“I’m good with those.”
She put the dress on what she’d labeled the Keep rack, where at least ten dresses were hanging, their paired shoes in a bag hooked to each hanger.
“I pulled jewelry too,” she said. “Do you want to look at any of it?”
“You got the piece I specifically requested?”
She removed a black velvet case from one of the bags on the floor, pushing up her glasses as she rose. “Yes, I got it.”
“What’s going on in here?” Eden asked.
Eden?
My head snapped in my sister’s direction as she walked into my living room.
“How did you get in through my gate?” I set the tablet beside me on the couch, ready to go to fucking war. “And what if I was in the middle of something?”
“You are in the middle of something.” She waved hello to my assistant, completely ignoring my first question. “Why do you have a living room full of women’s clothes?” She took the spot next to me. “Never mind. I’m pretty sure I know that answer.” She craned her neck to the side. “Damn, that blue dress is gorgeous.” She eyed me. “I’m impressed with you, brother.”
“Why?” I crossed my legs on top of the ottoman, still feeling fiery that she’d come over without warning. “Because I have good taste?”
“And that you’re giving that woman what she deserves.” The sides of her blazer fell open. “The blue will look beautiful on her.”
As the room went quiet, my assistant cleared her throat. “Excuse me, Walker. Where would you like me to bring everything?”
“My closet.”
Eden waited until we were alone before she said, “Your closet, huh? Big moves.”
“Don’t start. My patience is thinner than normal.” I grabbed my tablet and shook it as though that would clear out my inbox. “I just spent an hour going through Hart’s emails. I’d rather soak my hand in the deep fryer than pick apart the family’s suggested changes for Toro.”
“They need to be addressed.” She crossed her legs. “We can’t keep putting this off.”
“You mean,Ican’t keep putting it off. The changes have to come from me.” Just one more fucking thing my family needed me to handle while their involvement didn’t go deeper than one of them sending their thoughts through email. “Is that why you’re here? To discuss Toro?”
“I pick my battles wisely. That’s not one I’m addressing today.” She tucked a thick chunk of black hair behind her earand set a folder between us, one I hadn’t even noticed she was holding. “James’s team sent over the details for the charity event. Their budget for food, food restrictions, official head count, event space, kitchen specs and layout.”
Every word she spoke made my fingers clench even tighter into a fist. “Now it makes sense. Had you asked to come over, I would have said no. Had you called or texted to discuss this, I wouldn’t have answered.”
She smiled. “You could kick me out … but you won’t.”
“Don’t be so fucking sure of yourself.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger.” She patted my arm like the top of a dog’s head. “Have you given it any more thought?”
“I have.”
“And?”
I let out a long, hissing breath and gripped the back of my neck. “Fuck, Eden. I don’t know if I can do it.”
Her head slowly bounced, the sympathy in her eyes building with each nod. “I wish you were telling me you didn’twantto do it. That would make this conversation much easier.” She slid toward the end of the cushion and pointed her knees at me. “Do you think the passion is gone for good? Or do you think you just need to find it again?”
I pulled my legs back, my feet landing on the rug, and I set my elbows on my thighs, my fingers diving into the sides of my hair.
Was it gone? Completely?
No.
