Free Crazy Ever After by Kelly Jamieson Page B

would inherit everything.
    He could see Samara’s quick mind working, turning things over. “My father owned forty percent of the shares of Cedar Mill,” she said to Wade slowly. “Is that correct?”
    He nodded. “That’s correct.”
    Wheels were turning, and suddenly a rock had materialized in Travis’s gut.
    Samara looked across the room at him, wide-eyed. Then she smiled.
    “Thank you, Mr. Burnell.”
    Oh Jesus. She could not be thinking what he thought she was. Wade went over a few more things, asked Travis to call and arrange a meeting the next week, and expressed his condolences again.
    Dayna showed Wade out, leaving Travis and Samara alone again. Her eyes were sparkling, green flecked with glints of gold.
    “Spit it out,” Travis told her.
    She grinned at him although she looked a little dazed. “What?”
    “Whatever you’re thinking.”
    “What do you think I’m thinking?” she asked saucily. He narrowed his eyes and stared her down. Just then, Dayna returned.
    “Well,” she said in her soft voice. “That was quick and to the point.” She smiled at her daughter. “No surprises. I knew your father wanted you to be involved in the business some day.”
    “No,” Samara agreed, shaking her head, her auburn hair sliding over bare shoulders. “No surprises.”
    Travis’s gut clenched tighter.
    “Just this one,” Samara said, standing. “I’ll be staying here in Portland.”
    Dayna gaped at her daughter, and Travis kept his face carefully expressionless.
    “You...you will?” Dayna put hand to her throat.
    “I will. I’ll be taking over Dad’s role in the business.”

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Travis ground his teeth. “Samara.”
    “Someone has to be CEO.” She looked at Travis. “Dad was CEO, and he left me his shares. Obviously, that’s what he wanted.”
    “I don’t think it’s that obvious.”
    He didn’t even know where to start with this epic headache. He glanced at Dayna and saw the worried look on her face.
    “Well, who do you think should be CEO?” Samara’s green eyes challenged him.
    Now that she mentioned it, he knew the answer clearly. He hadn’t given much thought to replacing Parker—Jesus, the man had only been gone days—since he’d been so busy dealing with the fallout his death had caused. But it was patently obvious to Travis that the next CEO was going to be him.
    He met Samara’s gaze but said nothing. Her own eyes widened. “No!” she exclaimed.
    “Samara,” Dayna put in. “Just hold on here.”
    Samara turned hostile eyes toward her mother, and Travis sighed. Was this going to deepen the rift between mother and daughter? He rubbed his face.
    “This isn’t just up to us,” he said heavily. “Replacing Parker is a decision that needs to be made by the entire board of directors.”
    Samara narrowed her eyes. “Doesn’t what Dad would have wanted come into it?”
    “Samara, we don’t know what he wanted,” he pointed out. “He left you his shares, but he never stated that he wanted you to be CEO.” He paused. “Think about it. You don’t just jump from regional manager to CEO of the company overnight.”
    She firmed her lips, her stubborn little chin dimpling. “I don’t see why not.”
    She was the most frustrating female he’d ever met, goddamn it. Pressure built behind his eyes. “Look, Sam, I have no doubt that Parker wanted you to move up into an executive position some day. He talked about that. He was so damn proud of you getting your degree and the things you accomplished.”
    She nodded tightly.
    “You’re not ready for that,” he continued softly.
    “I am ready,” she insisted stubbornly. “You just don’t want to admit it.”
    He considered that. Was he biased? Admittedly, now that the subject was out in the open, he was beginning to realize how important this was to him. He’d helped Parker build the company. It had been his life ever since he and Parker had joined forces and especially since he’d moved to Los