DANE

I turned the desk light on as the room darkened. Tonight was my late night at work, and I wished I had gone home instead. I erased an area of the plans and frowned. I used my ruler and started measuring and drawing again. If Miller wanted to change his plans one more time I swear I was going to quit. This was fuckin’ ridiculous. I leaned back in my chair as Trevor came into my office. He took the chair on the other side of my desk.

“How are the books looking?”

“Great. We’re up from last year, but that’s not why I’m in here.”

“Are you here about Harvey?”

He nodded. “I’d like to send some crews down after the storm ends. I’m sure there is going to be a need for building crews to help clean up and rebuild. The storm is supposed to hit hard.”

“I agree, but one of us will have to go with them. We can’t just send our men down there alone.”

“I know. I’m going to go.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Don’t you usually send me down to do things like that?” I teased.

He laughed. “Yeah, normally, but Jason has family down there so he’s going to be going as well. Besides, the kids are in school and Sadie would probably go crazy if you left her here.”

“Probably. Let me know if you need me to go with you guys.”

“I will. You realize that means you’ll have to do the business meetings while I’m gone.”

I made a face. “I guess that means I need to get my suit to the cleaners.”

Trevor burst out laughing. “Hell no! Buy a new suit. Your other one is in scary bad shape.”

“I hate shopping, but you’re right.” I groaned. “Sadie is going to freak when she realizes I will be up here alone all day with Dana.”

“Maybe she won’t notice. She’s going to be busy running the dance studio while Jason is gone. If she accepts. If she doesn’t, we’ll have to hire someone to come in and run it. We’d both rather have Sadie do it.”

“I’m sure she will. She loves working there.” I rolled up the plans. “I’m going to take these home. I’m tired of being up here, and I want to see Sadie and the kids before they have to go to bed.”

“How’s Sadie liking her new place?”

“She likes it.”

Trevor stood and stretched. “Why are you pouting?”

“I miss her being in my bed, but I understand why she wants her own place.”

“I’m glad you do because I don’t get it. If you two are all in this time, I don’t see why you don’t just get married and start your lives.”

I put my hand in my pocket where I had the ring I had bought for Sadie so many years ago. “I’m scared shitless to ask.”

“Why?” he asked as we walked out of my office and I locked it.

“I guess I’m scared of being told no again.” I shrugged. “Plus, I won’t ask her until Tate and Millie are okay with it. I’m not ready to have that conversation with them yet. Some days Tate is okay, but some days he isn’t.”

Trevor nodded. “I understand that.” He went into his office and grabbed his stuff. After he came out, we locked up and headed out to the parking lot.

“So, I’m not being stupid?” I asked.

“Nah. I understand the whole not moving in thing when it comes to Tate. Giving it time won’t kill anyone.” He smiled. “I’m just happy to see you and Sadie together again. I’ll see you later.” He got into his car.

I got into my truck and pulled out onto the street. I pushed in Sadie’s number and called her.

“Hey, baby. You headed home?”

“Yeah. I decided to finish up the work at home. I want to be able to tell the kids goodnight. I’m not for sure the Miller job is worth all this mess.”

“The kids just got finished with their showers and are in pj’s, watching a movie. They’ll be excited you’re coming home before they fall asleep.”

“How was your day, Daisy?” I asked, smiling. Damn, I love my family. The feeling of going home to Sadie and the kids was the best feeling in the entire world.

“It was good. Had an interesting conversation with Jason. Apparently, him and Trev are going down to Texas to help with rebuilding after the hurricane hits. He said you knew, and usually you went. Anyway, he asked me to run the studio until he got back. Of course, I agreed.”

“Yeah, the company usually helps with disaster areas.”

“You’re amazing, Dane. Now hurry home so I can see you.”

“I should be home in about fifteen minutes. I’ll see ya soon.”

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.” I hung up and continued to drive toward home.

I looked in my rearview mirror as some asshole flashed their brights at me. I ignored it until the fourth time they did it. I pulled over to the side of the road and grabbed my gun from under my seat. I quickly loaded it. I was about to take the safety off when I saw Ethan in my side mirror. I opened my door and got out.

“Are you shittin’ me? What do—” He swung and hit me in the jaw.

“You might have Sadie fooled, but you don’t me!” He swung at me again.

I dodged his swing and grabbed his arm, twisting it until I had him pinned with his face against my truck.

“I really want to kick your ass, but that would upset Cooper and Alice which would upset Sadie. And Sadie knows who I am. You’re the asshat who doesn’t know a damn thing about me. You’ve judged me on appearances alone thinking I can’t give Sadie everything you can.”

“You can’t. The only reason she’s here is because you are holding her kid over her head!”

He let out a deep groan when I held him tighter.

“One, my son isn’t a bargaining tool. And two, you don’t know the real Sadie. I love her with everything I am.”

“Then how can you take her away from Juilliard?”

“I didn’t. She chose to stay. If Sadie didn’t want to give up Juilliard, I would find a way to make it work the best I could.”

Somehow, he got out of my hold and punched me in the jaw again.

I knew my control was slipping. “Ethan, leave now. I’m not someone to fuck with,” I practically growled as I dodged another blow.

He kneed me in the gut.

The wind was knocked out of my lungs for a moment, and he used it to punch me in the face. I snapped. Before I could process what I was doing, I had uppercut the shit out of him, knocking him to the ground.

I pinned him with a knee to his chest and grabbed a handful of his shirt to hit him again, but I stopped. He was dazed, and if I hit him again, I could do real damage.

“Don’t fuck with a Marine, jackass. Get in your damn car and go back to the hotel.” I stood and walked back to my truck then I got in and headed home.

I picked up my phone and saw I had a missed call from Sadie. I called her back.

“Where are you?” she asked worriedly.

I wiped at the blood from a cut on my forehead. I guess the little shit had a ring on. “I need you to meet me outside with a wet rag and don’t let the kids come out with you.”

“What happened?”

“Ethan happened. You may want to call Cooper to get him to go check on him. He was out of it when I left him lying on the shoulder of the road.”

Silence.

“Daisy?”

“I should’ve told you he didn’t leave Stockbridge yet. He came to see me at the studio today. But he said he was getting ready to board a plane. I thought he was leaving.”

“I’m only about five minutes away, Daisy. And this wasn’t your fault. He was the one being an asshat. Call Cooper and let him know about his brother.”

“I will.”

“I’ll be pulling in soon. I love you.” I hung up and turned down my road.