Chapter 3
three
. . .
Brinkley
“What did he say?” Georgia asked when I returned to the table.
We were having a family dinner at my brother’s restaurant, and I’d stepped outside to take a call from my ex-boss.
He’d fired me when Lincoln had called me out for crossing a line and invading his privacy.
He didn’t even allow me to tell my side of the story.
It was all because Lincoln Hendrix was paid millions of dollars and was a public figure.
He’d had a temper tantrum, and it had cost me my job.
“He offered me my job back.” I shook my head and took my seat between my mother and Lila, my brother Hugh’s fiancée.
“Well, that’s great news.” My father held his glass up, and everyone reached for theirs as if we were going to toast in celebration.
“Glasses down,” I hissed, looking at each of them one at a time. “He only offered me the job back because that pretentious”—I glanced over at my niece and thought about my words before I said something that would have Cage ripping my head off—“guy, you know… the football player, made a call.”
“Lincoln Hendrix?” Maddox asked, his eyes wide. He and Lila were already part of the family.
“Do not even get me started about that rat bas—” Damn it. Why did Gracie have to be so little when I wanted to unleash all the ugliness I could muster about this guy? “Rat basset hound. Yes. Do not get all starry-eyed about that man. He cost me my job.”
“But he obviously made a call to get it back for you,” Hugh said, using his thumb to swipe some barbecue sauce off Lila’s cheek. I would swoon if I wasn’t fuming at the moment.
“The audacity. Like some guy has the power to make a call and get me fired. And then make another call and get me rehired? The nerve. The absolute cajones on this guy.”
“What’s cajones, Auntie?” Gracie asked, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I looked up to see her mouth covered in sauce as she smiled up at me.
“Cajones are testicles,” Finn said as he barked out a laugh.
“Finn!” My mother shook her head and chuckled.
“I removed a set of cajones today on a bulldog, actually,” Cage said, and the table erupted in more laughter.
“It means… the man has a lot of nerve doing what he’s doing.” I winked at Gracie.
“Why not just take the job back?” my father asked. “Maybe he realized he made a mistake.”
“Please.” I rolled my eyes. “The man accused me of stalking him when I stopped in Cup of Cove for a lemonade the other day. He’s probably doing this so he can get me fired again. He probably gets off on all that power.”
“It seems like a lot of work for a professional athlete, right?” Georgia asked as she looked at me like I had three heads.
“I mean, do you really think he wakes up every day and tries to get you hired and fired over and over again? I’m with Dad on this one, Brinks.
I think he realized he made a mistake, and he wants to fix it. ”
“I think he wakes up every day and wonders what will suit him best,” I snarled.
I hated this man.
“Well, I admit that I wake up every day wondering what will suit me best. I don’t think that’s such a bad thing.” Finn shrugged, and I rolled my eyes as everyone covered their mouths to keep from laughing.
This was all fun and jokes for everyone, but this man had gotten me fired.
It was embarrassing. Sure, I wasn’t a well-known journalist, as I had only been at it for a few years, so it hadn’t made the news that I’d been let go.
But that didn’t mean it wasn’t horrifying.
I’d had to come home with my tail between my legs and give up my apartment in the city.
But aside from that, Athlete Central was not an option.
My ex-boss, Harvey Talbert, had been horrible to work for.
He gave all the good stories to the men in the office, and he’d made offensive remarks about my sexy legs and recommended I unbutton a few buttons on my blouse more than once.
Plus, the man had a boner for Lincoln Hendrix. I wasn’t going back there.
“Whatever. I can’t work for that man again. It was time for a change. So, I told Harvey to take his offer”—I glanced over at Gracie, who was watching me like everything I said mattered—“and shove it where the sun don’t shine.”
“Auntie said to shove it where the sun don’t shine!” Gracie fist-pumped the ceiling, and I laughed so hard tears sprung from my eyes. I wasn’t much of a crier, but the laughter felt damn good. It had been a rough couple of weeks.
“Great. Yet another saying Mrs. Appleton will have to speak to me about. Thanks for that,” Cage grumped, and more laughter erupted around the table.
