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in action Saturday, he suspected that Natalie preferred to downplay all of that and be treated as just one of the gang rather than as the person with the big checkbook.
    Jack nudged him with the front of the cart. “Earth to Tino, come in, please.”
    Damn, how long had he been lost in his own little world this time? “Sorry. Did you want something?”
    “Actually, I asked if there was anything you needed before we check out.” Jack gave him a considering look. “Now I’m wondering if your head’s in the game today enough for me to trust you to run power tools.”
    Tino wanted to tell him to fuck off, but he couldn’t blame Jack for being concerned. Running an electric saw was no time to be thinking about anything—or anyone—else other than the job at hand. “I’ll be fine.”
    Then he gave Jack a light tap on the arm. “But an extra shot of caffeine wouldn’t hurt, so what do you say to picking up a second round on the way?”
    Naturally, his brother returned the punch with just enough interest to sting. Not that Tino would give in to the urge to rub the spot. “Fine, but you’re buying.”
    No surprise there. “Of course. And because I’m feeling generous, I’ll throw in a couple of breakfast sandwiches.”
    “It’s a deal.” Jack pulled out his credit card and handed it to the clerk. “And about Mom. How about I tell her that you are making plans, but you’d rather not talk about them until you’ve got all the details figured out?”
    Not bad. That should reassure her long enough to buy him some breathing room. “Thanks. I owe you.”
    Jack grinned. “So, does that mean you’re also buying lunch today?”
    God, brothers were the biggest pains in the ass. His were, anyway. On the other hand, there was no one else he’d rather have at his back. After picking up their bags, he headed for the door. “I’ll buy, but I get to pick where we’re going.”
    Another one of those love-you-brother punches was Jack’s only response.
    —
    Tuesday was always Natalie’s favorite day of the week. She might officially be in charge of the foundation these days, but that didn’t mean the man it was named after and who funded its coffers was no longer involved. No matter how busy her schedule was, she always set aside one morning a week to spend with her favorite relative.
    As always, her grandfather’s housekeeper met Natalie in the foyer. “Good morning. How is the old grouch this morning? As charming as ever?”
    Esther’s laugh echoed off the marble walls and floor in the foyer. “I’m pretty sure they left the word ‘charming’ out of your grandfather’s dictionary. He certainly has no idea of what it means. To answer your question, though, he’s been a real bear to be around for the past few days.”
    Natalie grinned. “What set him off this time?”
    “What didn’t?” Esther held up her fingers and counted off the world’s most recent transgressions. “His team lost. The stock market took a serious dip. I was three minutes late with his coffee. Oh, yes, and that blasted dog has been sneaking under the fence again. This time it dug up one of the rosebushes. The gardener was able to salvage it, but it will need time to recover. I’m talking about the bush, by the way, not the dog.”
    That last event was probably the one that put her grandfather over the top. He and the neighbor’s beagle had been waging war for two years now. She would’ve worried more about the situation if Esther hadn’t let her in on a little secret a few months ago. Evidently Cyrus had her add salmon-jerky doggy treats to the shopping list on a regular basis. No wonder Digger kept sneaking over to visit if Cyrus was slipping him salmon when no one was looking.
    Even if her employer had been on a real tear, Esther didn’t seem to be too worried about it. Esther Carlin had been Cyrus’s housekeeper for nearly twenty-five years now, which made her practically family. Natalie had no idea how much money the woman