5. Seth
“Seth!” Brady waves his arms over his head as I pull into the driveway at his parents’ house. “It’s good to see you, man.”
He smiles at me as I shut off my truck and open the door, and I step out and give him a manly hug.
“You act like you haven’t seen me in forever.”
“After waking up next to your ugly mug every day for the last five years, I welcomed the alone time,” he quips.
“Aww, you missed me.” I slap him on the back and slam my door shut. “How did you survive this long without me?”
“It was easy.” He smirks.
It’s been almost four months since we arrived back stateside and started our out-processing from the Marines. Since I didn’t officially put my retirement paperwork in until halfway through our deployment, it took me a little longer to get things settled. Now I’m a civilian and ready to get settled into my new life in Tyson’s Creek, which I’m hoping will also include a beautiful redhead whom I’m already head over heels for.
We both chuckle as he throws his arm over my shoulder and leads me toward the house.
“You’re just in time for lunch. Mama has been cooking up a storm since I told her you were getting here today,” he tells me.
I smile as the screen door slams behind me.
“You’re here!” Mrs. Thomas squeals as we round the corner to the kitchen, quickly wiping her hands on a towel before opening her arms. “Now come and give me a hug.”
“Thanks for having me, ma’am,” I say as she wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes. Standing at a little over five feet tall, she barely comes up to my chest, but she makes up for her size in strength. Her salt-and-pepper-colored hair lands loosely around her shoulders, and I wrap my arms around her waist and plant a kiss on the top of her head.
“How many times have I told you to call me Mama? Everyone else does.” Her emerald-green eyes sparkle with mirth as she leans slightly away from me before swatting at my chest, causing me to laugh softly.
“Okay, Mama.”
She gives me one last squeeze before stepping out of my embrace and walking back into the kitchen, and I take a seat at the table.
“I wasn’t sure what you would like, so I made a bit of everything.” Mrs. Thomas starts rattling off different dishes faster than I can keep up, but I choose something to eat.
“Jesus, Mama. It’s lunchtime. I don’t even want to know what you’re planning for dinner,” Brady teases as she finishes making our plates and places both on the table.
“I never said he had to eat it all right now. Eat what you like, darling. We can rustle up something for dinner from the leftovers.” She steps toward me, cupping my cheek in her hand. “We’re so excited you’re here.”
“Me, too,” I respond wholeheartedly before digging into my food.
I’ve never had a place to call my own, but I can already see myself putting down roots in Tyson’s Creek, even though I’ve only been here for a few minutes. They always say home is where the heart is, and right now, I’m here in search of the other part of mine. Here’s hoping that she’ll give me hers in return.
The closest thing I’ve ever had to a job interview was walking into the Marine Corps recruiting office. To say I have reservations about what to expect from my meeting with Brady’s buddy, Vance, today would be an understatement.
I have a few weeks before I can sit for the civil service exam, but if everything goes well, I can be the next deputy in Tyson’s Creek in a few months. I’m sure Brady’s dad pulled some strings when we told him I was interested in joining the department.
“Don’t worry,” Brady tells me. “Connor and Vance are good people, always willing to lend a hand to someone in need. Just be your charming self and everything will work out fine.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” I admit.
No one’s ever called me charming in my entire life. My straightforward, no-bullshit attitude was great for being a Marine, but I doubt it will transfer over well to the civilian world.
“I can always just kick their asses for you if you don’t get hired.” He flops down onto the couch beside me as I stuff my foot into a boot.
I wasn’t too sure what to wear for an interview and went with a nice pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. It’s a construction company, so I doubt they come to work in a suit and tie.
“Easy there, slugger. I can handle my own battles. Thanks, anyway.” I finish lacing up my boots and stand. “I’m more worried about what I’m going to do if I don’t get the job.”
“Stop being so pessimistic.” Brady pushes up off the couch. “There are plenty of places to work in town. I’m sure you’ll find something in no time.”
I give him a tight smile before grabbing my keys off the hook beside the front door and heading out.
“Don’t wait up,” I call over my shoulder as I shut the door behind me and head toward my truck.
“Good luck today, Seth.” Mrs. Thomas waves at me as I pass. “Not that you’ll need it. Anyone would be a fool not to hire you.” She flashes me a bright smile before getting back to her garden.
