Maggie closed the door to the small meeting room and walked down the corridor toward the lobby of the lodge. She hadn’t seen any of the Sumner brothers in over a year, and hadn’t seen them all together like that since high school, almost fifteen years before. Their absence hurt their mother, and because of that, it pissed Maggie off.

She didn’t know what the brothers were talking about in the conference room, but their mother needed them down at the reception. Valerie Sumner had just lost her husband of thirty-four years. Her sons should be by her side, not holed up by themselves, laughing.

Maggie had known all of the Sumner boys growing up, but she hadn’t been friends with any of them. She wasn’t planning to be their friend now, either. The lodge and Valerie were her only priorities, and right now she needed to get back to both.

The employees were running the lodge by themselves, giving Maggie and Valerie time to grieve with family and friends, but they’d have to return to managing the place soon. The Sumners were only two months into the expansion of the lodge. There wasn’t time for them to curl up in bed and sob, as much as she might want to somedays. Maggie couldn’t imagine how much Valerie wanted to hide from the world right now.

“Did you find them?” Valerie asked, as Maggie walked back into the lobby of the lodge.

Maggie glanced up and smiled. “What are you doing up here? I thought you were going to wait back at the house with the guests.”

“I got antsy,” Valerie gave a small smile.

Maggie understood. The outpouring of sympathy from the town was overwhelming, for both of them.

“So, where are they?”

Maggie motioned behind her. “They’re in one of the meeting rooms.”

The lines around Valerie’s eyes deepened as she narrowed her gaze. “What are those boys up to?”

“You sound as if you think it’s no good.” Maggie grinned, a little surprised she could still smile on a day as sad as this. Valerie brought the joy out in her. Despite their difference in age, the two were close.

“Any time all six of my boys get together, you can guarantee they’re up to no good.” Valerie laughed—a real laugh—for the first time in days, and it felt good to see her expression lighten.

“I’m sure you’re glad they’re here,” Maggie offered, trying to skirt the issue of what the brothers were doing, sequestered in a meeting room. Their mother was right though. Maggie had the same feeling that the brothers were up to something—she just didn’t know what. Yet.

Valerie drew in a deep breath and sighed. “Yes, yes I am. I’m just sad it took their father’s death to get them all here at once.”

Maggie took Valerie’s arm in her own and led her toward the front door of the main lodge. They needed to get back down to the house where the funeral guests were gathered. She was pretty sure the entire town had come to say their final farewells to John Sumner. Valerie tugged on her arm, bringing them to a stop before they reached the door.

Maggie glanced up. “What is it?”

Tears welled in Valerie’s eyes.

“Oh, Valerie, I’m so sorry.” Maggie wrapped her arm around her friend’s small waist and pulled her back into the hallway for privacy. The weight of her own pain crushed her. She could only imagine what it felt like for Valerie, losing her husband after spending a lifetime together.

Valerie whispered on a sob. “I’m afraid to do this without him.” She looked around her. “Without John, the expansion seems…overwhelming.”

Maggie pushed back and stared up at the woman who’d become like a mother to her. Valerie’s face was stained with tears. “I told you, Valerie, I’m here for the long haul. I won’t leave you. We’re going to make this work.”

“Oh, God, thank you Maggie.” She drew Maggie in tighter. “I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Lucky for you, you’ll never have to find out.” Maggie smiled. “Promise.”

“Ma,” a deep voice rumbled from behind them.

Valerie pulled away and swiped at her face but kept one arm wrapped around Maggie’s shoulder.

“Max.” Valerie smiled at her son.

Max Sumner, four-time All-Pro wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion. Could there be a finer specimen of man candy? Glancing behind him at Max’s five brothers, Maggie had to admit that yes, yes there could be. Specifically, Ben Sumner. Each brother had his own distinct personality, but they all shared their father’s dark chestnut hair and hazel eyes. Still, Ben had always stood out to her.

He’d grown up and filled out since high school, and the man knew how to wear a suit. Like, damn, he could wear a suit. Looking at him now, Maggie had to admit, Ben did more for her than any of his brothers ever had. She just preferred to ignore that fact.

From the moment the men had descended on the lodge, something had been telling her she needed to protect herself, and Valerie, from them. The Sumner brothers stalked toward her and Valerie, eyes trained on them like a pack of angry lions. A menacing brood of hulky, sexy men about to devour their prey.

Maggie had grown up honing the skill of knowing when things were about to go wrong. Everything in her was screaming that this was one of those moments.

Ben stared at her, whiskey-colored eyes boring through her, and she had no doubt whatever was going on, he was the one leading the charge. When he spoke, though, he turned to his mother. “We need to talk about the loan, Mom. We need to make some plans.”

This was how Maggie remembered Ben from school—serious, hard to read, closed off. He could board up those eyes in a heartbeat, never giving a clue as to what was going on behind them. That was one of the reasons she’d never approached him. He was too intimidating.

“What about the loan?” Valerie tensed under Maggie’s arm as she spoke.

Ben shot Maggie another glance. “Maybe we should talk about this in private, Mom.”

Maggie almost laughed. Ben had some nerve, coming into town, acting like he’d been here all these years, taking care of his mother. He obviously had no idea of the part Maggie played with the business and the loans his parents had taken for the expansion.

“I don’t think I care to discuss my business loans at all with you, Ben.” Valerie squeezed Maggie’s arm tighter. “But if we’re going to, Maggie will be present.” Maggie liked the way Valerie didn’t offer any explanation. As far as she was concerned, Ben didn’t deserve an explanation.

It was hard to miss the way Ben’s eyes narrowed, but his brothers’ gazes darted anywhere but at the scene before them. It was also hard not to be a little smug and proud at Valerie’s words. Valerie had laid down the law to her sons, established Maggie as an integral part of their family’s business.

Been looked as if he’d swallowed a bug, obviously not used to being told what to do.

Maggie couldn’t help but smirk, just a little.