I gave him a genuine grin. His eyes darted from mine as he looked to the corner of the room. Not avoiding my eyes but his mind had drifted off to something orsomeoneelse.
“You heard?”
He turned back to me with angry eyes. “Heard. Experienced. What? You don’t think a woman would be interested in me?”
I wrinkled my brows at the anger in his tone. I stared down at him. “You mean because of your wheelchair?”
He nodded.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re O’Brien’s kid brother. If you have half the charm of your brother, I’m sure you get more than enough pu— women,” I corrected the last part of my sentence, remembering I was at work and not the fighting gym. “Anyway, I never apologized to you for what you overheard that night at the gym. Like I said, whatever is between you and Connor is between you two. But yeah, he did ask me to help his brother out. And it just so happened that Aaron had fired yet another one of his assistants making that position available. Aaron knew you were Connor’s brother but that was only after he’d made the decision to hire you. You got hired based on your resume, experience, and stellar interviews. You’veremainedat Townsend for well over a year because of your hard work and your uncanny ability to put up with my crazy ass brother.”
Mark gave me a wary look. “So Aaron didn’t know I was related to Connor until after he chose me?”
I nodded. “In fact, I had to do some fast talking to keep him from going back on his decision. He didn’t want it to appear as if he hired you because of your brother’s and my business connection. And honestly, while he hasn’t told me this, I think he was surprised that you even wanted to work.”
Mark look surprised.
“Considering Connor’s business endeavors and all. I know for a fact that you’re part owner of his businesses, making you wealthy in your own right. You don’t have to work a day in your life.”
“I work because I choose to. I have my own goals and ambitions outside of what my brother’s built.” His tone was firm, serious.
“And that’s why Aaron hired you and why you’ve been such an asset to his team. Trust me, my brother would’ve had no hesitation firing you the minute you fucked up. And he would’ve had zero guilt about doing it. Nor would I, to be honest. We don’t pity you. You’ve got great skills and work ethic to offer Townsend. We appreciate great employees. Got it?”
Mark narrowed his eyes, still skeptical. “Connor tell you to say all this?”
I tilted my head. “What do you think?”
A brief moment of silence was followed by a grin spreading across his face. “All right, then. Thanks, Josh.”
Sighing, I took his proffered hand into mine, shaking it. Mark was a great employee and Connor was my friend. Yes, I’d done him a favor by passing along his kid brother’s resume to Aaron but, as I’d just told Mark, it was he alone that won himself the job.
I held the door open for Mark, and as we crossed the hallway back to the main office, the elevator doors opened. Aaron stepped out of the elevator first, his hand holding onto Patience’s as she exited behind him, her ever-expanding belly leading the way.
“Josh,” she greeted, slightly out of breath.
My smile grew. “Still won’t let you out of his sight, huh?” I pulled her into a hug, chuckling when I heard Aaron’s growl behind me.
“Not hardly,” Patience answered. “How’s Kayla?” she questioned over her shoulder as she and Aaron continued walking down the hall toward his office.
I followed the pair, entering behind them into his office.
“She was being stubborn for a minute there but we’ve worked it out,” I answered, not thinking about my response. Only once I glanced up at Patience did I realize I just gave my sister-in-law an opening to get all in my private affairs.
“How so?” she asked, stepping closer.
“She agreed to move back in with you, I assume.”
I looked over Patience’s shoulder to see Aaron, behind his desk staring at me. “How’d you know?”
He shrugged. “I have my ways.”
“Carter,” I mumbled.
“She moved out?” Patience spoke up.
“Sort of,” I answered Patience while narrowing my gaze on my brother.
“You could always get her pregnant and then force her hand by threatening to take her kid away to get her to marry you,” Patience stated in a nonchalant voice.
