Something Borrowed (Lone Star Match Book 2)

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Something Borrowed (Lone Star Match Book 2) Page 19

by Megan Ryder


  That was their job, he used to say. And they don’t always get rewarded for their job.

  Toughen up, was his other favorite motto. No tears, no excuses, no coddling. It didn’t matter how old she was or what happened. She was always wrong.

  She buried her face in her hands. God, how fucked up was her life?

  The clicking of heels in the hallway then into the break room had her composing herself quickly. She looked up, a neutral smile on her face, as if the last several minutes and close meltdown hadn’t happened. Barracuda Betty looked surprised to see her there. No more than Brigid herself at seeing the other woman.

  “Ms. Anderson. I thought you were attending the wedding of Caroline Masters. A bridesmaid, weren’t you?”

  Of course she knew about the wedding. She was probably attending, as one of the executive officers.

  “Yes, but the Cournoyer deal got moved up a couple of weeks so Mr. Peterman called me back.”

  The older woman frowned but said nothing. She walked to the fridge and pulled out a partially eaten salad, probably leftover from lunch. She poured a cup of coffee then paused, turning to study Brigid. She then brought her food to the small round table.

  “Mind if I join you for a short time? I hate eating at my desk. I don’t want to get dressing on the papers and I find I don’t eat while working.”

  Brigid gave a wan smile, almost too tired to be on her toes. “A break from the computer is always good. Please, join me.”

  Elizabeth Wardwell slid into a chair and began to eat. They sat in silence, the only sound came from the scrape of Brigid’s spoon in the yogurt and the crunch of Ms. Wardwell’s salad.

  Finally, the other woman sighed. “Did you think at all about what we discussed a last week at Matthew’s promotion?”

  Brigid was so surprised that she had to think back about the conversation. “You mean about who I’m dating?”

  She smiled. “Not exactly, but what you want out of life. You’re young and your friend is getting married and where are you? In the office, working late, all alone. Where is your young man?”

  Brigid grimaced. “I don’t think he’s my young man anymore.”

  “Really? He seemed quite smitten with you. It’s not every man who would subject themselves to a boring office party full of lawyers for a girl.”

  “His brother is one of those boring lawyers so I think he had another reason.” Brigid tried to smile but failed miserably.

  “Maybe. But he still came for you. And he seemed like a nice young man. Were you a little too intimidating for him?”

  “What? No, he owns his own business. He just didn’t like not being number one.”

  “Ahhh.” The other woman nodded. “He needed to be your top priority. Many men have trouble not being the center of a woman’s world.”

  Her words slapped Brigid, sending her back to the argument. Was it really only that morning? A lifetime seemed to have passed rather than eight hours or so. She shook her head. “No, not like that. He said he could handle my job but he didn’t understand why I had to come back for this.”

  “Why did you come back?”

  Brigid cocked her head and studied the other woman quizzically. Was it a trick question? Suspecting a trap, she spoke hesitantly. “The deal was moved up. I had to be here.”

  Ms. Wardwell pursed her lips, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Honestly, the only person who needed to be here was Bill Peterman. He’s the partner on the deal. You and your colleagues are there to help. I’m sure Terrence and the paralegals would have been fine.”

  “Well, I was told I had to be here.”

  “What would have happened if you said no?” She said the question quietly but Brigid held her breath, wondering if she was navigating a minefield. “He wouldn’t have fired you. Or did you think he would?”

  “I wanted the promotion.”

  “There it is. You thought the promotion rested solely on your attendance for this deal.” In a startling move, she reached across the table and grabbed Brigid’s hand. “Promotions are not won or lost based on your attendance for one meeting, even a really big one. You are allowed a vacation, dear.”

  Brigid frowned, the implications of her words sinking in. She wrestled with the sudden change in thought.

  Ms. Wardwell stood. “I think you should have a discussion with Bill Peterman about this. I know he thinks highly of you, even if he won’t admit it.” She turned to leave then paused, leveling a steady glance on Brigid. “Don’t throw away love or your life for a job. It’s not worth it. You asked me once if I had any regrets about my choices and I said no. That was a lie, Ms. Anderson. I have plenty of regrets and none of them center around my job.”

