His excuse was thin at best, but I was happy to see him all the same. The tight knot in my chest eased a little, replaced by something warmer, and far more dangerous.
I wondered if Jace had sent him, and my happiness faltered. It was a scenario that made sense.
My brother trusted me, but he was protective. He and Teddy had been like oil and water, but I’d written off their exchanges as good-natured fun.
It bothered me now how easily I’d dismissed Teddy’s teasing. How many times I’d laughed when I shouldn’t have.
At least something good had come out of it. Sloane and Jace had fallen in love somewhere between picking out a tux and setting up for the reception.
Jace was happier than I’d ever seen him.
“I appreciate it, but I’m good.”
“I told Jace about what I said to Teddy on the phone, just figured it was better he knew in case Teddy came by work or something.”
I nodded. So my suspicion about Jace’s hand in this was probably right. “Good thinking.”
“You sure you’re okay?” He slouched just enough to look into my eyes through his glasses.
“Yeah, thanks, I’m good.”
He nodded, took a half step back, then nodded again. “I’ll see you at the office, then.”
There was something unspoken in his eyes, a question he didn’t ask. That he respected my choice after months of Teddy’s dismissive bullshit made me like him that much more.
That his helpfulness could in part be my brother’s doing made me remember to keep my heart guarded.
I gave him a small wave and watched him go, his long legs eating up the sidewalk. After a minute, I turned to get back into my car and out of the cold, but I almost ran right into Teddy.
“Shit, you scared me.”
He rolled his eyes. “You demanded I show up, so here I am.” He hunched his shoulders against the cold. “Is that the upgrade?” He made air quotes around the wordupgrade. “Another lumberjack? Jesus, Layne. When you rebel, you commit.”
Teddy had always looked down on Jace for his job, seeing trades as mindless and beneath him.
I grit my teeth, refusing to take the bait. “Let’s just get this over with.” I would have loved to verbally bitch-slap him, but I needed his signature more than I needed the satisfaction.
He made a grand gesture for me to go first, and I stormed up the stairs.
We emerged twenty minutes later with everything done.
I was shocked at how smoothly it had gone.
Was Teddy trying to butter me up, or had he finally accepted this was over?
“We should come up with a day and time to meet at the bank,get the accounts dealt with.”
“Whatever you say,dear,” Teddy said, sliding his hands into expensive-looking leather gloves.
I ignored the passive-aggressive dig and got into my car. “I’ll text you,” I said before slamming the door with a satisfying thud.
I couldn’t get away from Teddy fast enough.
Chapter Four
Elias
So she didn’t want me to stay. No big deal. I hadn’t expected her to. It was fine.
