“Really?” I snort-laugh.
“Oh yeah,” Ethan says with a nod. “Grooming profits have increased a lot. Women are driving like two hours to get their dogs groomed. Boarding is up, too. Our online reviews are great and people trust us to care for their dogs. I know this sounds cocky but I think we should sell merch. Like Alden K9 t-shirts and stickers and stuff. People ask for it.”
“That’s amazing.” I’ve been so focused on the foundation part in recent weeks that I haven’t even looked at our financial books. “So we’re actually turning a profit?”
“A good profit,” he says. “I think it’s time to start paying ourselves salaries.”
“Fantastic.” I reach over and high five him. “So why are you still looking so stressed?”
“I have an idea.” Ethan rubs his hands together, much to the annoyance of Ranger who paws at him for more pets. “The far west side of the property. It’s about one by three acres of empty land. What if we built houses? Four or five would fit, and this house could be like a guest house, or one of us could keep it. It’ll give us our own space to keep living and working together, but also be able to start families.”
“Damn, you really don’t want to bring a new girlfriend around us, huh?” I tease.
He chuckles. “I’m serious, Caleb. We don’t have to do anything now, but we need a gameplan. Five grown ass men can’t just live in the same house forever. We’re not a TV sitcom.”
I nod. “Yeah, I get it.”
It’s an issue I’ve thought about a lot. It’s no secret that getting all my brothers on board for the business was easier because we were all single. But what happens when wives and children come into the mix?
“We need our own spaces,” I say. “Maybe we look at building your house first, and over the next few years, we’ll figure out the others. I really don’t see Max and Owen living apart any time soon.”
My phone lights up. I glance over and see Charlotte’s name on the screen. It’s eight at night—a little late for a call from my event planner.
“Shit,” I say, picking up the phone. I hope nothing is wrong with the gala.
“We’ll talk later,” Ethan says, walking to the hallway. “Thanks for hearing me out.”
I answer the call. “Charlotte?”
“Hey,” she says, voice soft. “I know it’s late. Um. Can I come over?”
“Always,” I say.
I watch Charlotte’s headlights turn onto the long driveway. Outside, the sun is setting, casting a deep orange glow over the horizon. I love the longer days in the summertime. Crickets chirp in the air, and in the distance Rex barks once. He probably recognizes her car by now.
I meet her at her car. “Hey,” I say, closing the door for her after she gets out. Her hair is twisted into a high bun and she’s wearing black leggings and a tank top, the total opposite of her daily work attire. I like it. All of her curves are on display, and without any makeup she looks like she just woke up. It’s the version of her not everyone gets to see.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
She nods. “This isn’t about the gala.”
“I don’t care about the gala. What’s wrong?”
Tears glisten in her eyes. She blinks them away. Takes a deep breath. Her palms press to her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, I feel so stupid calling you and coming here.”
“Charlotte, what’s wrong?”
“I’m just having a bad day,” she says with a weak smile. “I had no reason to come over and work here today since everything is set and ready to go on Friday, and I was just eating a pathetic microwaved dinner at home and thinking about how I always feel better when I’m at the Alden farm, so I just wanted to come over. I wanted to see you.”
Holy crap my heart lights up in a way it’s never done before. The most beautiful woman, the most talented kickass womanI’ve ever known, wanted to see me.Don’t be a jackass and say something to ruin the moment,my brain tells me.
“First of all,” I say, taking out my phone and searching for a number. “Taco Crave is open late and delivers. Give me a second.”
She watches, bemused, as I call Raul and order us some tacos and chips and salsa. “Okay,” I say, clapping my hands together once. I really want to wrap them around her so this is how I restrain myself. “While we wait for dinner, tell me about your day. What happened, and how can I make it better?”
“Tacos will help.” She smiles up at me. “Is that a porch swing?”
“It is. There’s three of them, actually. Let’s go.”
