He gave me one last smile before his expression turned serious, and he was back to business. “We want you to come work forNo Surrender.”
Braxton glanced around the table, and my eyes followed. All the men that worked for the company were nodding their heads in agreement. My chest tightened at the acceptance from the most amazing guys I knew.
“There is another military buddy of mine that we’re looking to hire as well, but we can always use more people. We’d like you to be a part of the business we are growing.”
As he began speaking again, my eyes went back to him.
“We don’t need an answer right now; just tell me, us—” he motioned around the table with his hand, “that you’ll give it some thought?”
The question was out there, and I had to admit it sounded appealing, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready. He sensed that; they all did. That was what made them even more exceptional at their job.
“Thank you.” I scanned the group again, acknowledging them all before once more looking back at Braxton. “That is a great offer, and of course I will think about it.”
I wondered for a second who the other guy he was talking about was but didn’t ask. We’d find out soon enough if he took the job, and I needed to veer in a different direction because I was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Patience softly moved her hand up and down my thigh in what I knew was to be comforting, but I wasn’t sure that it was working since my dick jolted in my dress pants.
“If you want to be a rockstar, we’ll be glad to have you anytime you’re not traveling the world,” Kace said, lightening the mood.
“Yeah, you know my parents would be happy to collaborate with both you and Patience anytime,” Lyric added. “They would be glad to help you become stars.”
My girl?—
Fuck, that was what she was, wasn’t she?Mine.How could I be so screwed up? My head was spinning like a damn Yo-Yo. But the fact was, she could sing like an angel and play the guitar with the best of them.
The other realization I’d had some time ago was that I loved to sing and play just like her, but I would never do it for a living. Once I’d known I was not re-enlisting, I just wanted to be with Patience and Griffin. I’d never be away from them again for a long period of time—even if it meant living the dream that so many wanted.
Theywere my dream.
And if that didn’t make the fact that I was keeping her at arm’s length even more fucked up, I didn’t know what did.
“I think I’m good, man.” I smiled at my brother-in-law. “But I’d be happy to sing with them for fun anytime.”
“Me too,” Patience said quietly from beside me, drawing my attention.
Turning my head, I looked into her big brown eyes to ask her if she was sure about what she wanted, but didn’t get the chance before someone announced over the microphone that the silent auction was closing soon, and it was time for dessert.
Those brown eyes twinkled, and I chuckled. Patience loved dessert. “Let’s get you your sweet fix and take a peek at the items being bid on,” I told her.
We hadn’t made it over there yet. I rose from my chair and held out my hand. Patience placed her small palm in mine and got up. Everyone around the table followed suit, and we all made our way through the flurry of people trying to do the same as we were.
After glancing at the auction items—some of our group adding last minute bids—everyone headed to the dessert table.
Patience and I had done a great job of not having direct contact with those we most wanted to avoid.
But our luck had just run out.
Chapter Fifteen
PATIENCE
No. No. No.
My heart pounded, anxiety rising, as the two people I disdained most in the world approached. My mother and stepfather came in a close second, but I hadn’t seen them since the day I left home and moved in with Jett and his family.
Not seeing Chaz and his awful wife, Sloane, wasn’t something I’d been lucky enough to have avoided because, before I knew it, they were standing right in front of us.
The only reason I stayed rooted in place instead of running like I had the last time I’d seen them was because of Jett’s presence. His arm had wrapped around my waist, hugging me close to his side as soon as he saw the vultures descending.
