Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Solomon felt another headache coming on. “But they’d still be married.”
“In name only,” Shawn said, glancing at Ken with a hint of admiration. “If he’s got steady work, and a marriage on the books, I bet that’d go a long way to helping your connections make his stay more permanent.”
“God help us,” Brady muttered, earning William’s ire.
“So you’re all about making me leave town? Is that what you’re asking?”
“Once again, not asking. And more to the point, you’re fucking lucky that we’re willing to do anything at all. The last thing I want to do is reward your shitty behavior.” Solomon bent down until he could look the younger man directly in the eye. “The only thing you’ve got going for you right now is that we’re family, and we know that your brother and sister are worried about you and want you to stay. We also know that there are other, less than savory reasons why you don’t want to go back to Ireland.”
Solomon straightened, stretching the tension out of his neck, his eyes still narrowed on William. “And today, we’ve all been made aware that you can break the law. But can you walk the line? Can you trust us, your family, long enough to help you out of this bind? Or are you going to stick with this angry grifter bullshit?”
William leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, his body language screaming belligerence. “I don’t seem to have much of a choice.”
“You have a choice,” Ken argued kindly. “It’s just not a very good one at the moment.”
He bit his lip. “What if Bronte files for the annulment while I’m gone?”
“Convince her not to. Tell her about the out of town job.”
Solomon frowned at his uncle. “Why do I get the feeling you’re enjoying this?”
“It’s like Mission Impossible.” Shawn’s grin made him look ten years younger. “Kind of exciting.”
“Our family was never known for being on the right side of the law,” William said with his signature smirk. “Not until this piece of work came along.” Jerking his chin in Solomon’s direction.
Solomon rolled his eyes. “Thanks. I appreciate the sentiment.”
Brady covered his mouth, trying and failing to smother his laughter.
“Make the call,” Solomon nodded to Ken. “If William can find a way to talk to Bronte without her family finding out about last night, and—I can’t believe I’m saying this—if she agrees to hold off on filing for a few months, we might have a plan.”
“Hugo won’t be happy with you,” Brady murmured.
“Then nothing will change.”
Shit. This was the worst idea Tanaka had ever come up with. “Are we sure about this job?”
“We’re sure.” Ken nodded. “I have a feeling he’ll get along with everyone just…” he glanced at William and smiled. “Just about the same as he does here.”
“That’s not promising.” But if it worked, it would have to do.
Chapter Twelve
Hugo looked around at the wide front porch and the crumbling paint job before turning to his brother. “This the one?”
Emerson dipped his head, walking up the steps reaching up for the key the realtor had placed out of sight above the doorframe. “Let me show you the inside so you can get the full effect.”
Inside needed work, but there was a lot of light and space as well as a fireplace and a partial wall that gave him a view of the galley kitchen. It had potential. A little elbow grease and some furniture, and it would be the perfect home for his nephews to cause trouble in. “I like it.”
Emerson’s smile was restrained as usual, but Hugo could tell he was excited about moving in with the boys. “Four bedrooms, two and a half baths. The backyard already has a swing and room for Lang to practice his curveball.”
“Have you shown Ro?”
His lips tightened at the mention of his ex. “I wanted to clean it up first. Slap on some paint. She’s all about first impressions.”
Emerson was doing his best to get more time with the boys. Offering to babysit, regardless of his schedule, and buying this house so they wouldn’t have to pile up in the cramped garage apartment. But Ro wasn’t known for being predictable or stable enough for any of them to know how she’d react to this change. According to the lawyer, the shared custody language was too vague, giving her just enough wiggle room to deny him if she wasn’t, as she would say, “feeling it.”
But Emerson was nothing if not persistent. And he wanted his sons to have a home of their own.
“There’s an extra den, I thought I could turn that into an office and work from home. There’s nothing master about my bath, but I can live with it for now.”
Hugo walked around the small dining area, studying the trim. “Need a roommate?” he asked, only halfway joking.