By the time the ambulance had taken Gary away, Graham was ready to call it a day. They couldn’t work on the site until the insurance reps showed up, and frankly, Graham wanted to be sure the place was secure before anyone started on anything again. There was something not quite right about how Gary had gotten hurt, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
“Okay, the reps should be here in the morning,” Owen said as he put his phone back on his belt. “Either way, it’s Friday afternoon, and the crew should head out anyway. No use them staying on since you and I already recorded their statements, and the reps will do so on their own, too. Murphy’s at the other site now, but doesn’t need our help, or I’d say we go over there. I have some paperwork to do, but I think you should head to Blake’s.”
Graham’s brows rose. “Really? Just take the day off?”
“The day’s already over because of what went down, and Blake said Rowan only had a half-day today thanks to some teacher’s conference or something. So call your woman and go make sure she’s okay. She had a scare yesterday, and it looks like it’s only the beginning.”
Graham frowned. “I don’t now if she’s my woman anymore, Owen.”
His brother reached out and squeezed his shoulder. “Maybe she should be. And by the way, that Rowan? She’s a kick in the pants. Don’t…just don’t push her away because you’re thinking about Cynthia. Okay?”
Graham closed his eyes tightly, let out a breath. “I’m not going to treat the kid like shit.” But he’d already treated Blake like shit because of it. He wasn’t the ogre he threatened to be when things went to hell, but he was damn close.
“Just…be, okay?” Owen’s voice was so serious that Graham opened his eyes, startled. “We don’t get to just be often. Jake missed out on Maya and Border for freaking years because he kept missing chances. Murphy is only now starting to live like he has time left, rather than waiting for the shoe to drop. As for you… Hell, Graham, it was good to see you reacting over a woman, even if you did it in that growly asshole way of yours. I know that Blake having a kid was a shock, but you can roll with it if you need to. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
Graham looked at his younger brother, a new sense of respect settling over his skin. “What about you, Owen? Why aren’t you being?”
His brother met his gaze, his eyes going through a thousand different emotions before settling on bleak. “Just worry about yourself now, okay? That’s all I ask.”
Owen’s phone rang, saving him from any more questions Graham might have thought to ask, and he turned away. Knowing his brothers all had their own secrets, he let Owen be for now. But soon, he’d figure it out because he’d be damned if he let his brothers live only half a life because of missed opportunities and pain. Of course, that was just the pot calling the kettle black at this point.
With a sigh, he took out his phone and dialed Blake, hoping he wasn’t making yet another mistake by getting too close.
“Hey, everything okay?” she asked when she picked up.
The sound of her voice settled him even as it revved him up, and he knew he’d made the right decision even if it scared him. “We had a slight accident at the site.” At her gasp, he quickly continued. “Gary, one of our subcontractors, is hurt, but he’ll be okay. Everyone else is fine, but we’re taking the rest of the day off to deal with the aftermath.” He paused, not sure how to continue, then feeling silly about it. “Have you and Rowan eaten yet? Want to grab something?”
She was silent for so long, he was afraid he’d been cut off or had said something wrong. “We were just thinking about what to get for lunch. Do you want to meet at the burger place near my apartment? Rowan’s been talking about you all day.” She whispered the last part, and he knew it was because she was scared to mention her daughter to him. The fact that she felt that way killed him because it was his fault in the first place. He would have to change that, make sure Rowan never felt unwanted by any single person in her life. And as for his feelings for Blake? He’d have to figure those out as well because he didn’t like the hesitation and pain in her voice either.
When Graham pulled up to the burger place after he’d washed up a bit in the trailer at the site, Blake and Rowan were already there, though still in the car. He let out another breath and turned off the engine.
“Now or never,” he mumbled to himself and got out of the car. Since he’d parked only a couple of cars down from Blake when he closed the door, her head shot up, and she met his gaze. The look of relief and…need on her face overwhelmed him. Had it only been a week or so since he’d last had her in his arms, in his bed? It seemed like yesterday, and yet years ago all at the same time.