by Emily Childs
Kyler scoops underneath my arm. “According to my sponsor—you take the first step forward. Get up, get dressed. We have a training to put on.”
Thirty minutes later, I’m at least showered and dressed. I return downstairs to voices in the kitchen.
My blood boils. My skin grows hot and tight as I step into the room. Liam leans against the counter, taking a soft, dark tongue-lashing from Kyler.
I tighten my jaw, speaking through my teeth. “I thought you’d meet us there.”
Liam spins around. He doesn’t look like the put-together business partner I’m used to. Good. He seems genuinely uneasy, as he should. “I wanted to talk with you before we go.”
“No, I’m good.”
“Please,” Liam says with such a desperate shudder to his tone, I almost feel bad. Almost. “Please, let me apologize.”
I let out a long breath and offer a brisk nod toward the front room where we can have some privacy.
Liam shoves his hands into his pockets and speaks to the carpet. “I’m sorry for what I did, Sawyer. In my head, I was doing the right thing by you. I thought you’d regret turning your back on this big thing you were building.”
“You’ve known me since college, Liam. When have I ever given you the impression that big business or money mattered more to me than the people in my life?”
He pauses. “I messed up. Sort of got lost in my own drive, I think. I’ll never be able to make up for playing a part in deceiving you—”
“Good,” I mutter. “You admit you deceived me. For a year, you’ve let me wallow in this anger against Dot when she didn’t deserve it. When you knew the truth.”
“I know,” he says. “Honestly, I’ve been sick about it all weekend. I never thought I’d be this guy, you know. The guy who’d do anything to keep a cash flow. I’m truly sorry, and I plan to apologize to Miss Gardener today, too. I can’t take it back, but I can do something for you. I wanted to let you know, I’ve initiated the sale of your stock and shares. The board is willing to meet in two weeks if this is still the direction you want to take. I’ve, uh, I’ve also started the process of giving up my stock in the HealthyRx app.”
“What?” I didn’t expect that.
“I mean, I don’t own a lot, but I want it to be yours entirely. I know you love the software side of things, and it’s your brainchild. I didn’t do anything but buy take-out sometimes. I think you should own it outright and take it in whatever direction you want.”
What’s happening? Eighteen months ago, Liam about had a panic attack when I told him I wanted to hand the reins over to him and the board. But to give control of the app back to me, I didn’t anticipate Liam Hewitt giving up any revenue source at all.
“I’d like that,” I say after a long pause.
“There’s no way I can convince you to stay?” he asks sheepishly.
“I want to sell,” I tell him. “I’ll stay on for a month or two to make sure it transitions well.” Despite it all, I don’t want the company to fail. Liam isn’t wrong that a lot of people depend on us for their livelihood.
He nods, mouth tight. “Okay. I’d appreciate that. I’ll head back to Raleigh after this meeting and get everything started.”
Liam and I share an awkward handshake, like we both don’t know how to be around the other anymore. He leaves, and I have no choice but to follow. I promised Dot we’d help, and after all I’ve been putting her through, Kyler is right, there’s no way I’m breaking another promise to that woman.
***
I scrub my face in the line at the coffee shop with Kyler and Maddie, both too cheery for a morning. To get their morning faces away from me, I send them to a table while I grab the drinks. Maddie is starting to work for us today. Honestly, I could use extra help and it’ll keep her occupied, and safe. Above all, being close to me and Ky will keep her safe.
I grumble a thank you to the barista and carry the cardboard tray of lattes and coffees to the nook. We’re not alone. I bite back a groan when I note the two women chatting up my brother and cousin. I’ve seen them in passing but don’t know their names. They own a store close to our offices, that’s all I know.
One with straight, auburn hair giggles at something Kyler says, and the other catches sight of me with her granite gray eyes. Pretty, but I don’t care for the way she’s grinning at me, like I’m something she’d like to bite.
“Sawyer,” Kyler says. “You remember Evie and Marlow, right? They own the Belle’s Boutique.”
