“On it. I’ll get that vegetable cream cheese he is so fond of in as well.”
“He gets all the good stuff,” Aiden moaned.
I laughed, indicating the plate of Danishes on the boardroom table. “I don’t think you go short, Aiden.”
“We’re your favorites, right?” he countered. “You love us best. Especially me.”
“I don’t think so,” Maddox snorted. “Sandy digs my vibe. I’m her fave.”
“I highly doubt it,” Bentley interjected. “I found her. She was mine first, therefore it stands to reason she prefers me over you two clowns.”
“You’re all wrong. I’m her favorite,” Reid announced as he strolled in. “Richard is second, and you three pull up the rear. Exactly where you should be.”
“I don’t think so,” Aiden huffed. “She’s been ours longer, so we rank higher. Right, Sandy?”
I stood, snapping closed my notepad. “A mother never has favorites.” I winked. “At least, that is what we tell you all.” But I patted Reid’s cheek as I went by, making him grin.
Reid threw himself into a seat. “Told you.”
Aiden cursed loudly. “I hired you. I can fire you too.”
“Nope. Sandy won’t let you. I’m her favorite.” Reid plucked a Danish off the plate and took a big bite. “Besides, you love me too, you big lug.”
“Not if you keep eating my Danishes.”
“Will you two shut up?” Bentley groaned. “This is an office, not a playground.”
But he winked at me as I left the office. I shut the door behind me with a smile. It didn’t matter how old, rich, or successful they were, they would always be my boys.
They were all my favorites. I adored each one of them for their own special reason. They all needed me in some fashion, but Reid’s need was the deepest of them all, and I had responded to that need the moment I met him. But they were all lights in my life.
My phone buzzed again, and I sighed.
Maybe that should be enough.
* * *
Hell broke loose about three o’clock. Reid rushed past my desk, casting a worried glance my way as he hurried by, disappearing into Aiden’s office. With a frown, I asked the person I was speaking with on the phone to repeat themselves, only to be startled by the loud curse coming from Aiden’s office. Seconds later, they both disappeared into Maddox’s office. I shook my head, wondering what crisis was occurring now. Something big in IT land or a glitch in the security system Reid was diligently working on, adding upgrades or tweaking.
I had my answer soon enough when the three of them appeared in front of my desk. Their countenances were serious, and they looked upset.
A flicker of fear went through my chest.
“What is it?” I asked. “Bentley? Is he all right?” I had spoken with him not long ago, and he said he was on his way back to the office. Had there been an accident?
Aiden shook his head. “Bent’s fine. He’ll be here in a moment. We need to talk to you.”
I furrowed my brow. “Fine. About?” My gaze fell to Reid’s hand. He was holding his phone, which was nothing new, but what was on the screen explained the intensity of their expressions and the tense set of their shoulders.
My profile on Mature Matchups was on his phone. And the protective, worried faces were exactly what I knew would happen if they discovered it.
“My personal life is not up for discussion,” I stated mildly.
“Sandy.” Aiden bent forward, his voice low. “These sites can be dangerous.”
“Becca checked it out.”
“Becca should have minded her own business,” Reid stated in an uncharacteristic snarl.
I glared at him. “She was trying to be helpful.”
“By hooking you up with a stranger?” Maddox mumbled. “That isn’t you, Sandy.”
I crossed my arms. “I am not hooking up with anyone. I am not on Tinder or any of those other apps that cater to sex for fun. It’s a site that helps mature people find others of similar likes to engage in the pleasure of each other’s company. It’s my life, my decision. You three need to stay out of it.”
They stared at me, and I had to bite back a smile. Given how I found the entire process taxing and couldn’t even bother checking my matches, I had no idea why I was defending my choice—except that it was my choice.
Bentley appeared at my desk, his hair disheveled as if he had run his hands through it repeatedly. “Sandy.” He scowled. “We need to talk about this.”
I stood and faced them all. “What needs to happen is the four of you go back to your offices and to the business at hand. What I choose to do or not do in my private life is my concern, not yours.”
“Your safety—”
“We’re worried—”
“So many nutjobs—”
I held up my hand. “Boys. Enough. If I see someone I would like to meet, I would do so in a public place. I would also make sure someone knew where I would be. I would never give out any personal information until I was certain I trusted the individual.” I shook my head. “You know me better than to think I would act foolishly.”
Bentley spoke, frustration evident in his tone. “By joining one of these sites, you are being foolish.”
I was done.
I sat down. “Easy for you to say since you go home every night to your family, Bentley. As do all of you. My world changed when Max died, and I’m trying to find my feet again. Meet some new people and perhaps not be alone so much. I am not entirely comfortable with the whole idea, but at least the girls understood and tried to help, instead of acting dismissive and treating me like an old woman who doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
They all had the grace to look ashamed.
Bentley shook his head. “Sandy, we don’t think that. We’re just worried.”
Aiden looked pained. “We want you to be happy, but this scares me.”
Maddox grimaced. “You never said anything.”