“Thank you,” I grumble as I climb into my truck.
Brady gave me basic directions to get to the company’s main office right outside of town, but I don’t want to take any chances. I quickly plug the address into my GPS and pull out of the driveway.
Here goes nothing.
I’ve spent the last few weeks getting used to civilian life. Not having a predictable schedule every day has set my nerves on edge, and I’ve become restless. I sat around for the first day or two, unpacking my limited belongings and grabbing the few things I might need until I found a place of my own.
Brady took me around town, even though I knew most of the places he was pointing out. This isn’t my first time being in Tyson’s Creek, but it seems important to him that I know everything there is to know about my new home. We spent a little more time than he would’ve liked at the only coffee shop in town, which happens to be right next to Bristol’s yoga studio. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t plan on spending a lot of time there, trying to catch a glimpse of her, but I haven’t had any luck yet. She’s been in my thoughts and dreams since we spent that night together over a year ago, and now that I’m back in town, I don’t know how much longer I can go without seeing her.
I’ve tried calling her a few times, but I have had no luck getting through. Brady says I should stop being a creeper and leave a voicemail, but every time I hear her voice on the other line, I clam up. How do you sum up all your feelings for someone in a one-minute voice message?
I need to know how she’s doing. How has business at Nurture Space been? I want to know if she ever convinced her best friend, Audrey, to move to Tyson’s Creek. I want to know everything that I missed while I was gone, every little detail. Not because it’s important, but because it has to do with her.
Bristol is practically the only thing I could think about while over in the sandbox. I’d imagine what it would be like the first time we saw each other again. Would she be happy? Would she even remember me? Does she still feel the connection between us, the same connection I’ve been sure of since the moment I laid eyes on her? I know it sounds insane, but I know I’m falling for her. I was never one to believe in love at first sight… until I met her.
But what if she’s with someone else?
That nagging voice in the back of my head whispers in my mind for the millionth time since I moved to Tyson’s Creek to see if there can be something more between Bristol and me. But it’s been over a year. I never told Bristol my plans, so why would she have waited for me? She’s amazing both inside and out. A catch for any man that sparks her interest. Is it na?ve of me to think she’d still be single after all the time?
The voice on my GPS brings me back to the present as it instructs me to turn right on Paradise Road. As I turn the corner, the construction company comes into view. I make my way down the dirt road, keeping my eye out for potholes, and turn into the first parking spot I find. I take a deep breath as I turn off the engine.
“If it’s meant to be, it will be,” I mumble to myself before pulling the keys out of the ignition. I open my truck door and jump out… directly into a large puddle of muddy water.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath as I slam the door, step out of the puddle, and shake the water from my boots.
Good thing I dressed for the job and not the interview. I look down and examine my boots, checking to see if my jeans are covered in mud.
“Sorry about that. We’ve been meaning to get the lot paved for a while now, but haven’t gotten around to it,” someone says from behind me.
My head snaps up, and I spin around and notice Connor standing behind me. Connor looks the same as he did the first time we met. His dirty-blonde hair is cut short on the sides and the top like a military haircut, and his jawline is covered in stubble the same color as his hair. A smile spreads across his face as he reaches his arm out toward me. “It’s great to see you again, Seth. Did you find the place okay?”
“Great to be here,” I answer with a smile before grasping his hand in a firm handshake. “Thanks so much for allowing me to interview for a position with your company. I was worried I wouldn’t find any place to work while I was trying to get on my feet. Moving to Tyson’s Creek was kind of a last-minute decision.”
“That’s not what I hear.” He chuckles, releasing my hand from his grip. “I believe a certain redhead may have had something to do with it.”
“Maybe a little.” I snicker softly before flashing him a friendly smile.
“Nothing wrong with that. When you find someone you care about, hold on to them with both hands,” Connor replies before stepping around me and striding toward the single-wide trailer a few yards in front of us.
I don’t know too much about Connor’s story, but it seems like he’s speaking from experience. Brady said something in passing before we left for deployment that Connor was a widower. His wife, Lydia, died during childbirth. They were high school sweethearts, and he was devastated when he lost her. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting his daughter, Jade, but I hear she’s a spitfire. Jade and this business are his entire world.