  Brigid barely heard her leave, the foundation of her whole life crumbling around her, leaving her on unsteady and shaky ground.

  *

  Grady pounded the nail into the wood trellis so hard that he cracked the wood.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  Wyatt glanced at him from the other end of the pole. “Everything okay there, buddy?”

  Grady shot him a grouchy look. “Does it sound like it?”

  “I’m just thinking maybe I should do the hammering and you should hold everything in place, from a safe distance, like the mainland. There isn’t a lot of spare wood right now for this and we don’t time to build a new one.”

  Grady threw the hammer aside and made a loud sound of frustration. “Goddamn her.”

  Matthew walked over with a couple of beers and sandwiches. “Time for break, guys.”

  Wyatt scrambled up. “Thank God. I was afraid he was going to use that hammer on me. Mmmm, roast beef.”

  “We’re Texans. Would I give you anything but beef?” Matthew said, handing him a beer.

  “Better not. I’d have to turn in my man card. Right, Grady?”

  Grady hadn’t budged from his kneeling position next to the trellis laid out on the grass. His head was bowed and he felt broken, deep inside, not physically although he was sure his heart had fractured into a hundred little pieces. Matthew laid a hand on his shoulder, strong and solid, pulling him back to reality. Grady looked up to the sympathy in his brother’s gaze.

  “Come on, let’s eat. We can finish this later.”

  Grady remained kneeling, hands clasped in front of him. Matthew and Wyatt sat a short distance way eating and watching and waiting. “I shouldn’t have pushed her away.”

  “You did what you had to do,” Wyatt offered.

  Grady’s head shot up. “No, I just told her that I could handle her job. And then, the first time she has to work, I blow up. Some understanding guy I am.”

  “She didn’t have to go,” Wyatt said.

  “Sure she did. You heard Matthew. The deal got moved up and she had to go in.”

  “She didn’t have to go,” Matthew echoed Wyatt’s words.

  Grady stared at him. “What?”

  Matthew shrugged. “She could have said no. That’s what’s pissing Caroline off. Brigid could have said no.”

  “Did Brigid know that?” Grady narrowed his eyes, laser focused on his brother.

  Matthew sighed. “I don’t know. They don’t exactly give you a lot of options but you were right. She could have set the boundaries and she didn’t. Work will always come first with her. It’s better that you found it out now and not later.”

  “It always comes first for you. Why should it be different because it’s Brigid?” Grady demanded.

  “That’s not what I meant, Grady. She’s so focused on her career and you’re not. I think it’s better this way.” Matthew spoke soothingly but it only served to irritate Grady more.

  “I wasn’t threatened by her career at all.”

  “Really? Then why did you demand she stay when she said she had to go?”

  “I made a goddamn mistake!” he yelled.

  “And I don’t think you did.” Matthew’s tone was reasonable.

  Grady snarled. “You don’t think I’m good enough for
her? For her world? A contractor can’t fit in to law firm parties?”

  Matthew raised his hands as if warding off Grady. “I never said that. You just come from two different worlds and neither of you could be happy in each other’s world.”

  “Did you have something to do with this? Did you somehow convince her that we shouldn’t be together? I know you’re less than thrilled about us.” Grady stood and slowly advanced on his brother’s position, anger a slow boil deep inside.

  Matthew shrugged. “No, I’m not involved with that deal but I did tell Brigid that I think you two are a terrible idea. She’s too much like mom and I think she could hurt you worse than mom ever did.”

  Grady lunged for his brother, grabbing his shirt and hauling him up. Wyatt dropped his sandwich and jumped between them, trying to get Grady to loosen his hold. “How could you do that? You had no right to interfere. We were happy.”

  “On the island.” Matthew pointed out. “But the island is not reality. For what’s it’s worth, I like Brigid and of course I like you. I kind of have to. It’s in the brother’s rule book. But if work is always going to come first, and you want a family, how will that work?”

