Perfect Homecoming (Barrington Billionaires Book 10)

by Danielle Stewart

  “Vacation?” The oldest of the men, Salvatore, asked in a rough voice. “That just leaves a shit ton more work for the rest of us.” He was right. It was an unspoken rule that unless you really needed the time off you didn’t take it. You didn’t leave everyone else to have to pick up your slack.

  “I’ve got a friend who needs some help.”

  “Always a tenderhearted sissy,” Salvatore quipped. “We’re your friends and we’re going to need some help this week.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Brian, insisted as he bumped past them all. “Take a few less smoke breaks and don’t drag ass getting going in the morning.”

  “Whatever, man,” Salvatore coughed out. “Just get your ass back here quick. I keep hearing there’s a shake-up coming. No better time to cut someone than when they’re not here.”

  Apparently, the whispers of change had been making the rounds among everyone. A rock sank to the pit of Brian’s stomach. Sal was right. If changes were about to be made, sometimes it helped to plead your case in person. Or to find a different job in the company before someone else snapped it up.

  The prospect of looking for work and settling on a job with someone in the family made his stomach turn. He nearly pushed his way back into the office and clocked back in. It was a terrible time to take vacation. He needed to be here to jockey for whatever positions might be left.

  Brian’s phone vibrated in his pocket and he fished it out.

  Carmen: I’m ready whenever you are.

  His finger hovered over the call button. He was man enough to at least give her a call if he had to change plans. There was no way he’d send that in a text. He looked over his shoulder at the huddle of guys bursting their way into the job trailer, then back at his phone.

  Brian: I’ll be there in twenty minutes.

  Chapter Seven

  Carmen

  “Explain this to me again,” Lauren said, one hand propped up on her hip, the other touching her chin thoughtfully. “Where are you guys going?”

  “There’s a job I’m considering.” She watched Tray and Lauren exchange concerned looks. “Brian said there were some places he was interested in checking out in the area so he’s going to come along.”

  Tray cleared his throat and eyed Brian closely. Coming straight from work, Brian was still in his scuffed-up boots and nearly threadbare flannel shirt. Coming up to Tray’s office in the Kinross building, there must have been plenty of eyes on him.

  When Carmen had broken the news to Lauren that she was going to Connecticut, a meeting was called. Not something obligatory, a friendly chat for Tray and Lauren to check in with her. Gloria had put them in charge of Verde Lago and in taking that on, they seemed to also inherit Carmen. A job they were taking very seriously.

  So far, they’d given her support, space, kindness, and a lot of offers for employment. They’d had discussions about various positions in the company they thought she might be interested in. Without coming right out and saying it, they clearly hoped Carmen would stay. The big group dinners and the check-in phone calls were meant to give her a sense of belonging.

  Now, they looked downright blindsided by the idea that she might want to take a position at a completely different company. They’d offered her at least a comparable role with them. Their expressions were loaded with concern.

  “I may not even get the job,” Carmen said, trying to temper their worry. “It’s just an interview.”

  “And Brian,” Tray turned toward him. His brows were knit together as though he was trying to solve a troubling math equation. “You’re just going to hang out?”

  “I’ve got a buddy who lives out there. I’m going to catch up with him. Carmen’s never been out that way, so I figured I might as well help her out.”

  Tray’s shoulders settled a bit. The idea that someone would be there to help Carmen was comforting.

  Lauren took a seat behind Tray’s desk and leaned back in the large chair. “You guys have been hanging out, right?”

  Brian bristled at the words as though they were an accusation. “Is that a crime? I’m pretty sure neither one of us needs permission to hang out. Or to go wherever we want for the week.”

  Lauren smiled a knowing smile. “You’re absolutely right. Tray and I probably sound like overprotective parents right now. That’s not our intention. Carmen, I know you meant a lot to Gloria and she wanted what was best for you. Tray and I want to make sure you have every opportunity in the world to find what you’re looking for.”

  Carmen felt a wave of guilt flood her, but she masked it with a kind smile. “Thank you for that. I’m not saying for sure I’m taking this job. I just want to keep all my options open and check out some other things. Even if it’s just to cross them off the list. I know I must look like I’ve been dragging my feet since I got here. You all probably expected I’d have hit the ground running.”

  “No,” Lauren said, slicing her hand through the air. “You made a big move, leaving Italy and the job you had for years.” She paused and looked at Brian, trying to assess how much Carmen may have shared with him. Erring on the side of caution, she kept things vague. “Gloria was clear about how much she wanted you to have options, and to really consider them. There is no rush, and if you feel interviewing for this other job is worthwhile, then we support that.”

  Tray kept his eyes fixed on Brian. “I think it’s great you can go together. It’s always good to have a friend with you.” His emphasis on the word friend was not lost on Carmen.

  “There is just one other thing we wanted to talk to you about,” Lauren cut in before anyone could address Tray’s deeper meaning. “It’s a bit of a private matter.”

  Carmen’s stomach tightened. She’d been able to keep her life to herself for the most part, but she assumed if they wanted to, Laruen and Tray could find out more about her past. Perhaps they had and now had questions.

