After the Dawn Read Free

in the same house. The three-story Georgian manor had ten bedrooms and had over twelve thousand square feet. It still seemed small at times because of her aunt and uncle’s attitude.
    Which was going to get worse once he learned his father didn’t want him running Collins. Since her grandfather’s heart attack, Evan had spouted a lot about “when I’m in charge.” He fully expected to step into his father’s shoes. It wasn’t going to happen.
    But did she want the job?
    She massaged her temple. She wanted to be passionate about something, but she wasn’t sure what it was. She certainly wasn’t thrilled with her job as a feature writer at the Houston Sentinel . She’d majored in journalism because it had nothing to do with the automobile industry.
    She’d been an average student, graduated, and bounced around a lot until she’d landed a job as a feature writer at the newspaper in Houston. The pay was horrible, the hours worse. If not for the trust fund her parents left her, she would have never made it financially.
    She thought she’d found love with Mark Washington, the sports reporter at the same newspaper. They’d dated for three months before she’d ended things six months ago. Mark wanted her back, but as she’d told her grandfather, for her it was over. Worse, she was tired of trying to avoid him at work. Perhaps if she were more forceful, he’d leave her alone. There was nothing to keep her in Houston. But did she want the responsibility for over two hundred people and a business she had only a basic understanding of?
    No matter how she’d felt as a teenager, her father had loved the company and his father. He would have done—had done—whatever it took to ensure both were served well.
    Could she walk away knowing her grandfather and Collins Industry needed her? She wondered, going up the flight of stairs to the top and third floor. She hoped she never had to find out. Tonight, if the nurse allowed her to visit, she was going to encourage her grandfather to schedule the surgery as quickly as possible. They all needed him.
    She knocked on her uncle’s door. He and his wife had the entire floor of eight rooms since their children, Shelby and Ronald, were grown and gone. From what she’d been able to learn from the housekeeper, her cousins came home less than she did. They’d called but hadn’t come to visit their parents or their grandfather.
    The door opened and her uncle stared down his nose at her, his eyes as unwelcoming as ever. “Yes?”
    Not even a semblance of a smile, of warmth. Once her grandfather went back to the hospital for his surgery, she was moving into the guest cottage in the back of the house. She would have already been there if she hadn’t wanted to be near her grandfather. It was obvious no one wanted her here except him.
    â€œYou wanted something?” he asked. He’d been home from work since a little after five, yet he still had on his white shirt and red silk tie. It was almost six. He and his wife both had a fondness for designer clothes and fine jewelry.
    â€œGranddad wants to see you.”
    â€œHe must be feeling better.” He spoke over his shoulder. “Janice, Daddy wants to see me. I’ll be back and we can go down to dinner.”
    Dinner was always served when Evan wanted. The kitchen was closed otherwise. Her uncle liked being in charge. She just hoped her grandfather didn’t intend to tell him about his plans to put her in charge until he was stronger.
    Tall and trim, Evan stepped into the hall. “Was there something else?”
    She’d rather do anything than have a confrontation, but she forged ahead. Her grandfather’s health was too fragile. “He’s still weak and shouldn’t be upset.”
    Dark eyes glinted with malice. “I know how to treat my father. Unlike you, I’ve been here.” He brushed past her and