PATRICK CLEARS his throat from the doorway.
I glance up, surprised to see him there. He’s been avoiding me in the office. Although we meet to go over our business projections, he’s been cold and reserved.
“Hey.” I glance at him.
“Fuentes is here.” He sticks a hand into his pocket. “He’s in the boardroom. Wants to talk to both of us.”
Fuentes made his stance clear. Although he hasn’t officially broken his contract, I’ve been making moves assuming that an announcement would break out soon.
Patrick and I stride in stiff silence to the boardroom. It used to bother me. This distance. This sudden tension between the man I’ve known for years. But I’ve decided to let it ride.
Patrick and I are on two different paths.
He’s still cheating on his wife and I’m obsessed with mine.
He thinks lying to his wife is okay. I’ve decided that I’m going to share everything with Harriet, even if it puts me in hot water.
Doc taught me the importance of commitment and communication. Inside of those rules, I unlocked so many other keys. It’s getting easier to understand Harriet without running it by Doc first. Listening to her heart is a skill that I enjoy developing.
Patrick stomps into the boardroom and takes a seat across from Fuentes. “Alright, kid. He’s here. Say what you have to say.”
“Mr. Bradley.” Fuentes nods at me. The kid is wearing a backward baseball cap, a grey T-shirt and jogging pants. Casual fare for a rookie who
just came into a load of free cash.
“Fuentes.” I drag a chair back. It rolls softly on the carpet. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I wanted to let you know in person that I’m not cancelling the contract.”
Patrick’s scowl turns upside down in an instant. He nearly leaps forward. “You’re not?”
Fuentes shakes his head.
“But I thought,” I shoot a glance at Patrick and then clear my throat, “you said you wanted proof that I was mending things with my wife.”
“And I got it.”
My fingers drum against the table. “It was the interview, wasn’t it?”
He shakes his head. “It was the day you refused to set your wife up so I could confirm for myself.”
Patrick’s head swings my way. “You could have fixed this earlier and you refused?”
“Is that really when you changed your mind?” I ask, ignoring Patrick’s outburst.
“I saw that you were willing to cripple the company to protect her. That showed me way more than bugging your place ever could.”
“Why did it take you this long?” I frown at him.
His eyes dart away. “I, honestly, didn’t expect you to change. You were so deep in your ways that I was sure you couldn’t come back from that.” He worries his bottom lip. “So I started talking to other agencies before the probation period. It took some time to untangle that in a way that wouldn’t hurt your company.”
“I can’t believe you, kid.” My glare is dark.
“But I’m here now.” He brightens. “And I’m ready to work with a man who really deserves to be called someone of integrity.” His grin stretches wide. “Am I right, Mr. Bradley?”
I laugh. “I’m going to work your fingers to the bone for all this stress.” “Ay ay, captain!” He salutes me.
Patrick looks mildly annoyed, but even he can’t hide his grin. “I’m going to leave this troublemaker in your hands, J.”
“I’ve got it.”
I stand, offering my hand to Fuentes. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you.” His grip is firm. He pulls back and glances at me. “Mr.
Bradley, can I ask you a question?” “Shoot.”
“What… made you change?”
It’s a strange question, but I decide to be honest. “The fact that I wanted my wife.” I tap my chin. “And I met a mechanic named Doc. He helped me realize how selfish I was and introduced me to some principles that helped me repair what I had broken.”
Fuentes looks thoughtful.
I slap his back. “Get out of here. And report to me early Monday morning. You’re going to regret crawling back.” I smile to soften the threat. Although I fully intend on throwing him straight off the deep end.
“Bring it.” Fuentes shoots me a cocky grin and slides outside. I call Harriet first.
“Baby, Fuentes is back,” I tell her, heading to the elevator. “He’s in.” “That’s incredible!” She squeals.
“We have to celebrate.” “We’re eating out?”
I open my car. “Pick anywhere you want to go.” “It’ll be expensive,” she teases me.
“Anything for you, my love.” I make a kissing sound into the phone. “I’m going to stop by Doc’s first and then pick you up from the bakery.”
“Don’t. Meet me at home.” “Home?”
“Let’s have a private celebration of our own before we go out on the town.”
Images of my gorgeous wife in all the little lingerie we bought from the resort fills my head. “Woman, I am going to eat you up,” I warn, unbuttoning my shirt because it’s suddenly too hot in the car.
“Hurry home,” she sings.
I grin and drive to Doc’s shop.
As usual, he’s working when I walk in. The moment he hears my footsteps, he pops his head out from a truck. “Jerrison.”
“Hey, Doc.” I show him the gift basket I brought. “It’s a little something from me and Harriet.” I pause. Decide to tell the truth. “Okay. It was more Harriet’s idea. But I paid for the stuff.”
“What is it?” Doc accepts the basket from me.
“Mugs for your lemon water. Overalls. Strong soap to wash your hands.
You know. Things you might like.”
Doc smiles. “That’s very generous of you.”
“Harriet’s a big fan.” I laugh as I think of how much my wife keeps talking about Doc. “I’m not sure who she loves more. You or Dean Reece.”
“I’m honored.” Doc strides over to the table and chairs. I stare at him.
Doc pauses and glances around. “Would you like a cup?” It’s the first time he’s ever offered to drink with me.
Pride swells in my chest. “Yes, I would.”
When Doc hands me the cup, I feel his approval and I can’t help the grin that grows on my face.
My eyes slide around the shop as we drink in silence. The truck we’re working on is still there. It has parts that need repairing and replacing, but it runs. And I’ll keep coming back until it’s pristine.
“You ready to get to work?” Doc asks, setting his cup down. “Yes, sir.”
He walks to the truck. “Wrench.”
Grabbing the tool from the pan, I hand it to the mechanic.