Page 13 of Second Chance Wedding
Of the four of them, Cole was the one with the most time on his hands, yet he was not on board with this. “I don’t want to babysit some mouthy teenager too stupid to appreciate the fact he could’ve gone to jail. I’m out when it comes to babysitting the kid.”
“You’re in,” Brooks said, grinning widely as he chewed gum. “You’re the one who let the boy off the hook in the first place.”
“I agree,” Alec said. “This decision impacts all of us, and we need a united front. Ana’s son has to be taught a lesson, and if she can’t do it, it’s up to us to step up. Otherwise we’re only adding to the chaos that’s already out in the world causing problems for the kids we’re actually raising.”
“So she’s not paying us?” Gage asked. “What about the cost of the repair? How do we know Ana will agree to her son working here? We need a contract or something.”
“A contract about what?” a soft voice asked from behind Cole.
Cole froze, still propped against the inner frame of the office door, and then shifted inside and turned to see Ana standing a step or two behind him.
The office was located at the end of a short hallway. It had doors on either side and the office at the end. Restrooms flanked the left side of the hall with storage on the right. Thankfully it was quiet in this area even though the convenience store section stayed busy with customers.
Ana met his gaze briefly, just long enough to give him a glimpse of the upset and exhaustion in her sage-green eyes. She looked tired. Like she hadn’t slept well, if at all, last night.
Benjamin stood several more steps behind her, his posture every bit the punk he’d proven himself to be, though he didn’t appear any better rested. Maybe the kid had a conscience after all?
“What’s going on?” she asked Cole once she’d moved to stand inside the doorway.
“Apparently a change of plans,” Cole said in a tight voice. “Come in.”
Ana moved into the office, but Cole noted that Benjamin hung back. “You, too.”
Cole watched as Ana’s son rolled his eyes, hesitated like he wasn’t going to obey the order and then finally put his feet into motion. The moment the teenager stepped inside the office and walked to stand beside his mom, Cole closed the door and leaned his back against it.
Alec and Brooks both stood from their chairs when she’d walked in. Gage stared from where he stood in front of the only window.
Cole fought the urge to box Gage’s ears. Animosity rolled off his younger brother in waves, and he wasn’t acting much better than Benjamin at the moment. “Ana, you remember my brothers. Alec, Brooks, and Gage. Gage and I are partners in the rental business, but we’re all coowners and have a say in things.”
Analise nodded, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Cole had a good view of her profile. She’d dressed in a lightweight sweaterdress and ankle boots, her hair swept back and twisted up in a clip that left a few strands curled around her jawline. She looked elegant and beautiful and scared out of her mind.
He fisted his hands, steeling himself against the protectiveness that surged. He had no reason to feel anything but anger toward her. Especially now.
“It’s nice to see you all again, although I hate that it’s under these circumstances. I’m very sorry for what happened, and I promise you that I….I’ll take full financial responsibility for it,” she said, turning her attention toward Gage. “You have every right to be angry. Cole has undoubtedly earned your upset by not calling the police, but…please don’t blame him. I begged him not to.” She stepped closer to the boy at her side. “This is my son, Benjamin. He…has something he’d like to say to you.”
Standing behind the group where he leaned on the door, Cole could still see the look the boy directed at his mom. Where Ana revealed her upset and embarrassment in her trembling body and quivering voice, the kid acted as though he had no remorse and his mom had thrown him under the bus.
Cole wanted to wipe the floor with the brat. He hadn’t been much older than Benjamin when his parents were killed. In the blink of an eye, they were gone, and the nine Blackwell children had been left reeling in the aftermath.
The boy didn’t know what a gift he had in his mother, and he sure as heck shouldn’t be giving her the grief he doled out with his stupidity.
“Sorry about the limo,” Ben said in a stiff voice.
Tension ramped up at the kid’s poor excuse for an apology and lack of sincerity.
“Sorry you took it or sorry you got caught?” Alec asked.
Benjamin shrugged.
“Benji.”
“Yeah, I’m definitely in,” Gage said abruptly.
Brooks released a low chuckle. “Me, too. This’ll be fun.”
All three of his brothers shifted their attention to Cole, silently demanding his agreement to their united front.
Cole glanced at Ana and couldn’t look away. Her son towered over her, outweighed her, and left her standing there trembling. But it was her ringless left hand that sealed the deal whether he wanted to admit it or not. “Fine,” he said darkly.