I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to lose the love of your life. The one person you believed you were going to spend the rest of your life with. How does someone’s heart heal from something like that? Hell, I’ve only been apart from Bristol for a little over a year, and each day has been excruciating. I tried not to think about her, but my mind always came right back to that night we spent together. I never forgot her, even though I tried. And damn did I try, but now I’m here in Tyson’s Creek, hoping that she might give me a chance to see where things could lead between us.
“Let’s get inside and get this interview out of the way—although it’s just a formality at this point,” Connor says, as I nod and follow behind him.
There really isn’t much to their setup. There are another two trailers off to my left with a few backhoes and Bobcats parked next to them. A chain-link fence surrounds the entire area, more to keep people from getting in than out.
“Home sweet home.” Connor swings the door open and walks in.
I stop for a moment and wipe my feet before following him inside. There are two medium-sized desks splitting the center of the room, with filing cabinets lining the wall to my left.
“Take a seat.” Connor motions toward the empty chair in front of his desk. “Vance is running late, as usual, but he should be here soon.”
“Not a problem. I don’t mind waiting for a few,” I reply as I sit down.
“How are you settling in here in Tyson’s Creek?” Connor doesn’t waste any time asking the serious questions.
“Great. I’ve been to visit a million times over the years with Brady, as you know, but there’s something about knowing this is my home that makes things a little different.”
It’s different because this is my home. Something that I haven’t had since joining the Marines. I had a roof over my head and a place to sleep, but the barracks on base never felt like a place I could belong. I’d never felt that until I stepped foot into Tyson’s Creek for the first time. There’s just something about this town and these people that makes me feel at ease.
And it’s not just the town. The Thomases are the closest thing I have to a family. When I needed a place to go, it wasn’t even a question that I was coming to stay with them. Mrs. Thomas always told me I had a home here in Tyson’s Creek, but I thought it was just for show. Something nice that you say to your son’s friend, but the Thomases are different. Cut from a different cloth.
“Are you planning on being here long term?” he asks.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Tyson’s Creek has felt like home for the last few months,” I admit, not sure if that’s the correct response.
“I feel you on that one. There’s something magical about this place. Seems like it gives everyone the one thing they’ve always been searching for.”
“I hope that’s true for me, too,” I murmur, ensuring that Connor doesn’t hear my words.
Sure, Tyson’s Creek is a place that I can call home, but the only thing missing in that scenario is Bristol by my side.
“Anyway, we just got a big contract to revamp some villas a few towns over, so we could use the extra men. I’m not sure how long we can guarantee you work, but we would love to have you,” he tells me.
“Thank you.” I give him a genuine smile. “I plan on taking the civil service exam in a couple of weeks and hope to become a deputy soon after.”
I lean back in my seat and rest my ankle on my knee. I may not have given him the answer he wanted, but it’s the truth.
“The town would be lucky to have you,” Connor answers as the door to the office flies open and someone walks in.
“Late as always, Vance,” Connor says as I turn toward him.
Vance has a huge smile on his face as he comes strolling through the door. His red-and-black checkered flannel shirt is rolled up to the elbows and tucked into a pair of light blue jeans. He’s about my height and has dark brown hair with a perfectly groomed beard that’d put any military man to shame. He has a muscular build, but leaner than Connor, but what would you expect from someone who lifts 2x4s every day?
“Hardy har.” Vance reaches out his hand, and I stand slightly as I grasp it and give him a firm shake. “It’s good to see you, man.”
“It’s good to see you, too. Thanks so much for the chance to work for Ace Hammer.”
“Enough of that. We told you before you deployed, you had a place here if you wanted it. All of this was just a formality, if you ask me,” Vance tosses a bag onto Connor’s desk and heads toward his own. “Seli wanted Chick-fil-A again.”
“Thank goodness today isn’t Sunday, or you would be up shit creek again,” Connor laughs.
“Tell me about it. I love that woman to the end of the earth, but I can’t make someone open their doors just to make her a crispy chicken sandwich with extra pickles because the baby wants it.”
“You got your girl back, huh?” I question, my eyes locked on Vance as he takes a seat.
