Carter guffawed. “Yeah, like when he said Michelle would love that huge, gaudy necklace.” He laughed, making me frown.
“You said she liked green. It was an emerald.”
“That was twice the size of her neck. The thing was hideous.” He peered over to the corner. “No offense, Jeremiah.”
I’d half forgotten the man was still there.
“None taken.”
“Don’t even get me started on his input when I went to pick out Destiny’s last birthday gift,” Tyler chimed in, shaking his head.
“Fuck,” Carter groaned. “I don’t even want to think about it.”
I glared at the table across from Carter. “Fuck you.”
That made all four of them laugh even harder. Yeah, I was shit at picking out jewelry, which was part of the reason I procrastinated on choosing a ring for Mia. However, impatience started to get the better of me, and I’d stopped by a jewelry shop the week before, but walked away with nothing.
I examined the rings in front of me. There were princess cut diamonds, pear shaped, oval, and even heart shaped rings. They all glinted at me as if beckoning me to choose them. And those were just the diamonds. Jeremiah had brought a stock of other rings with varying types of precious gems on them.
“It’s on us,” Joshua said, clapping me on the back.
I looked over at him with a wrinkle in my forehead. He nodded toward the rings. “We’ll help you choose. Any ring. And if there’s one here that’s not right, Jeremiah will bring in more. Either way, we’re footing the bill.”
He looked toward his brothers, who all nodded as if it was a done deal. Even Aaron.
“Fuck,” I whispered. These bastards caused a lump to form in my throat. One I had to work to be able to swallow.
There was silence in the room for a minute. They all gave me the time to compose myself. This feeling of being alone had overtaken me for so long that I started to not even notice it. It got shoved into a black box, placed into the back of my mind, never to think about or acknowledge.
It was my responsibility to ensure the Townsends were safe. What started as just a job became more along the way. But I denied that because becoming friends with the people you’re protecting can pose a danger to the job. It becomes more difficult to say no to a friend or family member than just a client.
I glanced up from the table. “This doesn’t mean I’m letting any of you go on vacation without additional security,” I said, glaring at them in warning.
“Wouldn’t think of it,” Tyler said.
“Just so we’re clear,” I muttered, looking back down at the rings, “no.” I shook my head.
Their faces darkened, which made me chuckle. “I need your help picking out the right ring for my woman. But I can’t let you buy it.”
“It’s our gift to you,” Carter protested.
I nodded. “And I appreciate it.” I looked them all in the eyes so they would see my sincerity. “But any ring on my wife’s finger will be one that I paid for.”
Aaron clapped me on the back. “Damn straight.”
Tyler hummed. “We’ll pay for the bachelor party then.”
They all agreed, sending them all into a fit of cheers and hell yeahs.
“I’ll let you numbskulls pay for that.”
“Great. Now that that’s decided …” Joshua started, and then turned to Jeremiah, who’d remained silent throughout our talk. He waved him over. “Let’s help this man pick out a ring.”
CHAPTER29
Mia
“Mmm, that feels amazing,” I hummed and laid my head back against the arm of the couch. Brutus and I had just finished eating dinner and sat down to watch that new moviePrey.As soon as we sat, he pulled my feet onto his lap and began massaging them.
