You can. You don’t need love for that. And love can grow.” I heard the all too familiar sound of him kicking his feet up on the desk.

“Do you love Mom?” For some reason this felt really important to me at the moment.

He sighed. “Sure. I love your mother.”

“Good.” My shoulders sank in relief. “I’ll see you Monday.” Then I prepared to hang up.

“Nice try, asshole.” My father was truly enjoying this. “I want that casino.”

I froze. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Rumor has it, the father is in lousy shape health-wise. I’m hoping you can convince him to sell.” My father drummed his fingers on the desk. “I don’t care what you think you’re doing to soothe Drew. You’re not getting out of this trip, Ty. Hell, bring him with you. Bring Harry. Bring anyfuckingbody you want. Oh, but by dinner tonight, you will be checking into the hotel and casino in Vegas. I’ll send you the information. Got it?”

I actually beamed. “Let me make sure I understand this. You want me to go to Vegas and help you buy a casino?”

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to add a casino to my real estate portfolio.” My father’s chair creaked and based on the sounds I heard, he was now pacing in his study.

“Why would you want a casino? The insurance? The overhead? It’s a terrible investment,” I grumbled.

“What? Worried about your inheritance?” He stomped his foot. “Don’t! Wanna know why?”

“Why, Dad?” I sighed.

“The house always wins. Oh, and we’re the house!” He laughed at his cleverness.

“There’s no way of talking you out of this?” I groaned for effect. Inside, I was dancing an Irish jig. And I’m not Irish.

“None. You’re going. The company will pay for the hotel, food, hell…even some golf if it will keep you knuckleheads happy.” I could hear him typing on his desktop. “I’m sending you an email with the portfolio information. Keep this to yourself. Got it?”

“Fine. You’re going to text me the address?” I heard my phone chime in my ear. “Never mind.”

“Your old man is on top of things.”

“Yes, you are. Now what about gambling?” I knew I was pushing it, but I had to at least try. “What is my company allowance for gambling?” I chewed on my cheek and waited.

“There is no company allowance for gambling!” He positively erupted. “What are you, a fucking moron? We’re not the house yet! You’ll lose! Stay away from the casino!” He shouted so loudly, I had to hold the phone away from my ear.

The door behind me opened and Harry peeked out. He took one look at the phone, heard my father yelling, and slowly backed inside then closed the door behind him. Smart guy.

“Okay. Fine. I thought we could at least have some fun while we’re there. By the way, how long am I there?” I closed my eyes and hoped he’d tell me to take a week.

“You’re there until you close the deal. Nothing is more important than this. Nothing.” His voice boomed through the phone.

“So, like a week? Two weeks?” I hoped for some time frame, some sense of expectation.

“Fucking forever, if need be. Close the deal.” Then he hung up the phone.

I took a few deep breaths as I processed this interesting development. Then I licked my lips and entered Drew’s house wearing a huge grin.

“What was that all about?” Harry studied me. “I’ve never seen you so happy after your father was that angry, ever in my life.”

I flopped down on the couch and kicked my feet up on the coffee table. “Well, boys, it looks like we’re going to Vegas.”

Drew was leaned back in his arm chair, lids lowered, a glass of ice water pressed against his temple. He opened his eyes and frowned at me. “I thought we were already going to Vegas.”

I laughed. “We were. This time, my father is paying for everything.” I folded my arms behind my head and waited for them to react.

“What?” Harry was appropriately happy.

“Cool.” Drew barely grunted.

“Go back to sleep, Drew,” I mumbled. Then I turned my attention to Harry. “Yeah. He wanted to buy this hotel and casino. He sent me the address. We have to stay there.”

“But we always stay in a suite at the Venetian,” Harry complained.

“I know, but this time we’re staying for free wherever my father tells us.” My brow rose, signaling the end of the discussion, only it wasn’t.

“But I’ll gladly pay to stay at the Venetian.” He sighed as he sank down on the love seat across from me.

“I get it, but I have to do market research.” I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my thighs. “Look at all the money you’ll save. Good old Dad is paying for everything, but gambling.”

Harry held his head. “Trying to think positive.” He closed his eyes. “More money for gambling?”

I nodded. “That’s the spirit. More money for gambling.” I stood. “And you may need plane tickets.”

“Why’s that?” Harry eyed me curiously.

“Well, I’ve been instructed to stay until I close the deal, no matter how long it takes.” I chuckled.

Harry pursed his lips and nodded. “So, you’re moving to Vegas.”

I laid my hand on his shoulder and dug my fingers in until he squirmed. “Your faith in me is overwhelming, jackass.” I released him and he sighed in relief. “Now let’s get out of here.”