“Does he not have siblings?” I inquired.
“He does. Finn and May. May lives in San Antonio with her husband and children. Finn lives in Jacksonville. But he’s not a boat captain; he’s disabled and lives off social security and a settlement from his previous employer from a work accident that injured his back.”
Another lie.
Whatever. It had already been established Guy Stevens was a skilled liar.
“One more thing,” Brady started. “Other than the Samsung did you ever see him with another phone?”
Samsung?
“Guy doesn’t have a Samsung. He has a Kyocera. He called it a tough phone or something like that. Said it was totally waterproof and he could run it over with his car and it wouldn’t break.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Brady mumbled something under his breath then thanked me for my help before he beat a hasty retreat down the hall.
“They could’ve asked and saved themselves weeks of investigating him,” I muttered.
“Yeah, well, you know the TC crew are always trying to protect their women. Which brings me to the business I need to talk to you about,” Quinn stated.
“Right. Monday night. I’m available as long as there is no exercising involved.”
“Promise.”
“Are you going to give me a hint about why we’re meeting? Wedding stuff?”
“Strategizing for a new business venture. Liberty and Shiloh came up with the idea. Addy jumped on board and Hadley has even agreed to leave her position at the library to help.”
“Really?”
Hadley loved being a librarian. Her whole life seemed to revolve around books and literacy outreach.
“Yep. Liberty wants to call it Women Inc. but Hadley’s fighting her and wants it to be called Heroines. They’ll hash that out but we’d like your input and participation.”
“Um, I have a job and so do you.”
“Liberty talked to the Uncles. They’re fully onboard. Monday we’ll go over the specifics.”
The Uncles were Jasper, Levi, Clark, and Lenox—the original owners of Triple Canopy. I suppose they still own TC or at least part of it but they’ve stepped down from the day-to-day operations.
I loved my job but I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to work with a group of women who were strong, smart, and motivated.
“Okay.”
“Awesome. After work, we’re meeting here in the conference room. Prepared to be wowed.” Quinn smiled. “Now, go home and enjoy your weekend.”
Yes, my weekend.
Alone, since Logan was with his family.
Something I thought I needed, but now for some reason alone sounded lonely and boring.
13
“So, Logan, your mom tells me you were in the Navy,” Ian Webster said from across the table.
I’d been internally debating which grated my nerves more—the motherfucker sitting next to my mother or the sound of his voice. At his attempt to start yet another conversation with me I decided it was his voice that pissed me off, but when his hand covered my mom’s on the table my opinion quickly changed.
This was not a good idea.
Not my mother and sisters insisting I meet the man or us having dinner together. I thought I could hold it together for the two days they’d be in Georgia.
I’d been wrong.
“Logan, Ian’s talking to you,” my mom needlessly pointed out.
“Yes, Ian, I was in the Navy. My sisters tell me you were once married but have no children.”
I was being a total douchebag. I knew his wife had passed away and I knew they had no children due to her cancer treatments early in their marriage.
“Logan,” my mom gasped.
Jill and Jackie both huffed. Jackie kicked me under the table. Not to be outdone her twin, Jill, pinched my arm.
“It’s okay, DeeDee,” Ian soothed. “I was married, yes. We were unable to have children. She passed ten years ago.”
I didn’t offer my condolences or any other platitudes that would smooth over me being a dick. I was caught back on Ian calling my mother a nickname. Her name was Deandra, but everyone called her Dee. I’d never heard anyone call her DeeDee and I didn’t like hearing some asshole calling her a pet name.
“What’s wrong with you?” Jill leaned over and muttered.
“Me? What the hell is wrong with you? Some guy’s circling Mom and you’re okay with this?”
“Ian’s not a shark circling his prey, Logan. And why does everything have to be so damn difficult with you?” my sister pushed.
“Maybe because I love Mom and I don’t—”
“Stop it, both of you, we’re in public.” Jackie the sensible twin scowled. “You’re embarrassing Mom.”
There was no doubt my mother was embarrassed. Her face was a deep shade of red and her perfectly manicured eyebrows were pinched together. And sitting there staring at her I wondered if she still woke up every morning and kitted herself out because that was what her abusive dickhead husband had demanded of her, or if she did it for herself. Dee Haines was always presentable.
“My son believes that it’s his job to protect the women in our family,” my mom said conversationally. “There was a time when that was the case. A time when I relied on him to oversee his sisters and keep them from harm. That time has long since passed but Logan has never stopped standing between us and anyone who he deems a threat.”
What the fuck?
“Mom—”
“As Jackie has pointed out we are in public and now is not the time to air our dirty laundry, but, Logan, it’s time for all of us to talk about what happened.”
My hand went to my stomach and anger swelled.
“I vividly remember what happened.”
“We all do, son. It’s just you who cannot move past it.”
I shut my mouth and clenched my jaw.
On more than one occasion Luke had accused me of being a mama’s boy. He wasn’t wrong. I adored my mother and my sisters. But it was my mom I had a soft spot for. It was my mom who had saved my life. It was my mom who had endured countless beatings to protect me and my sisters. I’d never been able to deny her anything.
But I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get through this dinner watching a man hold her hand.
“I love you, Ma.”
“I know you do, son.” She gave me a tentative smile that succeeded in making me feel like a huge asshole. “Now, let's talk about my girl making partner.”
Yep. I was a horrible son and an even worse brother.
Seeing as Jackie was a vet tech and Jill an account manager for an advertising firm I knew which sister my mom was talking about.
“You made partner?” I asked Jill. “And didn’t tell me?”
“I just got the news last week and wanted to tell you in person,” she chirped.
No, she wanted her good news to be used to cut the tension. My sister was no dummy and knew exactly how I’d react to meeting Ian.
Fucking shit. I was going to have to get to know this guy. If he was going to be in my mom’s and sisters’ lives I had no choice.
“Proud of you, Jilly. Tell me all about it.”