I knew Vance was still head over heels for his high school sweetheart, Selina. She left without saying goodbye to anyone and headed off to Juilliard and never looked back. When we were last in town, he was still waiting for her to come to her senses and come home. It seems a lot of things have changed for the better since Brady and I left on deployment.
“Yup,” Vance responds smugly. “It wasn’t easy, but she came to her senses and came home to me.”
“Why do I have a feeling there’s more to the story than that?”
“Because there is,” Connor replies. “But none of that matters either way. Those two knuckleheads found their way back to each other. Making my girl and yours very happy.”
“You’re one to talk.” Vance grabs something off his desk and throws it at Connor. “You were determined to remain a bachelor for the rest of your life, and now look at you. Blissfully in love with Audrey and my amazing niece, Love.”
“Wait, Audrey?” I question, trying to piece everything together. “Leia and Bristol’s friend?”
“The one and only. She moved here with her teenage daughter, Love, to help Bristol at Nurture Space. Business has picked up a lot since you shipped out, so she really needed the help.” Vance shakes his head as he spins a picture on his desk around.
“And I took one look at her and knew they were the piece Jade and I have been missing since her mom passed away,” Connor says with a soft smile and a far-off look on his face.
I turn toward Vance’s desk, leaning down to get a better look at the picture. I immediately pick out both Connor’s and Vance’s smiling faces, their arms wrapped around two gorgeous women. Beside Connor is a woman with warm brown skin and curly hair that lands just below her shoulder blades, with hints of gold and red shimmering in the sunlight. Her head is resting on Connor’s shoulder, and her hand is resting on a girl’s shoulder who looks just enough like Audrey to be her daughter. To her right is Jade, who I only recognize from all the pictures Connor showed me whenever I was in town. Standing directly behind her is another beautiful woman, her hand resting on her basketball-sized belly, dark hair hanging around her shoulders, and a soft smile on her face.
“Looks like a family photo.” I laugh, yearning to have pictures like this of my own with Bristol standing beside me, maybe even a little girl with her bright hair and my brown eyes shining with happiness right back at me.
“It is,” Vance answers with a blinding smile as he spins the photo back around.
“We may not all be blood, but we share a bond that’s stronger than that. Being blood related doesn’t make you family,” Connor says with conviction, causing my heart to tug slightly in my chest.
His words settle around me like a warm blanket. I’ve spent so many years without a family and a place to belong that I was worried about what would happen once I got out of the military. The military gave me purpose and brotherhood, but maybe there is a chance I could have something more. It led me to Brady and his family—our family—but maybe my circle can grow even bigger.
“The family you chose.”
“Exactly,” Vance places a hand on my shoulder and squeezing it.
“I’ll leave you to your lunch.” I stand, gaining both men”s attention. “I need to get back to the house and finish unpacking.”
Vance quickly comes around his desk, stopping me from walking out the door. “How about we grab a beer down at Crawdaddy’s tonight? We can catch up and fill you in on everything that’s happened since you were last in town. We can also take the time to introduce you to a few of the guys. I’m sure hanging around with just Brady is getting on your nerves by now.” He points over my shoulder toward Connor. “Besides, this one needs a night out.”
“Oh, no. The last time you and I went out, I couldn’t walk straight the next day.” Connor grumbles as his eyebrows pinch together. Apparently, someone doesn’t know how to pace himself.
“I was nursing a broken heart.” Vance clutches at his chest as he takes a seat behind his desk. “Lucky for you, I got my girl back, or we would have had a few more nights just like that.”
“Sure,” I mumble. I don’t want to be rude, but I have no desire to play nice with a bunch of people I don’t know. “Brady will throw a fit if I don’t bring him along. Apparently, I’m not allowed to have any other friends besides him.”
“Fucking princess.” Connor chuckles. “Bring him along. We haven’t had a chance to catch up since he got back into town.” He grabs a stack of papers from his desk, holding them out in my direction. “If you could fill these out and bring them back to the office tomorrow, we can get you started next week.”
I take the papers from Connor before shaking his hand again.
“Welcome to the team,” Vance says as I step around him and head for the door.