  Brian grumbled something under his breath and headed for the door. With his hand on the knob, he spun around. “I liked Gloria a lot. She was a cool lady, and I’m glad she did so much to help everyone out. My family is better for knowing her. All of us are.” He paused and turned back toward them. “But I’m not looking for a babysitter. I haven’t been called into the principal’s office or answered to anyone in a long time. I don’t intend to start that now. If you want to know what we’re doing, we’ll send you a postcard.” He stepped out of the room and closed the door tightly behind him. Not enough to be considered slamming it, but firmly enough to punctuate his sentiment.

  “I like him,” Lauren said through a small giggle. “He’s a pain in the ass, but he knows who he is for sure.”

  “That’s true,” Carmen agreed with a nod. She took a seat across from Lauren. Tray stayed standing, leaning against the bookshelf. This was his office, but Lauren had made herself at home.

  “Tray and I wanted to discuss something with you,” Lauren began, sounding very serious suddenly.

  This was Carmen’s nightmare. The not knowing was paralyzing. Had they found out why she was in Italy to begin with? Did they know the truth? She gulped and held her breath.

  “We’re considering expanding the premises of Verde Lago. We have an opportunity to create a new location in South America. Obviously, the plan is still in the beginning stages. We’re still learning so much about the original property and how we can help there.”

  Carmen sighed with relief. “There is a big learning curve. Gloria designed the entire thing to be layered and nuanced. Around every corner there’s more to discover.”

  Tray and Lauren exchanged a knowing look as she spoke. “Exactly. We are taking our time and making sure we’re honoring what she wanted while also trying to improve anything we can. Your feedback has been invaluable in that. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.”

  “I’m happy to help,” Carmen assured them. “It’s been a part of my life for so long, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss it. A second location could help more people. I think it’s worth
exploring.”

  Lauren took a folder that lay on the desk and slid it toward Carmen. “We’d like you to consult on the new location. I know Gloria felt as though you needed to branch out.”

  Carmen thought of her dear friend and her way with words. Gloria did not hold back. She was a powerful woman who found herself at the top of her retail empire by keeping it real with people. “I’m pretty sure she wasn’t that tactful. I think I’m the baby bird and she was kicking my ass out of the nest. And I understand that. Hell, I respect it. She wasn’t wrong. Since I left Italy, I’ve already begun letting the real world back in. Things I’d forgotten how to enjoy.”

  “Things like Brian?” Lauren asked through a devilish grin.

  “It isn’t like that at all between us. We’re really just hanging out. He’s a good guy and I need good people around me right now.”

  Tray cleared his throat. “Which is all the more reason to consider our offer.”

  “What offer?” Carmen looked down at the folder in her lap. It was filled with photographs of different buildings as well as a stack of legal documents.

  “Consult for us full time. Help us dissect the idea of a second compound like Verde Lago. Poke holes in it. Keep us on track. You know the ins and outs better than we do. It would be a well-paying role, but without the long commitment. If that’s what’s been holding you back, the idea of being stuck, hopefully this is a good solution.”

  “That’s not holding me back,” Carmen blurted out, but then righted herself. “I just mean the idea of a long-term role doesn’t bother me. To be honest, it’s been difficult trying to find a role that feels as impactful as the work Gloria had me doing. How do you transition from being in the trenches helping people work to anything else?”

  “Maybe you won’t have to completely transition away,” Lauren said brightly. “You wouldn’t have to stay at the new location; you could just help us design and build it. Weigh in on every detail that could make their lives better and safer. I can’t think of anyone who could do that better than you.”

  “That’s flattering.” Carmen tucked her hair behind her ears and thought about the two paths that lay before her. It was not too late to scrap the plan to take down Curtis. She could call Brian, who would probably be relieved, and tell him the road trip was off. The crazy idea to trap Curtis by baiting him into breaking the law could disappear. In its place, Carmen could have the best of both worlds. She could still be invested in the life-saving dream that Gloria had designed while maintaining her own life. She wouldn’t have to live on site, but she could help shape every detail. Lauren had been right. No one would know more about replicating what worked in Verde Lago than she would.

  Carmen put her hand over the folder in her lap and drew in a deep breath. One of these was a path to helping many people escape their pain. The other was a path to taking the weed out at the root. Wasn’t it better to save someone from the pain than to rescue them after the damage was done? Curtis was in his early forties. How many more women could he get away with hurting if he wasn’t stopped?

  “I am so grateful for the confidence you both have in my skills. I think you’re right to try to expand the dream Gloria made into a reality. I’m going to give this some thought this week while I’m in Connecticut.”

  “You’re still going to go?” Tray asked, sounding a bit disappointed until Lauren shot him a look. “That’s probably a good idea. Rash decisions are never a good idea. Think on it.”

  Lauren stood and rounded the desk. “I’m sorry if we seem pushy. We’re just excited about the possibility of expanding.”

