Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Shane stood tall next to him. “She was doing it out of love, and you called her a coward. Rye Harper, if this was a hundred years earlier, I would challenge you to a duel.”
Gemma frowned Shane’s way. “Dude, that would be the 1920s. No duels then. Knife him in a back alley. It’s the smartest way to get revenge.”
Rye sighed and looked haggard. “I didn’t think about that. Damn it. I have to go talk to her.”
Nate’s head shook. “No. You have to hop in that cell until I get this sorted. Bay, you, too. Just because I took those cuffs off doesn’t mean you’re not spending some time in the cell. Unless this guy doesn’t press charges, I’m going to have to book you both.”
Trev had been standing silently in the background. He hadn’t even seen the man. It was good to know his boss had witnessed his descent. “I’ll bail Bay out.”
“Trev, I…” Bay began.
Trev shook his head. “No. I get it, man. I don’t think I would be able to stay calm if someone was putting hands on my wife. Hell, even Bo. I’d have lost it, too. Shane, stay here and deal with your girl. I don’t need you until late this afternoon anyway. I’m meeting with Nell and Henry over lunch, and then they’re working with Noah. I have to interview the new guys. Try to be back around four.”
Shane shook his head. “I’ll come with you now. I don’t have a way to get back, and honestly, I don’t think there’s anything to deal with. I always knew if she had to pick between us and her dream job, we were going to lose. Maybe she can talk him in to not pressing charges if he wants her back so bad.”
Max’s hands fisted. “You want to send her back to the man who tried to harass her and apparently wanted to do it again today?”
“Of course I fucking don’t.” Shane sounded tortured. “I love her. I love her so much it’s killing me, but I can’t give her that life, and I don’t think I can live it with her. What the hell am I supposed to do when her rich friends come for dinner? At least Bay’s an artist, and he’s about to go real big. I’m nothing.”
He’d done this to his brother. He’d done it. Bay got in his brother’s space, putting a hand on his neck and looking him directly in the eyes. “You are everything, Shane. Me and Brooke depend on you for fucking everything. If you want to tell some truths about your life, start there. Start with how you taught yourself to take care of the people around you when there was nothing in your life that told you it was a good idea.”
Shane softened. “But there was. There was my brother.”
Bay heard a sniffling sound and worried they were making Gemma emotional. “And you make our world work. The same as you do for Brooke. If we have to live in damn New York City because it’s the only way she can be happy, then you’re going to figure that out, too. We don’t work without you, Shane.”
“But I…”
He shook his head. “No fucking buts. She’s it. She’s the one. I know she’s pissed that I lost my shit, but she’ll get over it because we’re good for her, too. I understand her and give her space to be who she wants to be. You make it possible for both Brooke and I to do what we love. No more roaming. All that time, all that searching, and it was for this. Home isn’t this place. Home isn’t some building we can buy. It’s her. It’s always been her.”
“That was beautiful.” Nope, not Gemma. Max was the one wiping away tears, and Rye didn’t look all that far behind him. He put a hand on his twin’s shoulder. “I’ll pick up the kids and I’ll take care of them tonight. You know how much Rach loves a jailhouse quickie.”
“Absolutely not,” Nate was saying. “Bay, come on. I think Shane needs to handle this. If he can’t handle this, then you’re both in trouble.”
Rye looked to his brother and nodded. “You have to both be able to talk to her. You have to figure out how to give her what she needs even if the other isn’t around. Which is why we’re either going solo on our business trips from now on or one of us is staying home with the kids and Rachel can help with clients. I think she would make a hell of a salesperson for our farm.”
Max got the most peaceful smile on his face. “I agree. I don’t want our daughter thinking her place is at home with kids. Not when she’s probably going to have two husbands who can handle their share of the load. Shane, talk to her. Please let her know we love her.”