I have a feeling that life is about to get a lot more interesting with them in the picture. I spend the rest of the day filling out the paperwork Connor gave me this morning and trying not to call Bristol for the millionth time. After a few hours, I give up and go for a run, hoping to tire myself out before I have to head to the bar to meet Vance and the others.
“Let’s get a move on!” Brady hollers down the hall as I pull up my jeans and button them.
That run did me a lot of good. Helped me clear my mind and come up with a plan for finding Bristol. I’ve decided to stop at the local coffee shop tomorrow morning, hoping I’ll accidentally run into her as I walk past her studio. Pathetic, I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
“Hold your horses. They aren’t going anywhere,” I grumble as I grab a clean shirt out of the drawer and slam it shut.
Once I get it over my head, I stare at my reflection in the mirror and barely recognize myself.
Standing at a little over six feet tall, I’m not a small guy by any means, but a lot of the bulk in my muscles has disappeared. That’s what happens when your plans consist of more than just lifting weights and patrol every day. A scruffy beard covers the bottom half of my face, but I can’t say it bothers me. But there is a brightness in my eyes that wasn’t there before. Maybe it’s the excitement of having more to look forward to every day than I used to, or maybe it”s something more. Instead of waking up every morning dreading the monotony that usually follows, I wake up even more excited about what the day holds or who I might run into as I familiarize myself with my new home.
“I need to get my ass back into the gym,” I mumble as I continue to examine my body in the mirror.
At least that would give me something to do besides obsess over Bristol every day. Right. As if that could happen. Bristol is the only thing I think about every day. She even seems to occupy my dreams. She’s the last person I think about before I go to bed and the first person who comes to mind when I wake up in the morning.
“If you’re finished checking yourself out, I’m ready to grab some beers.” Brady crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the door frame.
“Shut the fuck up, asshole.”
“You’re still God’s gift to womankind, and you know it.” He comes into the room and joins me in front of the mirror. “Almost as sexy as me.” He rubs his hand down his face before smiling brightly at his reflection in the mirror.
I roll my eyes. “That’s why you spend your evenings playing video games all alone.”
“Everyone has their reasons, man,” Brady growls at me before storming out of the room. Wow. Guess I touched a nerve, but damn if I know which one.
Not wanting to think too hard about the situation, I grab my wallet and keys off the top of my dresser and head toward the living room. “Let’s go. I’ll drive, since we both know you don’t know the meaning of taking it easy.”
He doesn’t say a word as he follows me out the door, closing it tightly behind him, and we head right toward my truck. I click the unlock button on my key fob before opening my door.
Brady climbs in and pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Vance said they’re already there and have grabbed some tables.”
I nod and slowly back out of the driveway, heading for the center of town and stopping at the stop sign at the end of the street.
“Are you planning on driving?” he asks as he turns in my direction, a scowl on his face.
“If I knew where the hell I was going, I would,” I snap back, not bothering to be nice about it. “I don’t know what crawled up your ass, man, but figure it the fuck out.”
“You’ve been there before, Seth.”
“Over a year ago. Knowing where your best friend’s bar is wasn’t on my list of priorities.”
“I bet you remember where Bristol’s house is.” He snickers, causing me to roll my eyes.“Turn right and head toward the construction company. I can give you directions after that.”
He’s damn right, but there’s no way I’m going to tell him that. Thankfully, I remember where I’m going, and with a little help, I get us to the bar.
I shake my head as I pull the truck into a spot, and we both hop out, striding right toward the front door. Brady pulls it open and heads inside, holding it open long enough for me to grab it. Crawdaddy’s looks just like any other bar I’ve been to in the States. A bar wrap runs the length of the back wall with some bar stools placed in front of it. Music blasts through the entire room from the dance floor off to the left of the entrance.
“What the hell?” I shout over the music as I smack into Brady’s back.
He says nothing as he stares at the woman dancing on the edge of the dance floor with a small group of women. She moves seductively to the music, as if the beat is part of her, gaining the attention of almost every man in the room.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Brady growls as he turns in the opposite direction.
“Seth! Brady! Over here!” I hear Vance call, bringing my attention to the small grouping of tables to the right of the entrance.
“Glad you guys could make it,” Connor says as we both pull out a chair and have a seat. Vance gives me a mock salute before Connor continues.
