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Marshall nods. “You’re right, but what you didn’t account for is that my brother refuses to leave until he talks to you.”
“What? That’s crazy. I texted him earlier, and everything was all set.”
“Look at your phone, Sawyer.”
Heaving a sigh, I grab my phone and swipe the screen and read his messages. I changed his contact name earlier this week. He’s no longer Royce plane guy. To me, he’s just Royce.Royce: Headed to the airport.Royce: Getting ready to board.Royce: Sawyer?Missed Call: Royce RigginsI glance up at Marshall. “Three messages and a missed call. None of them appear to be urgent.”
“Call him.”
I roll my eyes, and his grin grows wider. Hitting Royce’s contact, I place the phone to my ear. “Sawyer,” Royce’s greeting is rushed.
“What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t hear from you.”
“I’m working, Riggins,” I tease.
“As your boss, you should answer your messages and your phone when I call.”
“I’m sorry, boss, what did you need?”
He sighs. “Don’t be like that.”
“Did you need something, Mr. Riggins?” He doesn’t get to act a fool because I was doing my damn job.
“Fuck,” he curses under his breath, but I hear him loud and clear. “What are you working on that’s so important?” His tone is softer, but there is still an underlying edge to his voice.
“A project for Owen, and I want to get out of here on time tonight. Hadley and I are having dinner with Sam.”
“So, I don’t get to see you?” he asks, his voice low.
“I didn’t know you wanted to see me.” I don’t bother to lower my voice, even knowing Marshall is listening to every word.
He huffs out a breath. “I want to see you.”
“I have plans.”
“Cancel them.”
“No.”
“Sawyer, it’s been a damn week since I’ve laid eyes on you.”
“And it’s going to be at least another day. I’m not going to change my plans.”
“Where are you going?”
“Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not telling you so that the alpha CEO Royce can show up.”
“Sawyer,” he all but growls into the phone.
“Is that all? I really need to get this completed for Owen.”
“Come to my place after.” It’s not a question. It’s a demand.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“You’re a grown man. If you don’t know the definition of the word no by now, we have an issue,” I say, and Marshall loses it and bursts into laughter.
“Sawyer, they’re waiting on me.”
“I’ll talk to you on Monday, Mr. Riggins,” I say, and end the call.
“Holy shit, did you just hang up on him?” Marshall asks in disbelief.
“Yep,” I say, popping the p. I place my phone face down on my desk, just like before, and go back to working on the report for Owen. Marshall is standing in front of me when his phone rings.
“Yeah?” he answers.
“I’m standing at her desk,” he replies. He listens before saying, “I don’t think she wants to talk to you, bro.” Another pause. “Hold on.” He pulls the phone away from his ear and hands it to me. “He wants to talk to you.”
I take the phone from him and fight the urge to roll my eyes. Again. “Sir,” I say in greeting.
“I fucking miss you.” His gravelly voiced confession causes goose bumps to break out on my arms. “Please, Sawyer. Can I see you tonight?”
“There he is,” I whisper.
He chuckles. “I’m sorry for being an ass. It’s been a long week, and all I can think about is getting home to you.”
“You should have started with that.”
“So, you’ll come by? Or I can come to you. Just tell me when and where.”
“I’ll come to you.” I chance a glance at Marshall, and he’s smirking. “Have a safe flight.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he says softly, ending the call.
“How did you do it?” Marshall asks once I pass him back his phone.
“How did I do what?”
“Get my brother out of the trance he’s been living in the past several years.”
“Has he? Been living in a trance?”
“He’s been a shell of himself, but he’s coming around, and I see a lot of the old Royce in him. We have you to thank for that.”
“I’m just his assistant.”
“Come on, Sawyer, we both know that’s not true. He was flipping the fuck out because he couldn’t get a hold of you and knew he wouldn’t be able to during his flight.”
I don’t have a reply to that, so I stay silent and simply shrug. I try to appear unaffected, when my heart is pounding in my chest, and the fluttering in my belly intensifies. I’ve missed him too, so damn much.
“It’s okay. We’re all good with it. In fact, we encourage it. You’re bringing our brother back to us.”
“It’s frowned upon,” I remind him with a wink.
Marshall throws his head back and laughs. “It’s frowned upon because Royce likes his routine, but he didn’t always use to be that way. He changed with his divorce. He was pissed when Jase started dating Sam because he trusted her. They were friends. We all are. Then you came along, and you flipped his world on its end.”