  Grady pushed his brother away, Matthew almost falling in the process but Wyatt caught him. “I’m not hungry. I’ll be back soon. I need to clear my head.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Damn, that was some serious rage, Matthew. Look at my poor sandwich, on the ground. What a waste.”

  He walked down the lawn to the beach, hoping the sea air would clear the cobwebs and doubts from his mind, and maybe, just maybe heal his heart in the process.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Brigid left the office soon after her discussion with Barracuda Betty, her words bringing up too much conflict for Brigid to concentrate. She tossed and turned all night, mind whirling around her life, her decisions, and her path. When she awoke on Friday, she was no closer to any answers and she felt more distanced from everyone in her life, more alone, and more isolated than ever before.

  When she got in the office, she called Peterman’s assistant and asked for the next available time slot. When the time came, she wiped her hands on her skirt and knocked.

  “Close the door, Ms. Anderson,” he said without looking up.

  Brigid closed the door, her hand shaking slightly. She sat in one of the chairs, pressing her hands in her lap to quell her attack of nerves. “Thank you for seeing me this quickly.”

  He looked up and put his pen down. “I assumed it was important. Is it about the Cournoyer deal? Your work on that had been very good. I’m impressed. Keep up the work like that and you’ll get that promotion.”

  For once his words didn’t make her feel all warm all over. Instead, it reminded her of the mechanical rabbit used to entice the greyhounds to race around the track. They always tried to catch it but it was impossible. All it lead to for them was euthanasia when they’re time was up, unless some rescue stepped in to save them. She didn’t want to be a greyhound on the racetrack of the law world.

  “Thank you, sir. But that’s exactly what I’d like to discuss.”

  He frowned. “You know I can’t discuss the promotion and your eligibility for it. I can only tell you that you’re in the running for it.”

  And the mechanical rabbit continues on.

  “I left my best friend’s wedding for this deal. I worked all week even though I was on vacation.”

  “That was your choice, Ms. Anderson. It will not have any bearing on the promotion.”

  “No, I understand that. What I’m saying is that I don’t want to give up my whole life for work. My best friend needed me. And I walked away without a second thought because you called and said I had to get back here, as if my life doesn’t matter. But it does.” She stood, smoothing her skirt in front of her. “I’m giving you my notice. I’ll stay through today to get the last-minute paperwork done but then I’m leaving for the island and the wedding. I will wrap everything up in the next couple of weeks.”

  She turned to leave but his voice stopped her. For a moment, she thought he might persuade her to stay.

  His words dashed that hope. “I’m sorry to hear this, Ms. Anderson. You had a bright future. Too bad you didn’t have the dedication.”

  She pivoted on her heel and studied him evenly. “I have the skill and dedication. I just want a life outside of the office. I deserve that.”

  “Foolish. You’ll never be partner with an attitude like that.” His shook his head, his patronizing attitude and condescension irritating her, but not serving to make her want to work harder like it had in the past.

  “Maybe not here. Maybe nowhere else. But I’ll be happy.”

  She swept out of the office, her heart feeling lighter than it had in months.

  *

  People dropped by her office periodically throughout the day, her decision spreading like wildfire through the office. The last person to stop in was Terrence, who never once had stopped by her office except to gloat over something, which meant he never stopped by. Until today.

  He strolled in and dropped into one of her chairs, far more casually than he would have any other time. “So, I hear you quit.”

  She barely spared him a glance, finishing up her portion of the work for the deal, but couldn’t resist one last dig. “Don’t worry. I’ll get my work done. And probably half of yours too.”

  He scowled but quickly smoothed his expression in case anyone stopped by. “You’re stupid, you know. You had a real shot at that promotion. Peterman liked you more than me.”

  Brigid paused, arching a look at him. “Really? Could have fooled me.”

  “Please. He always talked about how good your documents were, how little edits he had to give them.”

  Judging by the amount of red and track changes on the version she was currently fixing, that was bullshit but she didn’t care so she kept her mouth shut.

