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  Graham stood. “Go to your office and cool off, Brad. I need you to really think if you want this.”

  “I do, Graham. I want to learn and to be here.”

  Graham held up his hand. “I need some time with Richard. I’ll be along to see you later. Give us the room, please.”

  If Graham Gavin requested the room, nobody argued. Not even Brad. He left, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Graham sat down heavily and shut his eyes. I waited, letting him gather his thoughts.

  “Was this a mistake?” he asked.

  I drew in a deep breath. I knew if I said yes, Brad was gone—family or not. Except somehow, I couldn’t find it in me to do that to him.

  “He is a pain in the ass.”

  “More than I expected.” He cracked open one eye. “Even more trouble than you were.”

  I chuckled. “He is full of himself.” I pushed a file toward him. “Still, when he grasps the idea and buckles down, he is good.”

  Graham opened the file and studied it. “This is good. How much did you have to do with it?”

  “I suggested some, ah, trims. He came up with the slogan and the main concept. He goes over the top, but once he hits the sweet spot, honestly, Graham, he is good.”

  Graham glanced up, and I winked. “Not as good as me, but he’ll do.”

  Graham rolled his eyes and tossed the file on my desk. “What should I do?”

  “Chain him,” I suggested.

  “In the basement?” he asked dryly, lifting one eyebrow.

  I laughed. “No, in the office. He needs to start at the bottom. He should work with Adam and Jenna. Learn what everyone does and their style. He needs to do some grunt work before we let him loose on clients again.”

  Graham stroked his chin. “Good idea. I thought he was ready. I’m thinking the company he was with let him run amok.”

  “I agree.” I sucked in a deep breath and said what was on my mind. “I think his talent is in design. The drawings and ideas he renders are unbelievable. He expresses them much better with his hands than speaking them. Maybe his place is behind the scenes and not in front of clients.”

  “He’ll hate that.”

  I shrugged. “Maybe not. He could oversee the entire department. Be involved in the campaigns but not the pitches.”

  He nodded in silence, seemingly lost in thought. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “Are you all right, Graham? You look exhausted.”

  He sighed. “I am.”

  “Are you unwell?”

  “No, but I think I need a break. A little downtime. I had planned on a few weeks off, but with everything going on with Brad, it seems the wrong time to take time away.”

  “Nonsense.” In the entire time I had been at The Gavin Group, Graham had taken one vacation, and it was for a week. He preferred long weekends and the occasional four-day stretch away, but he never took a longer break. Hearing him say he wanted one was a shock.

  “Between me, Jenna, Adam, and Adrian, we can handle it for a while. We have nothing huge on the calendar. You should take Laura and go away. Relax.”

  “And Brad?”

  “You talk to him, and I’ll keep him under my thumb another few weeks. Jenna will help. We’ll keep him in line and encourage him in the design direction. You go and enjoy yourself. Spoil Laura.”

  He blew out a long breath. “I think I need it.”

  “Then do it. We need you here, healthy and strong, Graham. Take the time and come back better,” I encouraged.

  He stood. “I’ll talk to Laura tonight and the kids. We’ll meet as a group tomorrow, and I’ll have my decision.”

  “Okay.”

  He held out his hand. “Thanks, Richard.”

  I shook his hand, his grip strong. “For what?”

  “Your support and for not pitching Brad against the wall.” He winked. “His phone is far easier to explain to Laura.”

  He was right. I watched him leave, seeing the weariness that surrounded him.

  Graham needed the break. It was only a few weeks and would do him a world of good. I knew Jenna and Adam would agree and that Laura would be thrilled.

  Brad…well, he would put up a fight, but I had an idea how to sway him.

  I simply had to make it happen.

  5

  Richard

  I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the cowlick. I glanced at my phone, groaning when I saw the time. I was late again. I called Katy immediately, smiling at the sound of her gentle voice when she answered.

  “Hey, you.”

  “Hi,” I responded. “I’m late.”

  “No, you’re not. I didn’t expect you, so that means you’re still on time.”

  I sighed, leaning my head back on my chair. “I have no idea what I did to deserve you, Katy, but I am grateful for it every day.”

  “With Graham and Laura out of the office, it’s hardly a surprise you’re working all the time. Jenna dropped by earlier and said everyone is burning the candle at both ends with her parents gone,” she assured me.

  I hummed in reply. I always knew Graham had a lot on his plate running the company, but without him here, I had discovered exactly how hard he worked. No wonder he needed a vacation. We had divided up his duties, and I left the daily running of the company to Adam and Jenna, and I took care of his clients and overseeing the other reps. Adrian helped out, yet it was enough to keep us working late every day.

  And there was Brad. As Graham thought, he hadn’t been happy about working more behind the scenes. He felt his place was in front, “schmoozing,” as he called it. Jenna and I had sat with him, convincing him of the importance of the design aspect and praising his talent. When I mentioned the fact that one day he could head up the entire division and oversee it all, a light had turned on for him. He saw a chance to make his mark. His own stamp.