“This is Tony, Lance, Ren, and Drew. They’re four of the guys that will work on the crew with you and Brady. Jasper and Easton are working on another project right now with a few other guys, but you will more than likely see them around.”
All four men are of average build and in their mid-twenties. Honestly, the four of them could be brothers, looking almost exactly alike. I stand and lean over the table, shaking each one of the men’s hands. “Nice to meet you.”
“Glad to have you on our team. Hopefully, you can keep that one in line,” Lance says, and we all chuckle at Brady’s expense.
I wait a few moments for his witty retort, but nothing comes.
“You guys want a drink?” Ren questions.
Brady and I nod in response as he lifts his hand to get the bartender’s attention.
“Thanks for inviting me. It’s nice to have someone else to hang around with except for this blockhead all day, every day.” I motion over my shoulder at Brady, who’s brooding in the chair beside me.
His eyes are locked on the lithe beauty on the dance floor, hands held high above her head as she sways her hips to the beat of the music.
I lean closer to him. “Take a picture. It’ll last longer.”
“Fuck you,” he growls as the bartender stops at our table.
“Beckett, this is Seth. He’s the newest addition to our crew.” Vance gives me a hard slap on the back.
Beckett holds out his hand, and I give him a firm handshake.
“What can I get for you two?” he asks as he eyes Brady. “Eyes over here, asshole.”
“Get us whatever dark beer you have on draft, and another round for my friends.” I look over and notice Brady scowling at Beckett.
“Coming right up,” Beckett responds, and the others send up a cheer at the free drinks coming shortly.
“What was that all about?” I ask Brady. Before he can answer, someone comes to a stop in front of us, grabbing his attention.
“Hey, Brady.” The girl who’s had his attention since we walked into the bar comes gliding to a halt in front of our table while the rest of her group continues to their table closer to the bar. Her eyes scan the table, and she gives us all a small smile. “Gentlemen.”
“And what are you doing here, little lady?” Drew says as the other two men whistle softly below their breath.
“Just came to say hello to a friend,” she turns her attention back toward Brady.
She’s the same height as Audrey, but her attitude commands attention as every man at our table focuses on her. Her flawless, golden-brown skin twinkles as the lights hit the slight sheen of sweat covering it, while her honey-brown eyes focus directly on him as if there’s no one else in the room.
“Emersyn,” Brady replies tersely, not bothering to spare her another glance.
Emersyn doesn’t bat an eyelash at his response but turns her attention to me instead.
“Who’s your friend?” She flashes me a bright smile and leans down slightly, putting her body directly between us.
“Seth,” I reply as Beckett places a beer in front of me. I don’t break eye contact as I lift my beer and take a healthy swallow. “Nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” she purrs as her eyes shift to Brady before she stands back to her full height. “Can we get another round, big brother?”
“Sure thing, Em.” He turns and heads back toward the bar.
Emersyn and Brady continue to stare at one another for a few moments. Neither one of them says a word, but you can see the silent conversation going on between them.
“Pull up a chair and have a seat. I’m sure any of us would be better company than that asshole.” Tony smirks in her direction as he pulls out the chair between himself and Ren.
Brady’s eyes narrow slightly, and annoyance at Tony’s interference is written all over his face. “Run along, Emersyn. We have better things to do than play babysitter.”
“Why are you such an asshole?” Her voice catches slightly as she places both hands on her hips.
“It comes naturally,” he bites out, taking a sip of his beer and cocking his head toward her table. “Your friends are waiting.”
Emersyn turns, finally noticing her friends waving to get her attention.
“See you around, Brady,” she murmurs before turning around and sauntering back toward her friends.
Once Emersyn is out of sight, the table erupts into laughter, and the conversations between everyone flow once again.
“Is there a particular reason you were such an asshole to her? Beckett damn near bit your head off for just speaking to her.” I growl as I chuff my best friend on the back of the head.
Brady can be broody sometimes, but he has never been an outright asshole to anyone before, especially not to a lady.
“If your mama knew how you acted with that girl, she would tan your hide.”
“Good thing she’ll never know,” he grumbles.
There is something more going on between Brady, Beckett, and Emersyn than I know, but one thing is for sure: My friend has a secret of his own.