by Parker, Ali
“Nothing important. You’ll be meeting with Samuel. He just acquired a collection of artifacts and is giving us—you—first dibs. He’s also going to put you in touch with a friend of his that is working a dig. He says you should be able to go out and inspect the area.”
“Are there any pieces in particular you think I will be interested in?”
He laughed. “No Holy Grails, but the usual dishes and statues. You might find something that gets your juices flowing. I did hear a rumor that there might be some things from the monarchic period.”
“Everything is holy over there,” I replied. “It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten anything from Israel. It should be interesting. If there is truly anything that old, you know I have to have it. That will be a rare find indeed.”
“Definitely. I’ve put together some information to help you identify time periods. It should help you authenticate anything you come across. I trust Samuel but he isn’t above shady dealings. He might have been the victim of a scam himself. You just never know in this business. The forgers are getting better every year.”
“I agree. I’ll do my homework before I get there. I’m bummed you won’t be there. You’re my voice of reason. You know how I get when I see something I want. I can’t just walk away. I need you to be the guy that talks me down.”
He smiled. “If you buy a piece of shit, it isn’t like you can’t afford the loss. Put it in your private collection and no one will know you got fucked. Even a shitty piece is worth something, and one day, it will likely be worth a fortune.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
He shrugged. “Your strong suit is Egyptian history. Mine is Middle Eastern that does not include Egypt. Egyptian history is so much more confusing to me.”
He was right. It was why we made such a good team. “Depending on who you ask, Egyptian history is Middle Eastern.”
He laughed. “Not in my world. My brain can only handle so much information.”
“Why aren’t you going?” I asked him directly.
He bit his lower lip, clearly stressed about something. I waited, giving him time to say what was on his mind. “I’ve been heavily recruited.”
I nodded. “You always are. You’re an expert in the field. People value your expertise.”
“This time is different.”
“How so?”
“Because I’m interested.”
I took a deep breath. “Oh. I see. I didn’t know you were looking for a job.”
“I wasn’t. These guys came to me. Several times actually. I like Seattle. You know that’s where I am originally from and my family is there.”
I nodded. “You have already decided?”
“No, not totally, but I will tell you I am strongly considering it. I’m going over there to meet with them, check out their facility, and see if it’s worth leaving all this behind.”
“Seattle, huh?”
He smiled. “I love the Emerald City.”
“I know. I don’t blame you. If I had a family, I would want to be near them as well. I don’t want to lose you, but I think you already know that.”
“I do and I don’t want to leave you hanging, but this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. My mom isn’t getting any younger. My brother’s family. Everyone.”
“I get it,” I told him. “Is there anything I can do to keep you here?”
He shrugged. “It isn’t anything to do with you. You’ve been good to me. You’ve given me a lot of experience and I am so grateful for that. I have not made up my mind.”
I smiled. “Sure, you have.”
He sighed. “I’m torn, man. I really am. I want to be here and there. Ever think about opening a place up in Seattle?”
I laughed. “Maybe one day, but you know how much work it takes. It would take some serious research.”
“I know, I know. It was just a thought. I guess I want the best of both worlds.”
“I bet your family is thrilled with the idea,” I commented.
He looked at me. “I haven’t told them. I don’t want to make any decisions until I see it with my own two eyes. It could be the worst job in the world.”
“But you know it isn’t.”
He slowly nodded. “I know it isn’t.”
“Hey, don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay.”
“I know you will be. I’ll let you get back to doing whatever it is you do here alone in this giant house. I still don’t know why you have such a big house. Do you even cover all the square footage in this place in an average week?”
I looked around the living room, the place I spent the bulk of my time. “I don’t know. I’m usually in here, the kitchen, or in my room. Or my museum.”
He laughed. “Only you would have a museum in your house.”
I shrugged. “Some things I just like to keep close.”
He got to his feet. “All right. I’ll send those documents over as soon as I get home, along with a list of items Samuel thinks you will be most interested in. I’ve put together a package that includes estimated value and history on the artifacts.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for going through all the trouble for me.”
“You know it wasn’t a problem.”
I walked him to the door and waved as he drove out of the gate. I went back inside and finally let my disappointment show. I was bummed. Completely and totally bummed at the idea of losing Alec. He was my other half at work. He knew me well enough to know what I wanted and what I didn’t want. He anticipated what I needed.
I trusted Alec. He was one of the few people in the industry that truly knew what he was doing. I didn’t have to question his experience or knowledge. He had proven himself time and again. I wasn’t sure how I was going to go forward without Alec. He was the man everyone reached out to. Everyone knew to contact Alec and he would make a deal happen. I relied on him to be my eyes and ears on the market.
“Fuck,” I groaned as I walked back to the kitchen to get a drink.
