Chapter 5
“Mom’s neighbor needs work done on his house,” I said, pushing my black, wire-framed glasses up further on my face and tearing my eyes away from an annoying spreadsheet that refused to balance.
The downside of my office at TriVolt was its glass wall, exposing me to constant interruptions from the receptionist’s desk and the newly renovated showroom.
Magnum leaned against the doorframe, one ankle crossed over the other and a hand on his hip, sipping an over-sweetened cup of coffee. He could have at least refilled my now empty mug if he insisted on standing there doing nothing but converting oxygen to carbon dioxide.
“Okay. Did you recommend a contractor? That guy who helped with the job over on Alan Street did decent work with the cabinets and plumbing.”
I sighed, pushing the glasses to my forehead and rubbing the crease between my brows. I was eighty-five percent sure he wasn’t purposely being obtuse, but after making a fool of myself in front of Cam and Summer, my patience was razor-thin and in danger of imploding.
“No, I didn’t recommend anyone,” I said, neglecting to tell Magnum about Cam saying he’d foot the bill if I handled the work myself.
Yesterday, my pride got the better of me, and the retort on my lips telling Cam to take a long walk off a short pier wouldn’t come.
I’d stared into Summer’s dark eyes, and although her quips annoyed the hell out of me, it was easy to see the overwhelming situation she found herself in—something I’d long since grown accustomed to handling on my own.
Before I knew it, I was back at Mom’s house sketching ideas about how to best accommodate him as he recovers—as if I needed another thing on my plate.
“Well, I can’t spare any guys from my team until after the first of the month.
We’re too close to the deadline for the Rickman project, and he just asked for another smart panel to be installed in his garage.
” Magnum scratched his chin and then took his phone from his back pocket, humming as he scrolled through something.
“What do you mean, spare guys from your projects?”
I’d all but forgotten he’d overtaken my door frame, already ten steps ahead of our conversation and well into thinking about the supplies that needed to be ordered for Cam’s upgrades. And how I’d still help Mom train her pups while not neglecting Malibu.
Magnum looked up, tilting his head before turning his phone screen toward me as I scowled, rolling my eyes. Like I could see whatever he was showing me sitting so far away. “Your screen is too small. What am I supposed to be looking at?”
He chuckled, shaking his head as he stepped closer, then lowered himself into the chair in front of my desk.
“Just our work calendar, old man. After the first, we’re a little light on projects, so I can spare two, maybe three guys to assist with whatever needs to be done at Mom’s neighbor’s house. She’s talking about Cam, right?”
“Yeah, Cam. Cam and Summer,” I said, pushing my chair away from the desk and crossing one ankle over my knee. I scratched my day-old scruff and sighed, staring at my empty cup of coffee.
Magnum pushed his full mug toward me, and I grunted approval before taking a sip, enjoying the over-sweetened beverage and the mix of caffeine and sugar it flooded my body with.
“Right. With the limited information you’ve shared, I gather, after his heart surgery, things need to be done to his condo to make it more accommodating.
Someone—probably our mother—roped you into going over there to check on him, bring him food, or assist her with a prank.
You saw the problem and are going to bear the burden of fixing things. ”
“That’s not entirely accurate.”
I leaned closer to my desk, propped my elbows on the sturdy cherry wood, rested my forehead on my hands, and counted to five before looking up.
Magnum’s lips were pursed, and his shoulders shook from holding back his silent laughter.
Part of me wanted to laugh with him, while the rest wanted to junk-punch him.
“Oh, I’ll bet that’s more than accurate, Mav. And I’m sure you already have a plan drawn out.”
That’s it. I need a vacation. Someplace I can be alone. Perhaps the Arctic Circle. Or Albania.
“I may have a couple of rough ideas sketched. It would be pretty similar to the modifications we did at Mom’s house.”
My idea notebook mocked me from the top drawer, and even Malibu, lying quietly in her dog bed in the corner, raised her head and yawned at my predictability.
“Good, I figured as much. Let’s see them.” He motioned to the drawer and stuck his hand toward me, waiting as I sighed loudly before passing it over.
“Who’s Summer?”
Malibu’s head tilted, and she yipped, standing from her bed before padding over to me and crawling underneath the desk to rest her head on my thigh.
“Cam’s daughter,” I answered, vividly remembering the tight purple shorts that hugged her thighs and ass in a way that had me staring like a man starved.
My eyes were drawn to her shapely curves and then the rest of me responded to her razor-sharp wit with a large helping of snark.
