Page 84 of His for the Holiday

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HAWK

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Emery asked as she and I said our goodbyes.

We were out on the porch together, my bags waiting in my rental car and my dad and the boys already having gone back inside to give us a moment to talk. My heart was heavy as hell, but I nodded anyway.

“I have to, Em. I told you I need to go wrap things up in person, but I’ll be back as soon as I can. Probably just before Christmas.”

Those worried blue eyes held my own. “I wasn’t talking about leaving. I was talking about buying Dad’s company and moving home.”

“Well, in that case, yes. I’m sure. Why?”

“I just…” She trailed off, her gaze drifting over to the port for a moment before she sighed and looked back at me. “Dad’s company is our legacy too, Hawk. It’s my kids’ legacy and mine, and yours. You’re buying it, but do you actually want to run it? How do you know you’re not going to get back to LA and get caught up in everything there again?”

“I won’t,” I promised, taking her hands and holding them tight as I stared directly into her eyes. “LA was fun for me, Em. I can’t deny that. I had a few good years there and I built my company from the ground up into something I’d never have achieved from here.”

“That’s my point, though.”

“I know, but what I’m getting at is that I’ve been ready for a while to move on from there. It was a stop on my journey, but I’ve realized that it was never going to be my final destination. This is my home and it’s where I want to lay down roots of my own. I’m coming back, Emery. I won’t let you down again.”

Her gaze bounced from one of my eyes to the other. “Okay, well, keep me in the loop. Like I said, it’s my legacy too and I know I’ve complained a lot about being left to run things on my own, but it’s not like I want to retire or anything. I’m not even thirty yet.”

I chuckled and leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead. “I know, and I also know you were only complaining so much because you were overwhelmed with the company, and the boys, and Dad. You were burning the candle at all ends and you got burned out, but whenever you’re ready, your legacy will be there for you to keep building.”

“Will it, though?” she asked quietly, and it occurred to me that for all our talk about the takeover, we’d never really spoken about her role in the company once Gold Star had purchased it.

For me, it’d been about easing her burdens. With dad and with money. None of the members of my family would ever have to worry about finances again now, and I’d thought she knew about the rest of it, but evidently, I needed to actually say the words.

I groaned, releasing her hands and smiling. “My intention isn’t to push you out, Em. This company wouldn’t even have existed anymore if not for you. I know how hard you’ve worked for it and all I want to do is help.”

“How is this going to work, though?” she asked. “We never got around to talking about it and all you keep saying is that I need to rest and take a break, and that I’ll still have a job whenever I’m ready, but what does that look like? What job, Hawk? I’m just still a little bit muddy on what’s actually happening.”

I smiled. “What’s happening is that your asshole brother has realized that he left you to do everything by yourself for too long and he doesn’t want to put any pressure on you now, but I realize that’s not the answer you’re after.”

“So give me a straight answer.”

“Honestly, you’re still going to be running the show on the Brunson Tugging side of things. At least, that’s the way I see it. We’ll get you an assistant, obviously, and whatever other help you might need, but the way I’ve been envisioning it is that the tugging is yours.”

“Mine?”

I nodded. “The only difference is that you’ll have whatever assistance you need.”

“Are you sure?”

“You’ve always had a knack for business, Emery. We both know it. I want you beside me in the driver’s seat because, first, like you said, Dad’s company is your legacy too and I’d never take that from you, but I’ve also got Gold Star. Regardless of how many people I’ve got working for me, I can’t just forget about my responsibilities to that company.”

“No, of course not.”

“Exactly,” I said. “Plus, the next few months are probably going to be a little rocky. I’m going to be focusing on taking the port back from Meecham and pushing them out of town as well as being the CEO of Gold Star.”

I inhaled, trying to organize it all in my mind before saying it out loud. “As we start getting the port back, all the local companies, including Dad’s, will get busier and busier again. If you didn’t want to be involved, I’d have to put someone in place to manage the tugboats around here anyway. With Brunson part of Gold Star, you’ll have access to whatever money and resources you need for the business to start growing again.”

Emery nodded slowly, her eyes slightly out of focus as she processed it all before she hugged me. “This is amazing, Hawk. I can’t believe it’s actually happening, but it’s exactly what I need. Exactly what the whole freaking town needs, so thank you.”

“You got it.” I wrapped my arms around her. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come to the party.”

“You’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She squeezed me before she let go. “Have a safe flight, okay? Call me when you get in. We’ll miss you.”