How in the hell was I going to procure artifacts? I was only one man. Alec and I usually divided and conquered. I couldn’t be halfway around the world and leave the business in the hands of my assistant. If I didn’t go to the digs and places to check out the latest finds, I could never truly authenticate the origin. I would have to rely on the paperwork.
Yes, I could still run my business, but it wouldn’t be the same. It was going to be much harder and it wouldn’t be nearly as smooth as it ran now. I was pissed at myself for becoming so reliant on Alec. I should have known better. I should have hired a backup person. Alec suggested we hire an intern or apprentice of sorts to learn from us with the idea one of us would be able to take a vacation.
I had screwed that up. Now I was left holding the bag and I had no one to blame but myself. “Good job, Tyson.”
With a bottle of water in hand, I walked back to the living room to get started on my research for the trip. I wasn’t going to be able to rely on Alec’s expertise. It was all on me. I told myself I had started out alone and managed. I would manage again. Although the business had grown and I was going to have to hire at least one more person, more likely two to three. That was how valuable Alec was.
I opened my laptop and began my research. This trip to Israel would be interesting. I was looking forward to it, even if Alec had just dropped a bombshell on me, because of Mae. Mae had come into my life again. I wasn’t sure what to make of it and I wanted to be cautious. She was one of the few people in the world who could get under my skin.
Last night, when I got home, I thought about her. I dreamed about her. I could smell her perfume on me and wanted to wrap myself up in the suit jacket that had her scent clinging to it. I hated that I hadn’t made a move to kiss her. I should have. I should have bit the bullet and taken one kiss.
She would have let me. I saw that look in her eyes. It had been over a decade since I had seen her last, but I remembered every little detail about her, right down to
the little mewling sound she made when she was really enjoying herself.
“Fuck,” I dragged out the word, reaching down to adjust the erection straining against my jeans. Just thinking about her was making me rock hard. I needed to get my shit together.
I didn’t want to fuck things up again.
Chapter 11
Mae
I swayed to the sound of Katy Perry singing about being a strong woman as I loaded the dishwasher. Hayden asked if she could use my Bluetooth speaker to play her favorite playlist while we cleaned up the apartment. I didn’t want to be the old lady who complained about the music being too loud and told her to go ahead.
It had been a long time since I had been a teenager obsessed with pop stars. Hearing her sing at the top of her lungs while she changed the sheets on both our beds took me back to days when life had been so much easier. Well, that wasn’t entirely true.
I was about Hayden’s age when things started spiraling out of control with my parents. They still managed to keep their shit together, and there were good days, but there were also a lot of bad days.
I was only a year older than Hayden when I met Tyson for the first time. It was hard to imagine myself that young, wanting the Tyson I knew today. Of course, back then, he had been a teenage boy himself. It was crazy to think of the me then as the me now, still crushing on the same boy.
I finished the dishes and grabbed the broom. Hayden and I were cleaning the house and then going out for lunch. It was kind of nice to have a buddy to hang out with. We weren’t all that close and I was to blame for that. I hated going to my parents’ house and had just kind of drifted out of her life.
“I’m done,” Hayden announced.
“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be done as well.”
We finished our chores and decided to walk the half-mile to a little café. Hayden looked happy. That made me happy. Patrick and I had talked several times about the situation and we both agreed we would fight our parents if they decided to try and take her back. She needed us to fight for her.
“How is school going?” I asked once we were seated and sipping on diet sodas.
“Good. I’m excited for it to be over though.”
“Are you excited to start high school?”
She made a face. “I think so. I’m worried I won’t know anyone.”
“It’s a huge school. You’re going to make new friends. They always do a freshman orientation. We’ll go and connect with other freshmen that live in our building. I know there are plenty of them.”
She nodded but didn’t look all that convinced. “Okay.”
“I need to talk to you about something,” I said.
Her face fell. “Oh. I see. I guess I should have known better.”
“Known what?” I questioned.
“You’re sending me home,” she said in a quiet voice. “Thank you for trying.”
“Hayden, no! That isn’t what I need to talk to you about. I have an opportunity to go on a trip. I will be leaving Monday and will be gone a few days. I was hoping Patrick would be back, but he won’t be.”
She nodded. “You’re sending me home,” she said with a sigh.
“Hayden, no. I wanted to check with you and see if you would be okay staying with Carrie a few days. Patrick is going to try and wrap up his business sooner than planned, but if he doesn’t make it back, I need to know you’re with someone. If you don’t want to go with Carrie, that’s cool. I will take a raincheck on my trip.”
“No!” she quickly said. “I love Carrie and Ben. I’m okay staying there if she is okay having me.”
“She loves you and so does Ben.”
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Israel,” I said. I had only just found out and I was feeling more than a little anxious about the trip. I should have asked him specifics before I agreed to go, but I was so excited, I couldn’t think straight.
“No way! That is so awesome! Is it a vacation?”
“No. It’s, uh, I don’t know what it is.”
She looked confused.