I take a seat next to Maddie and nod. “Right, the clothing store. How are you ladies today?”
“Fine, and yourself?” the gray-eyed woman says. I’m not sure if she’s Evie or Marlow.
“I’ll be on my way once I get some caffeine in me.”
I didn’t think it was that funny, but she laughed like I was a regular comedian. Before I’m ready, she nestles beside me in the booth while her friend sits next to Kyler. Interesting. My brother is a little ruddy, like he’s nervous. A good kind of nerves, since he’s grinning like a fool. Kyler hasn’t dated much since his recovery. Told me once he didn’t want to risk hurting anyone if he relapsed, and that is exactly why my brother is the best guy I know. I ought to tell him more often.
“Evie and Marlow told me to come check out their store,” Maddie says. “They specialize in eclectic, and we both know I love a bit of unique.”
I smile in earnest. Maddie always had her quirky style before Royce. She conformed, but I’d be thrilled if she started wearing her rainbow socks and blazers again.
“Sounds good,” I say.
“How are you liking Honeyville, Mr. Lanford?” the girl at my side asks. “I’ve been meaning to come see your offices. We always like to scope out our shopping center neighbors.”
“They’re pretty boring right now, but Maddie promised to shine them up. And please, call me Sawyer,” I tell her, and she beams at me like I’ve dropped down on one knee with a fat diamond in my hand.
“Evie tells me there is a hole-in-the wall place we need to try that claims they have the best fried chicken in the country,” Kyler says. Okay, by the way he’s gesturing at the girl by his side, I safely assume I’m sitting by Marlow.
“Oh yeah?” I take a sip of my coffee. “I think our mama might disagree with that claim.”
“So did mine,” Evie says. “Until she tried it.” She glances at my brother and her cheeks have the barest hint of crimson. “We should try it out sometime.”
Maddie bites her bottom lip and wiggles her brows at me when Kyler takes a drink, to hide his flush, no doubt.
He nods, though, and says, “Yeah, we should.”
“Sawyer,” Marlow says, scooting closer. Her leg brushes mine, and I’m tossed back to the moment in the hotel room when Dot’s skin was close to mine. When her slender fingers touched my face. I want the swooping sensation in my stomach, but right now everything feels out of sorts. “If you need anything while y’all get accustomed, I hope you’ll let us know. We’ve grown up here and we know a lot of folks.”
I nod, take another drink, then focus on a blonde woman and man coming into the shop. I fight the urge to groan. I recognize their faces. The siblings that are friends with Dot.
Jace Whitney mutters something to the barista, then turns and walks toward us. I say a silent prayer that she doesn’t, but my luck has run out. It’s Maddie who catches sight of Will first and she waves! No—waves them over to us.
Will seems utterly unaware anyone but my cousin is here, and any other day, I’d be thrilled Maddie is finding a place with someone like him. Right now, though, I’m trapped in Jace’s sights. They must have a regular order because too soon Jace grabs their coffees and is beelining my direction.
I brace for impact for when she’ll let me have it, but instead I jolt as she whacks the back of my head, then takes a seat in the booth behind me.
“Whoa,” Will says with a wince. He claps my shoulder. “Sorry, man.”
“Rude, Miss Whitney,” Marl
ow grumbles.
She’s the only one offended. Maddie and Kyler are both hiding their faces. Laughing at me. Familial support at its finest.
“Sorry,” Jace says, resting her elbows over the back ledge of the booth. She smiles sweetly at me. “I didn’t see you there.”
Marlow scoffs. “Looked like you saw him plenty fine to me.”
“We’re getting her evaluated,” Will says nervously, but winks at Maddie. “You’re looking beautiful this morning.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“William,” Jace says in a voice dripping in ironic sweetness. “I simply didn’t see Mr. Lanford.”
“It’s good,” I mutter. “She has her reasons. To not see me, I mean. Don’t you Miss Whitney?”
Jace wiggles her brows. “I’d say I got it out of my system. But I’d love to have a little chat one of these days.”