I was still on edge just knowing that my nemesis was here in Cottonwood Cove. Hopefully, he’d gotten the hint, and he’d gotten the hell out of town after our run-in a few days ago.
“Well, we support whatever you want to do,” my mom said, putting an arm around my shoulder. “I like the idea of you being home while you figure it all out.”
“You don’t think you can make freelancing work?” my father asked.
“I think someday, down the road, it will be an option, but not yet. I do think it’s time to make the leap to a bigger organization. One that isn’t allowed to mistreat their employees. I just need to find a really good story and sell it so I can get my name out there.”
“There’s that hotshot hockey player that everyone’s talking about.
Why don’t you talk to Hawk?” Cage asked.
Our cousin, Everly, was married to one of the best hockey players of all time.
He was no longer playing, but he coached and was very involved with the team, not to mention the fact that he knew every player out there.
“That’s an idea. I never want to bother him with this stuff, but I could use some help to get my foot in the door.”
“I still think that article you wrote about Hawk when he retired was your best work,” my sister said.
“Thanks, Georgie. I was proud of that one. That’s what I need. Something big to get their attention and see what I’m capable of.”
“You can do it, Auntie Brinks,” Gracie said, clapping her hands together again. “And it’s on our dreams board.”
“Thank you, my little angel.” I blew her a kiss.
We spent the next hour getting filled in on Lila and Hugh’s upcoming wedding, which would be taking place at Georgia and Maddox’s home.
We were all going to be bridesmaids along with Lila’s best friends, Del, Rina, and Sloane.
Gracie was going to be the flower girl, and we’d all gushed over Gracie’s dress that Lila showed us on her phone.
The time was ticking as it was only a little over two months away.
Georgia and Maddox let us know that they had also made their decision, and their wedding was going to be small. They wanted just family and close friends, and they were having their ceremony and reception in Paris.
Ah… the life of a billionaire.
Finn told us about a scene he did yesterday where he was going too fast and almost got bucked off a horse.
He said Jessica came running out to help him, and he waggled his brows as he shared the story with us.
His new show was going to premiere in a few months, and we were all excited for his breakout role.
We were thrilled that we were going to get to view one episode early at my parents’ house.
He’d been acting for several years, but he was the lead in this new Netflix series, Big Sky Ranch, and everyone was talking about it.
It was still surreal, thinking about my brother being a movie star.
Cage went on a rant about a few clients that were super high maintenance and had called him at home after hours for ridiculous reasons. Life as a small-town veterinarian was endlessly entertaining, at least for the siblings of the doctor.
My parents just listened happily, thrilled with all the exciting things coming up.
I felt a bit like the weak link at the moment.
I’d lost my job. I was living in my sister’s rental house, trying to pretend to be an organic farmer-slash-freelance reporter.
I needed to go home and find a story. Start creating my future.
It wasn’t going to just happen. I needed to make it happen.
I sent a quick text to my cousin’s husband, Hawk, as we all finished up dinner.
Hey, Hawk. I don’t know if Ever told you, but I’m between jobs. I’m looking for a good story. Something big. Do you think you could get me a meeting with Breen Lockhart? Or do you know anyone else that I could interview?
I watched as the three little dots moved around the screen and chuckled when a picture came through of Everly, Hawk, and their two adorable kiddos’ faces all pressed together.
Hawk
Hi, Brinks! We’re all sending our love. Unfortunately, the hottest topic in sports right now is Lincoln Hendrix and where he’s going to play, but I’m guessing you don’t want to talk to him right now.
My cousins all knew that I hated the guy after that whole press conference fiasco. The public wasn’t aware of all the gory details, but my family, and most of the people in Cottonwood Cove, all seemed to know about my current situation.
Word always traveled fast in small towns.
But as gossipy as they were—they were equally protective of the people who lived here.
Yeah. That’s a hard no. Unless he wanted to give me his story, which isn’t likely considering the man hates me as much as I hate him.
Hawk
I’m still surprised by that because, as I told you, I’ve known him for years, and he’s normally a really good guy, Brinks. But the media attention does get overwhelming, so it sounds like he lost his patience.
Oh, I’m sorry. I was just looking for my tiny violin. Poor Lincoln Hendrix… He’s the hottest thing in the NFL, he makes more money in a week than most will make in their lifetime, and he was number three on The Sexiest Man Alive list this year. I feel so bad for him.