“I’m going with an old friend,” I said. “Basically, just tagging along.” I didn’t have a good explanation. Tyson asked and I said yes. Now that I was explaining it to her, I felt foolish. What the hell was I thinking? Me and Tyson were not a thing. We couldn’t be a thing.
“It sounds like it will be fun. Are you going sightseeing? What part of Israel?”
All questions I should have asked. I was a little embarrassed that a thirteen-year-old had more common sense than I did. “I think we are going to be checking out some finds from an archeological dig. When you get older, we are going to need to start taking you on these trips. You’ll be working in the family business one day.”
She didn’t look thrilled with the idea. “Maybe.”
“No pressure. I love history but I don’t think it’s Patrick’s favorite thing. You have to do what makes you happy.”
“I think I might want to be a doctor,” she announced.
In my head, I was thinking of the hefty college tuition. I was taking on a teenager that would be headed off to college in a matter of years. I didn’t have the means to pay for her tuition. I was still paying my own student loans.
“That sounds like a very good idea,” I said with a smile. I wouldn’t be the one to kill her dreams.
“What are you going to wear?” she asked.
I laughed. “I don’t know. I’m thinking light stuff and sleeves.”
“I can help you pack,” she offered.
“Thanks. Are you sure you are okay with me going? If you need me to stay, I will absolutely stay. This trip isn’t that important. It was totally last minute, and no one is going to miss me if I don’t go.”
“Go,” she insisted. “I’ll be fine.”
I looked at her and wasn’t convinced. I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. I couldn’t leave her. “You know what? I think I will reschedule. With Patrick out of town, one of us needs to be here.”
“Mae, I’m fine. I will be fine as long as I don’t have to go back home. Please don’t stop living your life because of me.”
“I’m not stopping anything. It’s really not a big deal. I need some time to get ready. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to go.”
She took a drink from her soda. “You are such a bad liar.”
My mouth dropped open. “I’m not lying. A trip to Israel requires more than two days’ notice. I want to use the trip to scout some stuff for our business. But in order to do that, I need to check our inventory and see what kind of money we have.” It all sounded like some great excuses to me. I hoped she was buying it.
“I think you think I won’t be okay,” she said quietly. “I appreciate you thinking about me, but I’m really going to be okay. I’m so glad you took me from Mom and Dad. I don’t want to be a burden. If you cancel your trip, I’m going to feel like a burden. Then I’m going to feel bad and get sad and depressed. Then, I might just decide it’s better for me to go back home. You wouldn’t want all that to happen, would you?”
I stared at her. “Wow. You are good. Really good. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
She grinned. “Did it work?”
“You sneaky little thing,” I teased.
She giggled. “I want you to go. It isn’t every day you get the chance to go to Israel. You cannot pass this up. It’s too good. I’m assuming it is all expenses paid?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know for sure. I don’t want to assume that. I’ll take my credit card just in case.”
“Good plan. Who is this friend?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Are you thirteen or thirty?”
“I had to grow up fast,” she said. She didn’t sound upset about it, but I hated that she had to grow up too fast. I had been forced to grow up too fast as well.
“Yes, you did, but from now on, I want you to enjoy every moment of being a teenager. I know that sounds ridiculous because being a teenager is
probably one of the hardest times in your life, but there are some good parts. You don’t need to worry about anything other than getting good grades and being a good kid.”
She waved a hand. “I’ve got that in the bag.”
I laughed. “You certainly do.”
“So, who is the friend?”
I shrugged. “He was—”
“He?!” she shrieked. “You’re running away with a guy!”
“Shh,” I scolded. “You don’t have to shout.”
“Tell me everything!”
I had to remember she was thirteen, but she was so much more mature than other girls her age. I wanted that friendship with her. But I also didn’t want to tell her too much. I wanted to protect her innocence for as long as I could. “He is a friend,” I said again. “Patrick and he were best friends in high school.”
“What’s his name?”
“Tyson,” I answered.
“What does he look like?”
I grinned. “You are getting the wrong idea here. He is only a friend. I have not seen him in a long time. We just happened to run into each other.”
“And now he is whisking you away to Israel? I hope I have guy friends like that when I grow up.”
I frowned. I wasn’t sure that was such a good idea. I was already feeling a little protective. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle her dating. Hopefully, that time wouldn’t come for years. I needed time to adjust to the idea of her being old enough to date. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Is he hot?”
I rolled my eyes. “You are not going to let this go.”
“Nope. I don’t really have girlfriends. I have to learn how to do girl talk. I’m going to be in high school next year and I’m sure that’s all anyone is going to talk about. I want to sound like I know what I’m talking about.”
“Boys?” I asked.
“Yes, boys. I want to sound like I’m familiar with the topic.”
“Are you?” I questioned, almost afraid to know the answer.
She slowly shook her head. “No. I did have a boyfriend for like a minute, but the boys all like the girls with big boobs. I don’t think I’m going to get boobs.”