“That’s going to fuck up our projections,” Owen complained.
“Yeah, well, they’re looking fucked up as it is, and you’re the one that brought it up. If our current guy makes nice, then we’re good. If not, we need a backup. I’m not going to go over-budget or screw up our timeline because of one guy who can’t get his act together. Plus, the historical society is riding my ass over something that I need Murphy for. So if our brother can’t get back here to this site and finish up the other, then we have an issue. And frankly, the only reason Murphy isn’t here now is because of the floor guy. So we’ll fix this.”
Owen went through the numbers with him while they walked back to the office trailer on-site, and Graham nodded along. It used to be easier when they weren’t the bosses and could just work with their hands. But now, everything relied on their decisions, and it was hard as hell to make sure they didn’t constantly fuck up.
But Graham would do what he did best while his brothers did their best, as well. In the end, they’d make this place shine.
They just had to get dirty along the way to get it done.
When they reached the door to the trailer, he saw Blake’s car pull up and he patted Owen on the shoulder. “Meet you inside?” he asked.
Owen followed Graham’s gaze and smiled. “Take your time. It’s good to see you guys together.”
He heard something in Owen’s voice that worried him. “We’re taking it slow. Just feeling each other out.”
“You’re spending time with her kid, she’s coming to visit you at work, and she’s coming to a place that has deep and personal memories for her. Because of you. I think you’re beyond serious, Graham.”
Graham ignored Owen and the way his brother’s words made more sense than he’d like them to and jogged toward Blake. Before he could reach out and hug her hello, Rowan ran up to him and threw her arms around his waist.
He took a step back at the impact but wrapped his arms around her small shoulders. The lump that usually made its way into his throat didn’t come this time. When he saw her, he no longer thought of the daughter he’d lost who wouldn’t grow up; instead, he saw a little girl who brightened his day and deserved far more than a custody dispute and any feelings of being unwanted.
He’d call that progress if he could figure out the path he was on.
“We’re here!” Rowan said as she bounced around him, though he kept his hand on her shoulder so she wouldn’t fall. “Mom said we’re going to the salad place for lunch.” She crossed her eyes. “I hate lettuce, but I like putting things on lettuce. And then after you eat your salad, you can have soup and mac and cheese and chili and rolls and cornbread and pizza and cookies and sweets and then ice cream. All because you ate a salad!”
He couldn’t help but laugh as she kept going on and on about the things she’d have at the salad place. He wasn’t a fan of lettuce either, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to tell Rowan that. If this were one way to get the kid to eat her vegetables, he’d take Blake’s side on this. Plus, he knew from experience, the more you filled yourself up with salad, the less likely you’d be to eat too many sweets and carbs afterward.
“Are you hungry, then?” he asked as she twirled around on one foot, pretended she was a ballerina.
“Starving,” Rowan said as she put the back of her hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon. “But Mom said you’re going to show us the place she grew up in first.” Rowan quieted down and toed one foot along the sidewalk. “Is that okay?” She leaned forward and beckoned to him, so he bent so she could whisper in his ear. “Will it make Mom sad if we look?”
And with that, he fell for Blake’s little girl just as hard as he’d fallen for Blake. That Rowan would want to take care of her mother’s feelings above all else spoke of how Blake had raised her.
Graham kissed her little cheek and gave her a fist bump. “We’ll take care of your mom,” he whispered back, not quite answering the question. He wasn’t sure how Blake would feel, but if she was here at all, then she was set on showing Rowan around. Graham would help them then because they couldn’t be alone. Not now. Not ever.
Blake cleared her throat. “Hi, by the way.”
He straightened and slid his hand on the back of her head before bringing her closer. “Hi.” He kissed her softly then, aware that it was the first time he’d fully kissed Blake in front of Rowan. “Welcome back to the site.”
Blake’s eyes widened, and she gave a cautious look in Rowan’s direction. Graham looked as well, and only saw stars in Rowan’s eyes. Blake’s whole body stiffened, but Graham did his best to soothe her. He might have made a mistake kissing Blake in public, but he wouldn’t take it back now.
He’d fallen in love with Blake Brennen. Her daughter, as well. Now he just had to figure out what to do about it.