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“I do. By the way, I hope your wife and the baby are doing well.”

I smile proudly. “They are. We have an appointment next week to find out the sex of our baby, and she’s been busy with school.” I cross my arms. “But I’m guessing you didn’t stop me to ask about my wife and the baby…”

“Fuck, Easton. I didn’t want to do this to you today, but…” He blows out a breath. “The reason I brought it up is because I might need you to go out of town for a few days.”

Pressure builds at my temples. “That wasn’t part of the deal, Donovan.”

He holds up both hands. “I know, and trust me, if there were anyone else I trusted with this, I’d ask him. But you’re the only one I know I can count on.”

His compliment feeds my ego for a second. Then I’m pissed again. “Is that so?”

“Yes. The job is in Blossom Peak, at Hart Winery. George Hart is a good friend of my father’s, and I don’t want anyone else supervising the work on his property other than you.”

Sighing, I clench my jaw. “How long?”

“Shouldn’t take more than three days.”

“So, most likely a full week,” I correct him, because if there’s anything I’ve learned working in the telecom industry, it’s that nothing takes as long as you think it will.

“I promise to have you home by the weekend, and then I won’t ask you to go out of town again.” He taps his chin in thought. “Well, maybe once the baby is born and it’s been a few months. But I promise, not any time before that.”

I exhale heavily. “Fine. When?”

“Two weeks from now.”

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

Donovan clasps my shoulder. “Thank you. And Easton, I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t believe in you. That wasn’t my intention.”

My anger subsides. “Thank you.”

Donovan isn’t a dick, and I know that deep down. I just hate feeling like I’m on edge when it comes to justifying my decisions to everyone, especially when it comes to Lennon.

Thank God my brother only gave me an ounce of shit for marrying her though, otherwise I’m not sure I’d have him to turn to when I need it. And since Owen is already on my mind, I call him on my way back to Garnet Valley.

“Some of us don’t have time to talk on the phone at any hour of the day,” he says the second he answers.

“Well, good morning to you too.”

“The only reason I answered is because I’m in the office catching up on paperwork and possess the apparently rare ability to multitask.”

“Am I supposed to be impressed by that? Or feel special?”

“Both.”

“Well, fuck you too.”

He chuckles. “What’s up? Shouldn’t you be at work right now?”

“I’m driving back to Garnet Valley. It’s Monday, so I had to stop by the yard in Knoxville because I haven’t been in a few weeks.”

“Nice. And how did it go?”

I blow out a frustrated breath. “Donovan needs me to go out of town in two weeks.”

“Uh, wasn’t that supposed to stop now that you’re married to Lennon?”

“That’s what I said, but the client is a friend of his dad’s. George Hart? He owns Hart Winery?”