He shrugged.
“Find out,” I ordered.
The phone on my desk rang. I nodded at Joseph as he left before answering.
“Brutus,” Aaron snapped, “I need you in my office.”
“On my way.”
I checked the time, seeing that it was a little after five. I had planned to remain in the office until five-thirty or so, and then swing over to Cup of Joy. Before Mia, I wasn’t a guy who hung around in coffee shops. Not like I had time for that type of shit anyway.
But lately, the best part of my days was entering her café. Mia infused the café with her liveliness and, more often than not, her laughter. Most of the time, it would hit my ears as I entered while she talked with one customer or another. The patron base of the shop was steadily growing. People came back not only for the drinks but for the atmosphere.
Mia drew people to her. At times, I was slightly jealous of how much other people got her time and attention when we were out in public. I wanted to wrap her up and keep her just for myself.
But that would be selfish as fuck of me.
She thrived on interaction with others. That and her love of coffee and attention to detail made her new shop the success it was growing into.
Instead of keeping her all to myself, though, I’d go hang out at her shop whenever I could just to watch her. Sometimes, I’d help out behind the counter.
A smile was on my face the entire elevator ride up to Aaron’s office. When I stepped off and headed down the long hallway toward his corner office, I wondered what he wanted. A piece of me hated to admit it, but I hoped it wasn’t something that would require a lot of time or for me to stay too late.
Aaron’s schedule often fluctuated and changed when things came up. Though it was my job to keep up with the changes in all of the family’s schedules and be at the ready when they needed me, my heart pulled me toward Cup of Joy.
“Brutus,” he said as I entered.
I was surprised to find Joshua seated on the couch in his office as well.
“I thought you weren’t going to get back until after six,” I told Joshua. He had a meeting across town.
“Plans changed. I canceled the meeting,” Joshua answered. There was a glint of something in his green eyes. Like he was withholding some critical information.
“Deal didn’t work out?” I asked, knowing he was working on a potentially lucrative real estate deal.
“Not this time.” But he smiled like he still somehow won the lottery.
I wondered what was going on, and before I could ask Carter and Tyler entered Aaron’s office. Carter closed the door behind him. He wore his captain’s uniform from the Williamsport Fire Department.
“Shit,” Carter cursed. “We’re still dealing with that four-alarm from last night. I thought I was gonna miss this.” He clapped me on the shoulder as he passed, throwing a huge grin my way.
“Your ass better had been here,” Tyler told him. “This is important.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Carter shot back.
“Would someone like to tell me what’s going on?” I asked, glancing between the four brothers.
My gaze landed on Aaron since it was his office. I assumed him to be the ringleader of all of this. Whateverthiswas.
“We’re waiting on one more person,” Aaron replied, folding his arms across his chest. He looked over at Joshua. “He’s late.” Aaron bared his teeth in obvious irritation. But what else was new?
I looked at my watch. It was five-fifteen. “There weren’t any other meetings on your schedule for the day,” I told Aaron.
“No, there weren’t,” he said pointedly. “Not on your calendar.” His answer was cryptic. Aaron wasn’t the type to give information away until he was good and ready.
A muscle in my jaw ticked in frustration. When it came to my job, I had to be the type of guy who was able to adjust and rearrange my schedule when necessary. However, the pull to leave work and go see my woman was a fucking leash around my heart. With each beat, I could feel a vice around it growing slightly tighter.
Before I could get too annoyed a knock sounded on the door.
