Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Hey.” She walks around the island until she’s facing London and Caleb and firms her chin. “So, I had a long time to think things over last night, and I think that I have to go ahead and hand in my resignation.”
“What? No!” Caleb shakes his head emphatically while London’s face immediately takes on the look she has at work.
“I understand,” London replies and stands. “Last night was way more than you signed on for. Caleb’s behavior is inexcusable.”
“I was so scared,” Quinn admits, and her eyes fill with tears. “I’ve never been so terrified in my life. What if something truly awful had happened to him on my watch? I would never forgive myself. And to know that he”—she turns to Caleb—“that you would do that to me on purpose because you were throwing some kind of a temper tantrum… It’s too much for me. I don’t know that I can trust you anymore, Caleb.”
“I’m sorry,” Caleb says and immediately runs around the island to fling his arms around her. “I’m sorry, honest I am. Please don’t quit. I won’t ever do it again, I promise. Just don’t go.”
“As you can see,” London says, “we would prefer it if you’d reconsider. Quinn, we love you. You’re a part of our family, and I’m so deeply sorry that Caleb pulled that stunt on you. It’s not okay. Please give us another chance.”
Quinn seems to think it over, and then she takes Caleb’s face in her hands and tilts it up so he has to look at her.
“You can never do that again. When it’s just you and me here, we’re a team, and teammates don’t do that crap to each other, right?”
“I know. I’m really, really sorry.”
“If you ever act like that again, I’ll quit, Caleb, and I’m not kidding. I love you too much, and you hurt me really bad.”
Caleb, with tears flowing down his cheeks, hugs Quinn again.
“I won’t. I won’t do it again.”
“Okay, then I’m going to trust you. Don’t break my trust.”
All of this because I wanted to take London somewhere nice. Spoil her. Make love to her. It’s my fault. I should have sat Caleb down for a man-to-man talk before I took his mom out of town.
I won’t make that mistake again.
“Does anyone want breakfast?” I ask, and all three of them nod their heads.
“Bacon,” Caleb says. “It’s my favorite.”
“Bacon coming up, then.”
Chapter 12
London
“Did you kill him?”
Laughing at Rome’s question, I lock my office door behind us and turn to Lucy, who’s typing diligently at her desk.
“Rome and I are going to go check in on some things here on campus. Just text if you need me.”
“Enjoy,” Lucy says with a smile and reaches to answer a ringing phone. “Ms. Ambrose’s office. No, I’m sorry, she’s in a meeting. Can I put you through to her voicemail? Perfect, please hold.”
Rome glances back at Lucy and then down at me as we make our way down the hallway. “Your new assistant is…efficient.”
“She’s also beautiful, and I don’t want you to lay a hand on her.”
“Me?” He presses his hand to his chest and gives me his best hurt look. “I would never.”
“I like her, Rome. You’re not going to ruin this for me. I’ll kill you.”
“Point taken. But speaking of homicide, Caleb survived the night?”
“He did. And when Quinn announced that she was quitting this morning, he apologized profusely and panicked.”
“Quinn quit?”
“Yeah, but I talked her into staying. Anyway, by the time Drew and I decided to come into work today, Quinn and Caleb were settled in at the house, playing video games.”
“I’m sorry you ended up coming in today,” Rome says. “You don’t take vacation days often.”
“It’s okay.” I shrug a shoulder as we reach the elevator. “I think I’m going to Montana with Drew and some of his cousins for a ski trip in a couple of weeks. During our bye weekend.”
“That’s next weekend.”
I blink, surprised. “Really? Wow, time flies. Drew said that he was fine if I wanted to bring Caleb, but I think after his stunt last night, he hasn’t earned a ski trip.”
“Agreed. Tie him up in his room, and I’ll push in trays of food.”
I laugh and nudge my brother with my elbow. “That’s frowned upon. I’ll have to ask Quinn to stay with him.”
“So soon after last night?” Rome frowns. “She might not be up for it.”
“Hey.” I turn at the sound of Drew’s voice and grin when I see him walking toward us. We came down to the practice field behind the headquarters building to look in on practice. “I was just coming up to see you. Hey, Rome.”
“Drew.”
The two men shake hands, and Drew turns back to me.
“I just spoke with Stella, the cousin who’s actually putting the ski weekend together, and we’ll be in Bitterroot Valley for four days. We have the plane lined up, and I’ll make sure we have our own rental. My parents have offered to keep Caleb, if that’s cool with you. I figured Quinn wouldn’t be up for it, and he’s grounded, but if you want him to go, that’s cool, too.”