Hawk
I get it. He did you wrong. Hell hath no fury like a Thomas or a Reynolds girl scorned. I can get you a meeting with Breen, but you need to watch your back. He’s not my favorite. He’s cocky, and he’s a playboy, so be prepared. But he’ll do it. He loves the attention.
Thank you so much. Love you guys. Hope to see you soon. Give big kisses to the babies!
Another photo came through of him and Everly with puckered lips.
Hawk
We love you. I’ll be in touch.
We all made our way toward the front of the restaurant and said our goodbyes. Hugh and Lila were informed that there was some sort of crisis in the kitchen.
“Hey, can you stick around and help with a few to-go orders while we handle this?” Hugh asked me after everyone else was out the door and I was still saying goodbye to Lila.
“Of course. I’ve got it.”
I spent the next twenty minutes chatting with Brandy, the hostess, and running back to the kitchen to grab the orders for a few customers. Reynolds’ was always packed because they had the best food in town.
I walked back to the kitchen to see Hugh and Lila listening as two of the cooks argued their points after apparently having a big blowup with one another.
There was one final order sitting under the heat lamp, and I checked the receipt.
Captain Jack Sparrow.
I highly doubted Johnny Depp was in Cottonwood Cove, and I couldn’t wait to see who the smartass was who’d placed this order.
I took the bag to the front, as the restaurant had all but cleared out. Closing time was around the corner and everyone was making their way out the door.
A few people stopped me on their way out. This was what I loved about my hometown. Everyone knew everyone, and it really was just like one big, happy family.
J.R., who had been the town Santa Claus for as long as I could remember, picked me up and spun me around as I clung to the to-go order in my hand that dangled behind his back.
“Good to see you, sunshine.” He set me on my feet, and I pushed up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
“You, too,” I said, before turning and hugging his wife, Sandy.
I waved my goodbyes and turned just as the door opened.
And the air left my lungs for the second time this week when I came face-to-face with my nemesis.
Enemy number one.
It didn’t help that he was painfully good-looking. And I wasn’t easily impressed by men. But this particular man was the whole package. He had the looks, the confidence, and the swagger to balance it all out.
And I despised him… obviously.
He was tall, with muscles straining against his white tee and broad shoulders.
Shoulders of the hottest quarterback in the league.
Green eyes. Blond hair. Chiseled jaw with a little bit of scruff.
The bastard.
He reached for the bill of his baseball cap and turned it around slowly as he met my gaze.
No one was up at the hostess stand, as Brandy was most likely helping the busboy, Lionel, who also happened to be her boyfriend, clear off the tables.
He glanced down at the apron that I was wearing, and his brows cinched together. I’d only put it on to protect the white blouse and skirt that I wore beneath it.
“You work here now?” he said, his voice low, and I didn’t miss the pity in his tone.
Nothing pissed me off more than being pitied.
Well, being escorted out of a press conference and being fired probably trumped being pitied, but I still didn’t like it.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s none of your business. What do you want?”
“I’m picking up a to-go order.” He squared his shoulders, and his face hardened.
It took everything in me not to laugh.
“You must be Captain Jack Sparrow?” I mocked.
“Just trying to keep a low profile,” he said, glancing around to see that the place was practically empty. “Hey, for the record, I didn’t know you’d lost your job over what happened at that press conference. I’m hoping you got a call today?”
Anger coursed through my veins. Who the hell did this guy think he was?
“I don’t need you sticking your nose into my business. I’m not taking that job back because I never should have been fired. I was doing exactly what I was supposed to do.”
“Just take the goddamn job,” he said, his jaw clenching like he was aggravated.
“Oh, I’m sorry if getting me fired has inconvenienced you.
I’m going to write as a freelancer until I get hired by a magazine that respects its reporters.
So, unless you want me to interview you, I’m going to treat you exactly the way that you treated me.
” I slammed the bag of food against his chest and turned around and shouted to Lionel to come help me.
“You’re ridiculous,” he said with an annoyingly sexy smirk on his face.
He had no idea just how ridiculous I could be.