  Carmen could feel the tension growing like an over-inflated tire about to burst. “We’re all trying to honor Gloria’s wishes in our own way. And no one wants to admit that it comes with a lot of pressure. I feel it. I can tell you do too. I don’t think Gloria would have wanted that. I’m going to take the week, take a breath, and really try to figure out where my energy will be best used. It’s nothing personal. And it’s certainly not a reflection on you two. You’ve been amazing. If I had to leave Italy, I’m glad I left with you. So, if you’re feeling this huge obligation to make sure I’m all right, know that I am. And a lot of that is thanks to you.”

  Carmen stood, pulled them both in for a hug. As she let them go, she took great comfort in their expressions of relief. She didn’t want their happiness hinging on her choices. They’d already done so many amazing things, stepping into Gloria’s very large shoes. There was no reason for them to feel beholden to her.

  She heard them chatting happily as she headed down the hall toward the elevator. Brian would likely be downstairs in the car, his wool cap pulled down over his eyes and the seat reclined. She was learning things about him. Things like the fact that he could sleep anywhere he could close his eyes. If he had to wait around more than a few minutes, he’d take a nap. She was jealous of the way he could quickly quiet his mind.

  Stepping through the large glass door, she spotted her car and Brian’s head pressed to the driver side window. His arms were crossed over his chest, and just as she suspected, his hat was pulled down. Waking him seemed cruel, but she was ready. So damn ready to finally move toward something.

  Tapping on the glass, she watched him stir and then smile as he blinked the sleep away. Spilling with a sigh into the passenger seat, she closed her eyes. “Sorry about that. I hope it wasn’t too painful. I know they come on strong, but they mean well.”

  He rubbed at his eyes and stretched his back. “What were they trying to talk you into, and did it work?”

  “They offered me a full-time consulting position for a second location similar to the one in Italy. It would be all the good stuff but none of the commitment of having to live on site and give up the other parts of my life.”

  “That’s a sweet gig.”

  “It is. And I’m sure I could do some good there. It’s something to consider.” Carmen buckled in and put the address to the Connecticut office into her GPS.

  “Something to consider, but not enough to keep you from going? You still want to do this shit with Curtis?”

  “Isn’t it better to cut the head off the snake rather than continue treating snake bites?”

  Brian made a noise from his chest that Carmen couldn’t decipher. She waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. Instead he put the car in gear and tuned the radio to some rock music.

  “You don’t have anything to say to that?” She felt suddenly self-conscious by his silence.

  “You don’t need my permission any more than you need permission from anyone in that fancy office.” He gestured to the rearview mirror where the large building loomed behind them. “You have to be protective of only one thing, Carmen. If you do that, you’ll be fine.”

  “What’s that?” Carmen thought back to all the advice she’d gotten over the years. There had been her family. Some friends. Then some doctors and a therapist. She’d been told plenty of things over the years, but for some reason she was completely intrigued by what Brian might offer.

  “You have to be protective of the person you’re trying to become. Don’t let anyone try to shape that for you. You have this totally clean slate and opportunities most people never dream of having. Protect what you do with it.”

  “That’s not at all what I thought you’d say. I was pretty sure this would be a lecture about Curtis and putting myself in harm’s way.”

  “I’m usually on the receiving end of lectures,” Brian said through a chuckle. “It goes against my nature to dole them out. No one knows better than you what you’re trying to do and who you’re trying to be. Go with that.”

  “Go with that,” she repeated to herself. “How did you get to be so woke and smart?”

  “Trial and error,” Brian admitted. “I’ve failed a lot. I’m more scar tissue than person, I think. I’ve let people down. I’ve blown great opportunities. But the one thing I’ve been is true to what I think is right. Right for myself. You’re at the start of something. Make su
re it’s something you want.”

  Chapter Eight

  Brian

  Carmen was dangerous. There was no getting around that now. Brian wouldn’t bother trying to convince himself otherwise. What they were about to do was reckless and short-sighted. The smartest thing he could do was run the other way. But with the radio on and her bare feet up on the dash, there was no turning back.

  Instead of running, he’d have to settle for a little digging. “How exactly do you plan to get evidence on a man like Curtis? I’m trying to gauge what level of spy ninja you think you’re going to be.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Spies and ninjas are very different things. Rooted in completely different cultures and lore.”

  “Stop deflecting. We’re committed to this now. Let me hear what you’ve got.”

  “Fine.” Carmen pivoted slightly in the passenger seat, he assumed so she could watch his face while she explained. Some kind of barometer for how much of her scheme he could swallow. But she would come up empty. He had a stellar poker face.

  She reached in her oversized purse and pulled out a jeweled pin. “There’s a small camera in here. They record the feed and I can utilize that as evidence when the time comes.”

  “So you have the technology, I get that. I’m asking how you’re so sure in a short period of time he’ll do anything at all. There’s some women who don’t suffer abuse until after they’re married. It’s the commitment that’s the real power the men wait for, and then they show their true colors.”

  “You’ve been reading up on this?”

  “I don’t like to go into anything without some basic information. A little reading never hurt anyone.” He shrugged at the smile she was flashing.