Page 14 of Saving the CEO

If only he could settle on a woman to go out with.

The dozen profiles that Scarlett sent him yesterday still sat in his inbox, waiting. He’d gone through each of the portfolios and photos twice, but he still wasn’t sure which ones to pick. All of them had attended Ivy League schools and held impressive positions. Vice Presidents, attorneys, surgeons—there was even a CEO in the mix. The caliber of their resumes far outweighed his. Scarlett had exceeded his expectations in presenting him with such worthy candidates. She had delivered what he’d asked for—strong, independent, and successful women. Women exactly the opposite of his late mother.

That had been his mother’s one fault. A fault that led to her sacrificing her own health and well-being for her family and ultimately resulted in her demise.

Sighing, Devin reined in his emotions and focused on the road. He drove through a small, gated community in Los Gatos where he and his siblings lived. They had inherited their grandfather’s two-story, five-bedroom house, the one they had grown up in and he and Jace had moved out of when they’d graduated high school. Bekah had never left, choosing instead to stay with their grandfather and enjoy the benefit of a full-time staff who cooked and cleaned for them.

Devin had only returned recently after Bekah complained about the house being too quiet. With Jace gone on tour half the year, he was the only family around for their sister to rely on. He made it a point to go home early enough to eat dinner with Bekah a couple of times a week. This meant he’d have to finish up his work at home, even on a Friday like today, but it was worth it to see her smile.

It was this bright smile that greeted him from the dining table when he walked through the door moments later.

“Hey, Dev! Guess what we’re having for dinner? Chicken pot pie!” Bekah exclaimed as he took a seat across from her. “Too bad Jace isn’t here to enjoy it.”

He shrugged off his jacket and loosened his tie. “I’m sure he’s getting plenty of good meals on the road. There’s no need to feel sorry for him.”

“I know, but it’s not the same as eating a homecooked meal with your family.” She dished some of the pot pie onto his plate, along with a serving of salad. “Did your meeting run late? I thought you’d be home earlier.”

He took the linen napkin beside his gold-rimmed plate and placed it on his lap. “Sorry about the wait. These board members aren’t the easiest people to deal with.”

Her brows drew together as she frowned. “Sorry to hear that. I bet they’re still getting used to working with you instead of Grandad. Your personalities are pretty different.”

“You can say that again,” he scoffed as he picked up his fork. Their grandfather had been as sociable as Devin was reserved. He’d had a talent for connecting with people, one Devin had unfortunately not inherited. That’s why it usually took hours for him and the board to come to an agreement about any matter, big or small. He should have told Bekah to start dinner without him. “Next time just eat first.”

“I don’t mind waiting. I’d rather wait than eat alone.” Wrinkling her nose, she exclaimed, “Dev, we didn’t say grace yet!”

“Right.” He set down his fork and bowed his head. “Why don’t you do the honors?”

Bekah prayed, “Lord, we thank You for this abundance of food. And we ask that You watch over Jace and keep him safe while he’s away. And please provide a good wife for Devin, someone who will know how to support him. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Devin held back the smirk twitching the corners of his mouth. This was the first time Bekah had prayed for him about this topic. He appreciated the intent behind her words, but he certainly didn’t agree with it. “Why do you think I need a woman to support me?” he asked before taking a bite of his food. “I’ve done perfectly well on my own. I’m looking for a partner, not a servant.”

“It’s something Grandad used to pray for you.” The ambient light from the chandelier hanging above them added to the sparkle in her blue eyes. “He said, and I quote, your brother’s too hard-headed for his own good. He needs a kind and supportive woman to balance him out.”

“That sounds like something he’d say, especially the hard-headed part.”

“He was right, too. You could really use someone who’ll balance you out. Someone who’ll make you want to get out and do things other than work all day and night. Wouldn’t that be great?”

“Greatisn’t the word I’m thinking of. Distracting’s more like it.”

Bekah drew her lips into a pout. “You’re a lot less grumpy when Jace is around. I can’t wait for him to finish touring and come home …”

Devin couldn’t agree more. Once Jace returned, Bekah would have someone to hang out with. Allhewanted was to be left in peace. It was frustrating enough with Scarlett pinging him every hour, asking if he’d picked his top three candidates yet. Now his sister couldn’t stop talking about all the ways he was being a killjoy. He had a feeling the quiet he’d hoped to find at home this weekend was a pipe dream.

“You okay, Dev?”

He glanced up from his plate. The way Bekah looked at him made it hard to speak. The older she got, the more she resembled their mother. The similarities weren’t only external. They were both kindhearted, innocent, and giving, often at their own expense. That’s why he felt the extra need to protect his sister. It was the least he could do since he hadn’t been able to protect his mom.

Swallowing hard, Devin pushed down the sadness rising in his chest. He quickly nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about work.”

He’d be better off focusing on business, something he could control. People, on the other hand, were unpredictable and messy—his family was proof of that. If only their father had remained faithful to their mother, she wouldn’t have blamed herself and succumbed to her grief. Maybe his twin wouldn’t have dropped out of college to become a rock star. Bekah would have had a female role model to look up to instead of being raised in a home with three males. And he wouldn’t have had to grow up so quickly and become a caretaker for his siblings.

“You’re always thinking about work, Dev,” Bekah griped as she set her fork down. She made a face with her nose scrunched up as if she smelled something bad. He expected her to roll her eyes, but she took a deep breath instead. After she released it, she leaned forward in her chair, an eager smile on her lips. “Have you picked your dates yet? Scarlett’s hoping to hear back from you soon.”

“Not yet,” he bristled, not caring for the added pressure. “I’ve been busy.”

“I can help if you’re on the fence. I happen to have a personal favorite.”

“How do you even know who these women are?”

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