Epilogue
Seven Months Later
Brightly colored boxes were stacked to the warehouse-high ceiling. Liam hadn’t known big-box stores that catered to baby equipment existed. But there he was, stranded in the middle of a sprawling aisle of strollers.
Picking one didn’t have to be so complicated… He drifted farther down the aisle and stopped at another stroller. Truth be told, they all looked the same, but he couldn’t tell that to Chelsea or Linda. Especially not after he’d convinced them that he could handle the stroller-choosing task.
Frank had warned Liam that he didn’t know what he was getting into, and the man was right. Each stroller had a display and product listing that was not unlike the same lists that he might expect to see if shopping for a new truck.
Rubber-coated wheels for city sidewalks.
Pneumatic wheels for off-roading.
Brakes and shocks.
Cupholders and storage.
Visors, canopies, UV-blockers, rain gear…
He pinched the bridge of his nose. This couldn’t be that hard of a decision. Off-roading and cup holders seemed most important.
Then again, he couldn’t discount the importance of good brakes. What have I gotten myself into? Maybe he should call Frank for backup.
“You don’t want that one.”
Liam straightened at the familiar voice and pivoted. Mr. Westin. “This is unexpected.”
The corners of Westin’s mouth quirked. “I like to keep folks on their toes.”
He eyeballed the stroller aisle. “Never would’ve guessed you’d be here.”
Westin chuckled. “Not my usual.”
“Yet you’re offering advice.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “You have kids?”
Westin shook his head. “I can’t see how that kind of future is in store for me.”
Liam shrugged. “You never know. I wouldn’t have predicted this a couple years ago.”
He laughed. “With my schedule, I would probably have to drop face first into a war zone to find a woman and kid. But crazier things have happened.”
An overhead speaker chimed and requested that everyone keep their eye out for an “overly loved pink binkie.” Both men shifted awkwardly, and maybe Westin had as much of an understanding of binkies as Liam did.
His best guess was a blanket shaped like a pinky—but that made no sense.
The learning curve on fatherhood would be steep.
Liam tilted his head toward the stroller that first caught his eye. “Why don’t I want that one?”
“Because that one over there has more cupholders.”
“Good to know.” He crossed his arms. “Why are you here?”
“I have a job offer for you, ace.” Westin cracked a couple knuckles. “With ACES.”
Liam snorted. “Yeah, I picked up on that.”
Westin smirked. “I was trying it on for size. Asymmetrical Combat Expeditionary Specialists. You report to me. You’ll have a home base in Abu Dhabi—”
Liam shook his head. “I have a kid on the way.”
“I won’t ask you to relocate. Just travel as needed, when you’re ready.” Westin popped the knuckles on his other hand. “And I pay well.”
That sounded like a dream job once upon a time. But now? “Let me think about it and get back to you.”
“What’s there to think about?”
He chuckled. “I’m going to run decisions that involve pitstops in Abu Dhabi by my wife.”
Westin nodded. “I just had lunch with her.”
“What?”
“Hell if I was going to offer you a job without getting to know all the players,” then translated. “Consider it business research.”
He didn’t know if Westin was an asshole or smart as hell. Liam also wasn’t sure why Chelsea hadn’t texted him.
“And she’s getting a massage at some fancy-ass place right now. My treat.”
His eyebrow arched. “You don’t have to do that—”
Westin reached into his pocket then extended a business card in his hand. “You’re one lucky SOB with a woman like that.”
He already knew that and took the thick cream-colored card. A phone number was center-justified, but the card didn’t have any other information. Liam ran his thumb over the raised type then shoved it into his pocket. “You’re still working with Chance and Hagan?”
Westin nodded. “And with you, whenever you’re ready.”
“I didn’t say I’d take the job.”
“But you will.” Then the man whom Mr. Black had called Boss Man strolled down the aisle.
Liam didn’t know what his next move should be beyond leaving the store with a stroller. He could only process one monumental decision a day, and todays had been deciding on a name. Catherine Julia Brosnan.
He took a deep breath and made another decision. He pulled the order ticket for the stroller with all the cup holders and went to check out. Boss man hadn’t led him astray to this point. No reason to second guess him now. ACES it would be.