  I had heard his unspoken reservation about working for Graham when we talked in our first meeting. The underlying reason he had chosen to work elsewhere. How could he live up to the greatness that was Graham Gavin? Because of the connection, even by marriage, he would be compared to him constantly. Graham was a legend, and following in his footsteps wouldn’t be easy. Even Jenna and Adam had to fight to have their own identities when they started.

  By Brad’s handling the design aspect of the company, his talent would be recognized as his, and his alone. Once he grasped that concept on his own, he was more receptive to the idea. And as Jenna and I expounded on the vision, he seemed to understand it wasn’t a demotion, but rather a chance to grow.

  On top of everything else I was handling, I had been spending a lot of time with him. That meant time away from my family. I had missed dinners, bath time, weekends—all of which I hated to do, but Katy had been understanding and supportive.

  “Is Gracie in bed already?”

  “She’s awake. You want to talk to her?”

  “Yeah.” I hit speaker and waited. Gracie’s sweet voice burst through the phone.

  “Daddy!”

  “Hey, baby girl. Did you have a good day?”

  “Aunt Jenna bring me a new baving thuit!”

  “Wow, that’s awesome. What color is it?”

  “Yeddow an pink an puple.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  “You tome home, Daddy?”

  “Soon.”

  “I miss you.”

  My chest warmed and ached at the same time. “I miss you, Gracie. I’ll be home more soon, okay?”

  “You tiss me when you home?”

  “A million times.”

  “Otay. Lub you.”

  “Lub you too. Put Mommy back on the phone.”

  “She’s smiling,” Katy informed me. “She kept asking to call, but I didn’t want to disturb.”

  “No,” I responded. “Always call. Anything for my girls. Always. You know that.”

  “When will you be home?”

  I scrubbed my face and looked at my desk. “A couple of hours.”

  “I’ll have dinner waiting. It’s beautiful outside tonight. You can eat by the pool and have a relaxing swim.”

  “It’s only another week. Graham will be back, and life will get back to normal.”

  “I know.”

  “I’ll make it up, Katy.”

  “You have nothing to make up, Richard. You’re helping Graham. Jenna told me Laura said he looks much better and is getting anxious to come home. This is a blip in our routine. He’ll come back, and things will settle.”

  I hated to remind her, except I had to tell her the truth. “I have a trip out east coming up. I’ll be gone for a week.”

  There was a pause, then she spoke. “We’ll deal with that too. Finish your work and come home to me.”

  As usual, her patience and acceptance astonished me. “I love you,” I murmured.

  “I love you. See you soon.”

  She hung up, and I stared at the phone, thinking. I looked at the pile of work on my desk and made a decision. As important as it was, she was more important. My family was number one in my life. As patient and accepting as Katy was, I could hear the sadness in her voice. I knew she missed me as much as I missed her, and we needed a little extra time together tonight.

  I grabbed my briefcase and slid the folders inside. I was going home. I could kiss my kids, maybe feed Heather her last bottle, eat, swim, and make love to Katy. Once she was asleep, I could do some work. I wasn’t sleeping much right now anyway, and I could be productive while my girls slumbered.

  One more week, I told myself as I hurried to my car. One more week and our lives would go back to normal.

  I smiled at Gracie sitting in her chair, spilling cereal and milk as she talked nonstop, excited to find me home in the morning. I sipped my coffee as I fed Heathe
r, tucked close to my chest, content and warm. The decision to come home had been a good one. Dinner, a swim, and a few hours lost in Katy had been the break I needed. I worked late into the night once she was asleep, and when I was caught up, I slid into bed beside her and grabbed some much-needed rest. This morning, I felt calmer and refreshed and I decided to stay home and spend a few more hours with my family. I had a busy day of meetings all afternoon, but this morning I was being selfish. Amy had adjusted my schedule, assuring me she would handle it all.

  “Try to get some cereal into your mouth, baby girl.” I chuckled. “Daddy’s not going anywhere for a couple of hours. You can talk once you eat.”

  She giggled, her expression happy, her eyes glowing. Katy was content and sleepy, watching us with her elbow propped up on the table as she rested her chin in her hand. Her dark hair was messy and fell around her shoulders in a mass of curls from my fingers tangling it as I made love to her. Her extraordinary blue eyes were filled with warmth as she watched us. She met my gaze and smiled. The smile she had only for me—one so filled with love, it took my breath away. Even after all we’d been through, and the years we’d been together, it never failed to affect me.

  Our eyes held a silent conversation. Mine one of gratitude and love. Hers one of understanding and tenderness.

  “I’m taking the weekend off,” I announced. “I’m caught up. How about we go on a picnic and to the zoo?”

  Gracie squealed, dropping her spoon into her bowl, causing the milk to splash everywhere. The zoo was her favorite place. She loved animals, and I knew how much she wanted a pet. Perhaps Katy and I could discuss that soon. For now, though, I could take Gracie to the zoo and buy her lots of time in the petting area. She loved that.

  Katy beamed at me. “That would be so much fun! Are you sure?”

