Mona shrugs. “I actually only wash my hair two times a week, and I put a hair mask on it.” She looks me over closely. “What’s up? I can tell something’s on your mind.”
I laugh. “You’re one of the only people who can read me,” I tell her about my brother and the winery. “I was wondering if I could take three weeks off. I know it’s short notice, and I’ll reschedule all my clients. Maybe I’ll move some up and do them before I go. I don’t know; what do you think?”
She leans forward. “Haven’t we been telling you to take some time off? You’re always the one to hold down the fort when we have stuff going on. Take a month if you can afford it. Hell, we’ll cover your rent for a month if you need us to.”
“You are amazing, but I promise I’m good. My brother is paying for my flight, and I’ve got savings.” I don’t mention I have a trust fund that my maternal grandparents left me and, honestly, with that alone, I don’t have to work, and if I had them, my children wouldn’t have to work either, but my brother and I have both always had jobs.
Until the other girls arrive, I sit with Mona as she fills me in on her kiddos. Iris and Max are both twelve. Mona’s husband adopted Iris when they got married, and although his son has a mother, he still calls Mona Mom because she’s more of a mom than his real one.
Then Mona and Joaquin had Daniel, who is three, and Celia is one.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I tell her. I’ve always wanted kids, but… Well, not going there.
Mona shrugs. “I have an amazing partner.” She gets a goofy grin on her face. “We make a good team.”
“You’re lucky,” I say as I get up.
“Why don’t you date, Lainey? You don’t talk about your life before you moved to Georgia.” Mona stands up, coming around her desk. “We love you; you know that, right? You’re the fifth Collins girl.”
I can’t stop the tears that leak from my eyes. She pulls me into a hug. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Honey, I mean it. You’ve been there for us all. We couldn’t do it without you.” She pulls back but still holds on to me. “Now, work out your schedule and go home. We’ll hold the fort down here.”
“I’ll see my clients today, but thank you, Mona. Thanks for everything.” I feel someone come behind me, joining in on the hug; it’s Heidi.
“I don’t know why we’re hugging but love you guys.” Heidi squeezes me before backing away. She looks between the two of us. “What’s going on?”
“Lainey is finally taking a much-deserved vacation. She’s going home to Malibu,” Mona says as she wraps her arm around my waist.
“Well, it’s about time.”
I roll my eyes but smile. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I walk to the door and turn to face two of the four women who mean so much to me. “I love you guys.”
When that’s out of the way, I head to my workstation to get ready for my day. I look forward to seeing my brother real soon.
Chapter Two
Ranger
I pull into the parking lot of Cole Security to meet a buddy of mine from my Navy days. His wife, Catherine, just hired me as a new PR rep at CJJ in LA. I climb out of my blue Audi Q8, straighten my gray suit jacket, and head toward the door.
His receptionist is a beautiful blonde—I think her name is Tiffany, and I’ve thought about asking her out, but I don’t want a relationship. Most women will tell you they’re fine with a purely physical relationship until you begin sleeping together, and they slowly try to change your mind. It leads me to break things off, and I don’t want it to be awkward since she works for my buddy.
She smiles widely up at me when I approach. “Welcome to Cole Security. How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Mr. Cole.”
“Who can I say is here?” She smiles at me in a way I know she’d go out with me if I ask, but that’s not happening.
“Ranger Brooks.”
She picks up the phone. “Sir, Ranger Brooks is here to see you.” She hangs up the phone. “He’s up the stairs, the last door on the right.”
I nod and then make my way upstairs. Jackson meets me in the hall outside his office. “I take it the interview went well?”
We exchange a backslapping hug. “It went great. Your wife is too good for you; you know that, right?”
He leads me into his office. “Don’t I fucking know it.” I stop at the photos on his side table. He and Catherine have two little girls, Erin and Kennedy. They’re playing in the ocean in the photograph. “Catherine called right after you left. She said they really loved you. My wife works fast; they’re already getting your office ready.”
“Yeah? I can’t thank you guys enough for everything. Walking away from the Navy after eight years was hard. You gave me a job here when I was finishing up my degree.” I shake my head. “I don’t know, man. I’m just really fucking grateful.”
Jackson grips my shoulder. “That’s what brothers do.” I follow him into his office, and we make small talk until we head out to lunch to celebrate my job.
I run along the water’s edge, thankful for the peace and tranquility I feel. It helps keep my mind blank, so I don’t think about the past. Being so close to Malibu has been awakening memories I’ve tried to bury deep because the pain was too much to bear. Now it’s just this tiny thing in the back of my mind, or, at least, I try to keep it that way. The last I knew, she left for Georgia and never came back.
I push myself harder to drown out the thoughts that start to creep in. By the time I get back to my SUV, I’m exhausted, thankfully. I drive to my condo and let myself inside. After a quick shower, I crawl into bed. Tomorrow is my first day at CJJ, and I want to be well-rested.
In the morning, I’m on the road, giving myself plenty of time to get to the office. I live in Calabasas, and CJJ public relations is in LA, which is about a forty-minute drive, longer during rush hour, I’m sure. I’m excited to get to work.
When I did public relations in the Navy, I did a little bit of everything—working with the media, community-based events, and even a liaison on a movie set filming a project that takes place during the war in the Middle East. It was a pretty cool experience.
Once I reach the office, I park down the street in a parking garage, then walk to the building. I step inside and stop at the security desk, giving them my name. I get a temporary badge until I get my official photo taken.
I head to the elevators and step on, riding it up to the top floor. The main receptionist, Mallory, smiles as I approach. “Good morning, Mr. Brooks. Mrs. Cole is waiting for you in the conference room up the stairs and to the left.”
“Thank you.” I make my way up the stairs. That constant dull ache in my hip has me rubbing it a little when I reach the top of the stairs, but I shake it off. The moment I step into the conference room, Catherine and another woman stand up.
“It’s good to see you, Ranger. Welcome to CJJ.” Catherine pulls me into a hug. “I hope you’ll love it here. This is Elizabeth from HR. She’ll have you sign your contract and all the other papers we need. IT will get you set up with your laptop and cell phone when she's done with you. After that, Jackson is coming, and we’re taking you to lunch.”