“He’s got ten minutes,” Kyler says. “Then we’re heading to . . . uh, the clinic.”
Jace’s eyes widen. “Really. Oh, I’d love to give you some pointers on how to deal with some of the folks there.”
“Pardon me,” Marlow says. “But we’re enjoying a breakfast, and it’s a little impolite to keep talking over people.”
“Oh, Marlow, hush up,” Jace says (still smiling). “I’ve got business with Mr. Lanford, and doing it over my coffee is the safest thing for everyone.”
I clear my throat and stand, offering Will my seat, which he readily takes with a soft warning regarding his sister’s mental status under his breath. I grin and slide into the booth with Jace.
“I’ll take a guess that you know what happened in Atlanta.”
Jace sips her drink. “I do. And before you start assuming, I’m on your side enough to help you fix this.”
I chuckle. “Do you smack everyone you want to help upside the head?”
“You should feel honored,” she says lightly. “I’d have walked right on by if I didn’t care. Plus, I got your attention.”
I lean over the table and sigh. “I made a mess of things. I threw away the best thing in my life for something that could’ve been resolved in five minutes if I’d been a man and simply dealt with it.”
“Well, hey, I think it’s a good start that you recognize the mistake.”
“How is Dot? She won’t talk to me.”
Jace takes another sip. “She’s upset, but she cares about you. A lot. She doesn’t trust you.”
Who cares about combed hair? I thread my fingers through my hair like I’m digging up dirt, a tight knot building in my gut. “I don’t blame her, but how do you get something like this back? I promised her forever, then left her. If it were me, I’d never trust me again.”
“Good to see you have a positive attitude.”
With a laugh, I lean back in the booth, the knot dying a little. “I don’t know, I saw the look on her face when it all came out.”
“Yeah, I’m sure she was wound up. I guess, as her friend, I want to know what you want with her now. Are you done? Now that you know the truth, do you still want her?”
“That’s the big question everyone wants to know.” I look Jace in the eye and don’t blink. “I never stopped loving Dot. Even with the things I believed. If I could go back, I’d have done everything different, and I’d be with her now.”
She’d be my wife.
Jace says nothing for a minute. “You know this sort of thing riles me up. I see the same prejudice against Rafe and August with my uncle and most of my extended family. I don’t get it, though, with the Gardeners. I thought they were on board with your relationship.”
“They were until they found out I wanted to step back from L & H and return to programming.”
Jace crosses her arms over her chest and leans back. “How are you going to handle it when you try to patch things up with Dot?”
“You don’t think we’re past patching things up?” I scrub my face. “The way she looked at me, it’s like she didn’t even know who I was anymore.”
“Dottie’s never spoken poorly of you. Maybe frustration, but nothing to hint she’s ever stopped loving you. I think it might take some time, but if you keep trying to earn her trust back, I think it’ll pay off.”
“I don’t want to give up.” I’d do practically anything to reverse what’s happened this last year between Dot and me.
Jace reaches out and squeezes my hand until I look up. She smiles. “Then go get her, Sawyer.”
Chapter 15
Dot
“I’m not going to survive this, Ollie,” I gripe into the phone. The background noise is a little overwhelming with teachers and kids echoing. But I needed to talk to her and she assured me she was on lunch.
“You can,” she says. “You will, but Dottie, you need to talk to Sawyer.”
“Do we, though? Why can’t we just accept what is and move on? Not every relationship needs a full-on counseling session.”
“True,” she says. “But even if you’ve gotten to the bottom of things, you two haven’t closed anything up. Clearly, since you told me he keeps trying to talk to you. Get it out, and I think you’ll feel a lot better.”
I wanted to agree. Theoretically, I should be able to move on since I’ve spoken my truth. Then why does it feel like the weight of the past is breaking my back?
“I can’t believe you kissed him, by the way,” Olive goes on when I stay quiet.
I splutter a bit. “Uh, if you’d have been there in the moment with his growly voice, you probably would’ve kissed him, too.”
Olive laughs. “Dottie, I’m proud of you for letting him have it, you know.”
