Page 66 of Nothing to This
“What?”JD asked his number two still standing by the door holding up the folder.“You expect me to sign them in midair?”
“Are you going to marry her?”
“Am I going to…?What?”
“We’re not blind, you know, none of us.You two are hooking up.”
“We live together.”
Greg came to the desk, opening the folder to sort out whatever was inside.“Is that a yes?Marry her and get her pregnant.It’s what you both want.I’ve never seen two people more content to just be a family.Your two sprouts are up here every single day.You’re blocking out time just to entertain the three of them.”
“The business isn’t suffering.”
“No, it’s booming.Who knew you being so happy would make you so productive?”Greg sat down and pushed the folder toward him.“Rylee was okay when you told her about the California trip?”
He raised his eyes to his friend for a brief second, then went back to reading.“I’m not sure I really have to—”
“You have to go.You cannot snub our suppliers.This is important and will dictate our rates for years.They don’t give a damn about your kids or your fiancée, they just want some face time.”
“She’s not my fiancée.”
Another visitor interrupted.Unlikely as it may be, he found himself hoping that Rylee had come back and brought the kids with her.He’d see them at home and have them all weekend, that didn’t mean he wasn’t eager to see them as soon as possible.
Except it wasn’t Rylee or the kids, it was Brenna.
“What are you doing here?”he asked.
She flashed Greg a fake smile.“Would you excuse us… please?”
Brenna meant business, she wasn’t there to mess around.
Greg drew his eyes away with a silent signal of good luck.He’d need it.The second his friend departed, Brenna slapped a hand to the center of his desk to bend over it, getting into his face with her frown.
“She needs you to take control.She’s more vulnerable than she lets on.She’s swearing off men, swearing to focus only on the kids.It’s not healthy.It’s time to get off the bench, brother.Step up to the plate.Take a swing.”
“Okay, enough with the sports metaphors,” he said, closing his eyes for a moment.“What are you talking about?”
Standing straight, she balled a fist on her hip.“Wow, if you’re really asking that, you are in more trouble than I thought.Rylee, idiot brother, you’re in love with her.”
He laid a hand on the desk, fighting to remain calm.“Okay,” he started.“I know Mom’s been grooming you for this role all your life, but you don’t have to bust my balls when she’s still around to do it.I’m seeing Mom tonight, I’m sure she’ll find plenty of opportunities to snark at me when Rylee is distracted.”
She blew out a breath.“Do you know I had to pick my jaw off the floor when Rylee told me you two aren’t sharing a bed yet?I mean, seriously, what are you waiting for?”
Yanking the folder toward him, he started to sign.He didn’t know what exactly, but it served as a distraction.
“You know, she just got out of a relationship, and she has two children to—”
“Your children, idiot.She’s never introduced the kids to any man she’s been involved with.You are perfect.She already knows they can tolerate you.”
He sneered, but she matched it.“Doesn’t change the fact that she just broke up with—”
“She didn’t love Baxter, he was casual.The fact that he tried to make it more than that freaked her out.She didn’t want to be married to him.She wants to be married to you.”
He stopped.“She said that?”
Brenna’s shoulders dropped as she lamented his question.“Of course she didn’t say that.Rylee would never say that.But I know her.I know it’s what she wants.”
“Like you know I love her?You want to get your facts straight, Nana.”