Not just snark—but sarcastic, hilarious comments she made with a straight face and one eyebrow raised, as if she was daring me to go toe to toe with her.
“Ah, yes. The damsel in distress. Struggling to care for her father and just waiting for an older, experienced man to step in and show her all the ways he can improve her life.”
I rolled my eyes, cracking my knuckles and glaring at my younger brother. Didn’t he have projects to oversee or lighting design upgrades for the newly opened showroom to attend to?
Malibu rubbed her head against my leg, and I scratched under her jaw, earning a lick to my fingers.
“What in the fuck are you blabbing about? Nothing about that woman says damsel. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past that brat to already have a hard hat and sledgehammer, attempting to lower the cabinets herself. Foolish girl.”
“Foolish? You sure sound like you’re ready to step in and save the day, Mav.”
“Ugh, no. More like annoyed that, once again, any semblance of free time I thought I had has gone out the window.”
“Cut it out, bro. I am immune to your ‘woe is me’ shit. As usual, you’re in a situation of your own making.
You have me, Miller, Mark, Mom, and a handful of friends to help ease your workload.
Hell, didn’t Jenna offer to help Mom with the new puppies, but you insisted on doing it since you’ve named yourself some sort of puppy whisperer, forgetting that Mark and Jenna’s baby, Eloise is already six months old? ”
I grumbled, reaching down to pet my dog’s head. She pushed her face into my hand, and I grinned as her tail thumped against the side of my desk.
“Now you cut that shit out, or I’ll tell Mom you and Brooke are trying for a baby. I don’t enjoy relying on other people for things I can do myself.”
He laughed, reaching across my desk to snatch his half-full coffee back. “I get that, but there’s a fine line between allowing others to ease your burden and burning yourself out, trying to do everything for everyone. And for the record, Brooke and I are trying for a baby.”
“Wait. What now? I had no idea.”
I stood, closing the distance between us, and hugged him tightly. He slapped my back, and I returned the gesture, both of us grinning like loons.
“Yeah. We want a big family and figured it wouldn’t hurt to start trying.
” He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at the receptionist’s desk, where Brooke sat, chatting on the phone with a customer.
She twirled a lock of dark hair around her finger, then glanced in our direction, winking at Magnum, who returned the gesture.
“That’s. Well… Damn. Congratulations, man.”
“Thanks. But don’t tell Mom. I doubt I’d be able to perform if she started showing up, giving us tips on different positions to increase fertility.”
“Who would?” I said, cringing at the thought of our mother giving any of us sex tips.
Mark, my youngest brother, and his wife Jenna already had a baby, and now it looked like Magnum wasn’t long behind them. Miller and Emma were stupidly in love. So that left me.
Fuck.
That left me.
The oldest.
The grumpiest.
The most resistant to change.
I could see it clearly in my mind’s eye—Mom casually inviting me over for lunch, only to be bombarded by her neighbor’s friend’s niece twice removed, who had a sweet personality and was looking for a long-term relationship.
I glanced at the open door, wondering how long I could be off the grid before being tracked down. Between my police officer brother and squirrelly mother, I wouldn’t make it a week. My back hit the far-left wall of my office, and I ran my fingers through my hair, shaking my head.
Would it be so horrible if I were to meet someone?
Yes. Yes, it would.
The tulips I brought last week were probably long since dead, and I made a mental note to ask Mom for another bouquet when I stopped by later to work with the pups.
“Right. So, these plans look good. Do you want me to pass the list to Brooke so she can start ordering parts? I’ll also make a note on the calendar of what guys I can spare once the Alan project is finished.”
“Oh,” I said, pushing off from the wall and walking back to my desk, where I sat with a groan. “I’ll handle all that.”
“Nonsense.” Magnum stood, pocketed his phone, then picked up his mug, turning toward the open door. “You don’t have to do this alone. So, give me deadlines, haunt me a little, then put a fire under me, and watch as the magic happens.”
I smirked, shaking my head and pushing my glasses back to my nose. “Okay, Mag. Thanks for this.”
“Don’t mention it. Talk later.”
He waved two fingers in my direction as he walked out the door, making a beeline to Brooke’s desk before he handled his tasks for the rest of the day.
I shook my head, watching as he cupped her jaw and kissed her cheek before disappearing into the back room. Turning back to the spreadsheet, I wiggled the mouse and reached down to scratch Malibu’s head, knowing my workday was far from finished.