  I nodded. “I have to work later tonight, and maybe tomorrow, but I’m all yours for the weekend.” I’d pay for it the following week—except I didn’t care. I needed it. My family needed it. I needed it.

  Her look of adoration and happiness was worth it.

  Later that day, I cursed as I looked at my car, kicking the flat tire in frustration. How the hell did that happen? I bent down to examine it, muttering another curse when I saw the nail I must have driven over as I passed through the construction happening down the road on the way in this morning. After going in late, I had been rushed all day, and this was the last thing I needed. To top it off, a storm was brewing, and I could feel one of my migraines starting to build. Jenna was needed to cover another meeting and was unable to accompany me to this one, so I had no choice except to go. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the afternoon.

  I groaned as I pulled out my phone, calling Amy, explaining what had occurred.

  “I need you to call CAA and get me a cab.”

  “Do you want me to cancel the meeting?”

  “No, they’re already not pleased it’s not Graham. I don’t want to cancel. As it is, I’m on my own since Jenna is elsewhere.”

  “Do you want to take my car?” she asked.

  I glanced over at her car and shuddered. I would never be able to fold my long legs into the tiny Smart car she drove. I did it once, and my legs ached for a day afterward. Add in my headache and I didn’t want to drive her car.

  “No, get me a cab.”

  “I can take you.”

  I turned, surprised to see Brad standing beside me. I hadn’t heard him arrive.

  I frowned, hesitant.

  “I can come with you and sit in on the meeting.”

  “Hold on,” I muttered to Amy.

  “Brad—”

  He interrupted me, holding up his hand. “I know, Richard. I’ll stay silent, but if you need something, I can help. You’re using the design I created. Give me the chance. I want to see how the clients react to it. Please.”

  It was the first time I had heard him humble and asking. I made a fast decision.

  “Cancel the cab, but get my tire fixed, please,” I said to Amy.

  “On it. See you later, boss.”

  I hung up and looked at Brad. “Don’t make me regret this.”

  He shook his head. “I won’t.”

  Almost three hours later, Brad and I walked out of the building. Both of us were silent as we walked toward his car. True to his word, Brad controlled himself during the meeting, speaking when I asked him to go through his concept drawings. As I suspected, when explaining the images he created, he shone. He was articulate and passionate while discussing his work, and he listened to the feedback from the client, quickly sketching out a few ideas as he spoke. The client was impressed with his fast thinking and grasp of his idea, and I felt a glimmer of pride at Brad’s response and my own satisfaction that I had been correct. Design was where he belonged.

  I slid into the car and rested my head on the cool leather. It felt good. My headache was building fast, and I hoped I could make it back to work before it hit full force. Once it did, I was useless. I dug in my pocket for the pills Katy had slipped inside earlier, ever watchful of my ongoing headaches when the weather changed. I swallowed them dry, desperate for the relief they would give me.

  “Are you okay, Richard?”

  I cracked open one eye and looked at Brad. He was grimacing, studying me.

  “You’re really, ah, pale.”

  “Bad headache coming on.”

  “Want me to drive you home?”

  I thought about his offer and decided to accept it. I could lie down when I got home, take some more medication, and hope the storm passed soon. I could grab a cab back to the office and work later.

  “If you wouldn’t mind.”

  “No, it’s not a problem.”

  I shut my eyes in gratitude. “Thanks. Take a left and head toward Mason Street.”

  “Got it. I’ve been to Jenna’s, so I know where you live.”

  As we pulled out of the parking lot, the skies opened. Rain beat down in torrents, the wind picking up and pushing against the car.

  “Wow,” Brad mumbled.

  “Careful,” I uttered. “This road has a lot of twists.”

  “Yeah, I got it.” He slowed down, and I relaxed. Jenna sent a text asking how it went, and I answered, telling her Brad had surprised me and done well. I turned to him, remembering Graham’s mantra of positive reinforcement.

  “You did well today, Brad.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah,” I returned with a nod. “You were on point and polite. You handled the client well, and your response to his worries was perfect.”

  “You were right,” he mused.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “I’m comfortable explaining my work because I know it. I know how to change it, adapt to what someone wants once I grasp the concept.”

  “It shows.”

  “I was angry at you when Uncle Gray told me what he had in mind. I knew it was your suggestion, and I was sure you were doing it so you wouldn’t have to deal with me.”

  I didn’t have the strength to argue with him, so I grunted in denial.

  “Once I got over the anger, I realized I liked working with the design team. I understood their language, and they understood me.”

  “Good.” I sucked in a deep breath as a wave of nausea hit me. The headache was going to be a bad one. I breathed in deeply for a few moments until the queasiness passed before I spoke again.

  “You’re talented, Brad. In a different way than I am. Than Graham is. But not less. Don’t compare yourself or try to live up to him. Be your own person. You’re as important to the team as anyone. I saw your talent, and I thought it was the best direction for you. It wasn’t a punishment, and I’m glad you see that now.”

  “I do.” He paused, his voice droll when he spoke again. “I still think you’re an asshole for making me get my hair cut and breaking my phone, but you’re all right, Richard. I actually think I owe you.”