Poor bastard. There was no good way to respond to that. If he saidthank goodness, he’d insult the woman standing next to the guy with prison ink crawling up his neck. If he said he was disappointed … well, same problem, different angle.
Scarlett swirled her wineglass. “Bryson’s work ethic makes Jace look lazy.”
“I’m standing right here,” Jace said flatly.
“I know, babe.”
Harper tilted her head, studying Bryson like he was a patient she couldn’t quite diagnose. “So, are you? Single, that is?”
“You’ll have to forgive them,” Jace cut in. “They’re?—”
“Think long and hard how you choose to finish that sentence, Lockwood.” Scarlett pointed a perfectly manicured nail at him.
Jace smirked. “Exuberant. I was going to sayexuberant.”
“Delightful,” Axel added solemnly.
“Intelligent,” Blake chimed in.
“Hardworking and tenacious,” I offered, injecting false cheer into my voice.
Five sets of female eyes turned to glare at me.
So, I, the tattooed ex-con who was twice their size and ten times their strength, did what any smart man would do.
I shut my mouth. And tried very hard not to laugh at poor Bryson Lockwood.
“What do you do, exactly?” Harper’s tone turned lighter now that she was focused on the object of Cupid’s bow.
“Besides avoid parties?” Scarlett teased. “Jace had to strong-arm him into coming tonight.”
Bryson’s jaw ticced. “A little of everything.”
“He’s being modest,” Jace said. “Serial entrepreneur. Owns more businesses than he can count, but he delegates most of them.” He paused, watching his brother carefully. “His real passion project is building a pharmaceutical company that manufactures medications at cost.”
Harper blinked. “Like … the good kind of Big Pharma?”
Jace nodded. “Our mom died of cancer. During treatment, she had access to the best medications money could buy. But the woman in the chemo chair next to her didn’t have that same luxury.”
Bryson suddenly became very interested in his drink.
“The Lockwoods stepped in to help that woman,” Scarlett explained, “but it stuck with Bryson. People out there need medications they can’t afford. He’s trying to fix that.”
Harper’s expression shifted. “That’s … actually noble as hell.” She looked at him like she’d just discovered a golden retriever hiding inside a lion.
“He’s sweet,” Scarlett said. “But broody. And grumpy.”
“All righty then. This was … fun, but …” Bryson set down his glass, clearly done with being the center of attention. “I think I’m gonna go.”
“Already?” Faith appeared at his elbow, frowning. “Stay for a bit.”
“Work calls,” Bryson said.
“Work can leave a voicemail.” Jace smirked.
“It’s not work.” Bryson checked his phone again, frowning. “It’s … complicated.”
“A woman?” Dakota perked up.