“Thank you! I feel like no one else gets it. Everyone seems to be Team Sawyer.”
“There aren’t teams, girl. I think everyone was a little confused by the breakup too because we can see the way Sawyer sneaks looks at you whenever y’all are together. I knew he was still holding stuff inside, but all that matters to me, truly, is if you’re good. You’ve got this business agreement thing. Even if he’s working for you, doesn’t mean you have to be part of everything, right?”
“Right,” I say.
“Okay, then. If you don’t want to talk with him, you don’t have to. But if there are any more angsty near make-outs in the breakroom today, you understand you’ll be required to tell me every detail.”
I laugh and check the clock. Any minute Sawyer should be here, and I absolutely don’t intend to sneak into the breakroom. I plan to hide out in my office and leave it to others to handle the presentation.
“There won’t be,” I say.
“Such a pity. Hey, my class is coming back from lunch. Talk to you later?”
“Buh-bye.”
I do feel a little better, a little bolder, after talking to Olive. It’s a shame my ex-fiancé is the one who will help this clinic, but I can face him as needed. I’m not sure I’m ready to dredge up what happened, or even admit to my brutal conversation with my parents. The ache blooms through my chest—a nagging desire to pick up where we left off. But if I don’t trust him, there isn’t a point. Relationships built on rocky terrain will crumble before they finish building. What greater foundation is there than trust?
Maybe we simply weren’t meant to be.
But when chatter fills the hallway, fire replaces my blood. He’s here. Like a thief, I lean my ear against my door and listen as the rumble of visiting male voices fills the hallway. Kyler’s booming tone would carry over a tornado. Soon, they fade as they’re led elsewhere.
Time—a little time, and these swoops and dips in my gut will fade. And this is exactly why I hire people. Jen took good care of the representatives from L & H insurance. Jo promised to handle the training. I’ve provided lunch for the staff attending today’s workshop. Tomorrow the other half will listen to the same thing. Unfortunately, after the insurance billing training is over, I have no doubt I’ll be expected to head over to the conference room and try to find out who’s been skimming funds from our small coffers. Training
is great and all, but it doesn’t change the fact that Sawyer and I sniffed out a crook.
When tangy hints of barbecue waft through the vents, I dare venture out into the hallway. The conference room has one wall made entirely of windows. I lean against the corner, keeping out of sight, but entirely captivated as I watch Kyler and Sawyer work. I pinch my lips at the sight of Liam. He’s not saying much, honestly, he seems rather distracted. His head down, focused on a stuffed binder. Fool.
Kyler is broader, darker, and when he smiles his eyes turn into happy slits. Sawyer—I’m not sure the man knows how he shines. Calm, collected. Professional. He points to the screen where their presentation is projected, and even if everything he’s saying is dull as a dead grass, everyone is watching him with rapt attention. Then again, Sawyer always commanded the room. I’d been a little awestruck by how no matter who he spoke with he earned their trust in a few sentences. I press a hand to my chest when my heart pinches. Watching him now, I admit I want to smooth things over. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but the desperation in his eyes when I’d left Atlanta had been real. I understood it more than he knew.
Something Sawyer says in the room draws laughter. He smiles. He’s content. I miss this side of him. With a mental nudge, I force myself to return to my office. There is work to be done, and no time for ogling and wondering what might have been.
Lily pops her head in about two hours later. “The guys brought treats from Maggie again!”
I smile. “Be there ASAP.”
This day got a little brighter.
Zac and August are the favorites of the office whenever they show their handsome faces because they always come bearing delicious gifts from Maggie, the grouchy motel owner Josephine won over during her court-appointed community service last year. We still haven’t figured out how to get the woman to deliver her sweets straight to the clinic. Maggie likes to pretend she cares for Zac heaps more than his wife, but we all know. She’s soft on our Josephine.
I roll my eyes as some of the younger medical assistants crowd around my friends. Another reason the guys are always welcome here—the younger girls like to shamelessly flirt, despite Zac and August being married. They’re practically drooling like sad little pups.