But it was Reid who deflated my anger and brought tears to my eyes. He leaned forward and gripped my hands.
“Come live with Becca and me, Sandy. We won’t let you be lonely anymore.”
His words and the utter sincerity with which he said them touched my heart. I smiled at them—the small cluster of men standing in front of me, looking as if they were six years old and in trouble for their antics on the playground instead of the successful, take-charge businessmen they were. Their love and concern shone out in their gazes, and the anger I had been feeling dissipated into the air.
“Thank you, Reid. It’s a lovely gesture, but not needed. Boys, I’m not doing anything rashly or without thinking. I promise. If I see a profile I’m interested in, I’ll have you check them out. All right, Aiden?”
He nodded, looking resigned.
“And I’ll be careful.”
“Have your cell phone with you,” Maddox insisted.
“Always.”
“I want to know your schedule,” Bentley stated.
I withheld my laughter. “I think that’s my job,” I teased.
“Please.”
“Fine.”
“I’m monitoring that site,” Reid muttered.
I rolled my eyes.
Aiden bent close. “I’m following you when you go. I’ll sit in the background, so I’m not noticed, but I’ll be close in case there’s trouble.”
My lips twitched. Not noticed. At 6’7”, with muscles everywhere, a vivid tattoo on his arm, and his good looks, Aiden never blended.
“We can all go,” Maddox offered.
I burst into laughter, envisioning the look on some poor man’s face when I sat across from him to have a coffee and the boys sat at the table behind me, glaring in his direction, Aiden cracking his knuckles, Reid somehow hacking in to his phone and digging into his background, while Maddox demanded financial reports, and Bentley stared him down.
How fun.
As I laughed, I met the gaze of Van Morrison, who had come in with Bentley but s
tayed back from my desk. He listened to the conversation, a smile playing on his lips. As he met my gaze, he gave me a thumbs-up and mouthed the words, “You go, Sandy,” before disappearing down the hall.
At least he didn’t give me a hassle, and I appreciated his silent support.
I brought my attention back to my gang of protectors.
“Good ideas. I’ll let you know. Now, back to work, boys.”
Grumbling, they disappeared into Bentley’s office, shutting the door behind them. I knew I hadn’t heard the last of this, but I wasn’t surprised by their reaction.
I looked down at my phone, weary of the constant beeps. I scanned through the profiles, knowing deep in my heart this wasn’t the right step for me.
But I wasn’t telling them that.
Not yet.
Jordan
I glanced at my desk with a deep exhale. The paperwork was astronomical these days. The busier BAM became, the busier I was. Even though Bentley had hired an extra body to help me, my desk never seemed to clear. I oversaw all paperwork on every project BAM undertook. Every permit, plan, license, contract that was required for a project, I made sure it was in place. It was a never-ending task, given the vast number of endeavors the company had on the go at any one time.
I pulled off my glasses and rubbed my tired eyes. I drained my coffee and sat back for a moment, contemplating the piles on my desk. I had come in on the weekend to catch up, but there was still a large amount of work to get done.
Not that I had anything else to keep me busy. My daughter, Gina, had recently moved, and with the absence of her and my grandkids—and my son, Warren, already on the other side of the country—life was emptier now than ever. For the first time since my wife, Anna, had passed, I was lonely. When she was alive and our kids here, we had been busy with work, each other, plus the grandkids and all their activities. When she died, my kids tried hard to keep me busy. Now that they were gone, I missed them all. My single son’s job had ended, and he had to go to where the work was, so he moved to Alberta last year. Three months ago, my daughter’s husband, Eric, had been offered a fabulous promotion, but it meant relocation. And although Gina had expressed her fears over leaving me, I had refused to be the reason they didn’t take the opportunity. I promised lots of visits, and although I spoke with her or the kids almost daily, it wasn’t the same. Life was hollower.
I had lots of free time on my hands, so I spent it in the office. There was usually someone else around, so I didn’t feel as lonely as when I was rambling around my house.
On occasion, the extra time in the office meant I got to see more of Sandy Preston as well.
The right-hand to all the partners, Sandy was an amazing woman. Close in age, we had a lot in common. She was intelligent, driven, and kind—easy to like, and I had a deep, abiding respect for her. She had been a good friend to me when Anna had passed, and when Sandy lost Max, I returned the favor—understanding the tremendous pain she felt. We had coffee together, even the occasional lunch, and we could discuss the loss of our partners freely, both of us having experienced the grieving process.
But as time went by, I began to look at her differently. I no longer saw her as the efficient, friendly coworker and/or friend I’d considered her to be all these years. The fellow grief-stricken companion. I found myself no longer wanting to talk only about Anna or to feel sad. I wanted to talk to Sandy about other things. To expand the friendship beyond loss and into living.
But I wasn’t sure she was ready for that, and if sensing that my feelings were changing, she had quietly stopped our coffee dates without even discussing it. She was still friendly and cordial in the office. Always smiling and happy to chat if I dropped by her desk or she was bringing me more paperwork, but there was a line there. Because of my respect for her, it was a line I didn’t cross.
