Collared (Going to the Dogs) Read Online Free Page A

dressed brother. Thankfully, in Vegas he seemed to have snapped out of that and looked great. But it could have been a show for them all, especially Jared.
    “He hasn’t returned any of my calls and either isn’t home or doesn’t answer the door when I show up at his penthouse.”
    She winced sympathetically. “Why do you think he’s avoiding you?”
    “I don’t think he wants to come back to the firm.”
    That would be a complete 180-degree turn for Aiden. He’d told her before he’d been deployed that he wanted to take over running the billion-dollar real estate firm when their dad, known to the press and public as real estate mogul Harold J. Sinclair, retired. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes. He hasn’t said, but I think that what happened to him over there has changed him in ways that he hasn’t even begun to understand.”
    Harper had to agree, and her concern about her brother ratcheted up a notch. “I have been worried about him, too. He seems so subdued and preoccupied.”
    “Well, I really need to speak with him. He has to make some decisions…” He broke off. She had never seen her father so distressed, and it was clear that he was more concerned about Aiden than about the business decisions.
    She touched his arm, and then hugged him. He hugged her back and said, “You know that I’ve never forced either you or your brother into anything. You chose your own schools, decided what you wanted to do with your lives, but having Aiden working with me every day was very satisfying.
    “I’m not going to force him to come back if that’s what he’s decided.” He looked away, frowning. “When Aiden left, I hired a young MBA superstar, Makana Kaeo…we call him Mak. Anyway, he’s taken over Aiden’s duties, and he’s doing a fine job.”
    “That sound Hawaiian.”
    “It is.” Her father’s expression became more contemplative, but he didn’t add any further information, only saying, “But he’s not Aiden.”
    The pain was evident in his voice and she was fully aware that her father would much prefer to have his son part of the business. But she’d also heard affection and respect in his voice for this Mak he’d hired. She hoped that was helping to mitigate some of her father’s feeling of loss.
    The heavy August heat even after the sun went down weighed heavily on her. Jeffrey, her chauffeur, stood outside the limo patiently waiting. “I will see if I can get him to discuss this with me. But I don’t know if that will do any good. You know Aiden. He can be stubborn, and he never did make decisions lightly.”
    He nodded. “I understand, but you’ve always been close. He values your opinion. When you both have time, I would love for you and Aiden to meet Mak. It might alleviate some of the pressure he’s feeling. When you talk to him, let him know I will support him, however he’s feeling, whatever his decision. It would be hard to hear that he doesn’t want any part of the firm, but I’m not an ogre. I thought he would know that.”
    The hurt in her father’s eyes was heartbreaking.
    “Maybe he just doesn’t want to hurt you, Dad. Aiden knows how proud you were to have him with you.”
    “That could be.”
    “I’ll find time to talk to him,” she promised.
    “And, about Poe and Jared,” he said. “I hope you gave them something nice and included me.”
    Her father was so generous. “How about a trip to our villa on Gozo?” she said with a smile.
    “Ah, I should have known you’d be one step ahead of me. A Mediterranean island honeymoon sounds perfect. I’m sure Phaedra was on top of things.”
    “As always. She opened up the place and hired the necessary staff to cook and clean for them.”
    “Nicely done. She’s a crack manager. I do give great presents.”
    Harper laughed and hugged him again. “You always have. The very best present, though, has always been your love.”
    He smiled. “I vowed that I wouldn’t be one of those absent fathers. Yes, I’ve augmented