  “I can’t believe you quit though. Just to go to a wedding? Way to kill your career.” He laughed, a mocking sound.

  She stopped typing and fixed a steady stare on him. “Why do you care, Terrence? You now have a clear shot at the promotion. It was always between you and me. Have at it.”

  “Yeah, I should be happy, and I am. But why are you doing it?”

  He sounded truly puzzled by her decision and she had to laugh. She settled back in her chair and smiled. “I want more out of life than my job. Don’t you?”

  “Don’t you want to be a partner? Isn’t that everyone’s goal? Why would you give that up?”

  She smiled, thinking of Grady and her friends. “You’d never understand. If you did, you wouldn’t have to ask. Now, please leave so I can finish this up, unless you want to do it?”

  And Terrence scooted out as he always did when work was mentioned. She just laughed and finished, keeping an eye on the ferry schedule. She was definitely getting the last laugh there. Peterman would regret promoting Terrance when it came time for work to be done.

  *

  Unfortunately, due to a major car accident on the highway, Brigid missed the last ferry, leaving her stranded in Galveston overnight, missing the rehearsal dinner. She tried to call Caroline, Matthew, anyone, but all cell phones went directly to voice mail. Whether that was because they all had their phones off or were avoiding her call, she had no clue. But she was going to be on the first ferry over and doing her best to make up with her friend. Groveling was sure to be involved, and a lot of it.

  If Caroline ever forgave her.

  Of course, Caroline would forgive her. She always forgave everyone. That was Caroline. The real question was did she lose her shot with Grady?

  She spent the night at a seedy motel, the only place available at the height of vacation season in Texas. She had dinner at this little diner place, scrunched in a corner at the bar, drinking a beer and eating a burger. It would take her stomach some time to heal from the stress and recover from the shock of quitting her job and not knowing what happened next but she was goo
d with her decision. For the first time in months, she was relaxed, her body not tied in knots, her stomach not shooting pains and she was starving. But she was itching to get back to the island, as much as she was dreading the coming confrontations.

  She probably should call her parents but honestly they wouldn’t understand and she refused to live her life according to their demands any longer. She wanted to tell the people who truly cared about her what her decision was. Those were the people who would be there for her as she navigated a new world without a job and living life out of her car when she became homeless in a few months if finding a new job was difficult. It wouldn’t be that bad. She had saved a significant portion of her salary, thanks to her father drumming into her the need for investments and savings, and the fact that she rarely had time to spend any money because she was working all the time. But she couldn’t pay her student loans and pay bills forever on her savings and her parents would certainly not provide an ounce of assistance.

  The only outstanding question she had was what to do about Grady. She had hurt him. Horribly. Explaining everything to Caroline would be far easier because she knew Caroline would forgive her.

  What would Grady do? Would he welcome her back with open arms or reject her?

  Was it all for nothing, quitting her job, giving up her life’s goal?

  No, it was for something. It was for her. Even if Grady rejected her, it was the right decision. Because that was what Grady had been telling her. He wanted her to be happy for what she wanted, not what anyone else wanted, even him.

  She’d win him back. She had to.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Saturday dawned bright and Brigid was on the first ferry crossing to Whitby Island. She stood at the bow, facing her future head-on, hands clenching her overnight bag, her stomach rolling. She hadn’t been able to stomach even a cup of coffee that morning, not because of her dawning ulcer but the butterflies that danced inside, wreaking havoc on her system. She hadn’t been able to sleep much last night, tossing and turning in the narrow, lumpy hotel bed, as she mentally rehearsed everything she wanted to say to Grady, and she still had no idea what she would say, what she could say, that would make him forgive her. She had rejected him at every turn, leading him on, then turning him away. She was ashamed at how she had treated him, as if he were nothing more than a toy, a plaything for her amusement when she needed a date, to use when convenient. All he had wanted was time with her, consideration, and love. He supported her and believed in her, and she turned her back on him. Maybe it would be best if she just walked away.

 

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