She was too good a friend to lose. I hoped if I was patient enough, one day she would be ready to move on. And when she was, I would be ready.
Yet, seeing her everyday caused an odd ache in my chest that never fully went away.
I shook my head at my strange thoughts and pushed my glasses back up on my face. I picked up my pen, ready to attack the next set of paperwork when Van Morrison, our resident genius of the hammer, strolled in. He unloaded a huge pile of tools in the corner, then made me frown as he shut the door to the hall and sat at his desk.
Van never shut the door unless there was a problem.
“What’s up?” I asked.
He scrubbed his face and regarded me seriously. “I know we don’t get overly personal here, Jordan, but Liv told me something last night, and I’ve been thinking it over all day.”
“Damn it,” I cursed. “Is there a problem? Is she thinking of leaving?”
He laughed. “No. She’s good. We’re good,” he emphasized.
He and Liv were in a relationship that worked well for them. They were a great couple and were getting married soon. Van adored her daughter, and together, they fit. I relaxed. “Okay. So, what is this news?”
He inhaled. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest.”
I frowned. “Always.”
“Sandy,” he said flatly. “You like her.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” I asked, unsure where this was leading.
“Yes. But you like her as more than a coworker.”
I blew out a long breath. “That obvious, am I?”
He shook his head. “No. But you forget how well I know you.” He lifted an eyebrow in a silent question, still waiting for my answer.
“Yes, I like her. Very much so.”
“I thought so.”
“So your news has to do with Sandy?” A flash of panic hit me. “Oh god. Is she seeing someone?”
Had I waited too long?
“Not yet,” he said slowly.
“Not yet? What does that mean?” I asked, confused.
Van leaned forward. “It means, if you truly have feelings for her, now is the time for you to speak up.”
* * *
Van’s words replayed in my head. Over and again.
Sandy had signed up on a dating site.
Sandy.
Dating site.
Somehow the words did not compute.
Sandy was too elegant. Too amazing to put herself out there that way. My son used dating apps a lot. Some of his stories made me shudder. The thought of Sandy being subjected to strange men didn’t sit well with me.
The thought of her liking someone else besides me in that fashion didn’t sit well either.
I sat at my desk long after Van had left. He didn’t have a lot to tell me except the name of the dating site and the amusing reaction the partners had when they discovered that their Sandy was putting herself out there.
“It was as if she was a child.” He chuckled. “They surrounded her, lecturing and pointing out every bad thing they could think of when it came to dating sites. All of them—even Bentley—were freaked out.”
“I don’t imagine that went over well with Sandy.”
Van shook his head, his eyes crinkling in laughter. “She told them all off in perfect Sandy fashion. One second they were all talking, the next they were all shuffling their feet and looking embarrassed. She put them in their place fast.” He paused. “But you could feel her love for them. She knew they were doing this out of concern. But she pointed out it was her life and she had to choose how to live it. She also reminded them they all had spouses or girlfriends to go home to each night.” He fell silent. “Even I heard the pain in her voice then. They backed off but made her promise to be very careful.”
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I could see Sandy, drawing herself up, straightening her shoulders as she faced off with “her boys.” She loved them all fiercely, and they returned that love. They were very good to her, and she was much more than an assistant to them. But she never hesitated to call them out when she felt they were wrong, and I knew she wouldn’t be happy being told what to do.
<
br /> But I agreed with them.
I turned to the computer and downloaded the app Van told me she had joined. I checked the rules, figured out how it worked, and created an account. A picture was optional—you could have a description only if you preferred, then choose to share a picture with any matches if you decided you wanted to connect. I chose that option, adding a fast bio and a password.
Then I scanned the pages, looking over the profiles.
I stopped scrolling when I came to Sandy’s picture. I glanced at the stats, my eyebrows shooting up in shock when I saw how many stars she had beside her profile. There was a tremendous amount of interest in her.
Not that I could blame them. The picture of her was taken at a BAM function. Her hair was down, the bright white gleaming under the lights. Her lovely hazel eyes twinkled in the photo, her full mouth smiling as she looked toward something past the lens that had caught her attention. She was a striking woman. Her confidence and friendly disposition only added to her attractiveness. She had a lot to offer the right man—but the simple fact was, the right man wasn’t on this site.
Even though there were a lot of men wanting to get to know her better, I smiled in grim satisfaction that Sandy had yet to return any interest stars.
I sat in front of my laptop, thinking. I had two choices. Reach out via this dating app and see what happened, or simply present myself to her exactly the way her profile requested—as a fellow human feeling lonely and wanting some companionship. Maybe if she spent some time with me, things could develop between us. We were already friends with a lot in common—surely the next step wouldn’t be that difficult to work toward?
If she was ready. I had the feeling that would be the largest hurdle to overcome. I had reached a point in my life where I felt I would like to share my time with someone again. The question was—had Sandy?
I shut down the laptop, not bothering with anything else to do with the app.
I knew what I had to do.
* * *
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 75
