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“Well, we need someone we trust to run it.”
“Okay?”
“That’s you, Wren,” Royce chimes in. I can already see he’s got his CEO hat on, and he’s ready to close the deal. “We know you. We trust you. We want the place to be for Riggins Enterprises employees. There is a state-of-the-art security system installed, and we need someone we know isn’t there for any other reason than the safety, security, and well-being of our children and those of our employees.”
“You want me to run it?”
“Yes.” Royce’s tone is serious. “I take the care of my son and nephews very seriously, and we need you. We need to know that someone is running the day care who is there for the kids.” He’s working hard to sell her on this.
“Did you know about this?” Wren turns to look at me.
“Yeah. We talked about it a few times.”
“That’s not the only change we’re making,” Royce tells her. “Aspen and Aurora will be reopening Warm Delights in the lobby.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
“How about you and I go talk specifics?” Royce asks.
“Go on, babe. I’ve got Maddie.”
She hesitates before nodding slowly. “Okay.”
I watch as my brother hands Roan to Sawyer and stands. He motions Wren to follow him down the hall, and I know he’s taking her to Dad’s office. As soon as they are out of earshot, everyone starts talking at once.
“Do you think she’ll take it?” Grant asks.
“She looked shocked,” Layla comments.
“We need her to say yes,” Conrad adds.
“We should have had you warn her,” Owen speaks up.
“No, I think this was the best way. It’s coming from Royce. She needs to know it’s not just me who wants her to take this position. She’d think I’m trying to give her another handout.”
“Another?”
“Yeah, I’ve tried to get her to drive one of my cars, but she refuses.”
“So buy her one,” Owen tells me.
“Right, she’d never drive it. She’s stubborn.”
“How are you going to get her to move in with you if you can’t get her to drive your car?” Owen asks.
“Baby steps, right, Maddie?” I ask the baby who’s sitting on my lap, chewing on my finger.
“Do you think he can convince her?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, I think so. If not, I’ll do my best to try and talk her into it.”
“Well, I hate to break up this party, but uh, we need to go,” Aurora says.
“Now?” Grant asks, jumping to his feet. Aurora nods, and he scoops her up in his arms.
“Leave Carter with us,” Sawyer tells Owen.
“I can keep him too,” I volunteer.
“Well, I’m going to the hospital.” Mom grins. “Stanley, grab your keys,” she tells my dad. “We have a new grandson to meet.”
Royce and Wren enter the room just in time to see Grant carrying Aurora out of the house. “Baby time?” Royce asks with a huge smile on his face.
“Baby time,” Mom says, rushing out the door behind Grant.
“You go. I’ll keep Roan and Carter.”
“You sure?” Royce and Owen ask at the same time.
“Yes. We have Maddie. You all go and keep us updated. We’ll bring the kids over if things go fast, if not tomorrow.”
“Thanks, man.”
“I’m going to need both of their car seats. I use my base for Maddie.”
“Done,” Owen says. “We’ll do that before we head out.”
“We’re going too. We’ll take them back to my place.”
“We’ll help you load them up,” Royce says.
“I have to work tomorrow,” Wren reminds me.
“That’s fine. We’ll swing by your place and get what you and Maddie need before going back to mine. Or you can stay at yours,” I say when I see the uncertainty on her face. “I can take you to work tomorrow,” I assure her. Or she can just drive one of my cars. This might be my chance to actually get her to do that.
“Okay.” She nods, but she still looks unsure.
“Thanks, guys.” Layla pulls Wren into a hug. “I always overpack wanting to be prepared for anything, so his bag should have everything he needs.”
“Me too,” Sawyer says. She also pulls Wren into a hug. “Thank you for watching him.”
“It’s no problem,” Wren tells them, looking more certain with her choice to stay with me.
Making sure the house is locked, we all head to my SUV, where Royce and Owen transfer car seats while their wives toss their bags into the back. “You be good for Uncle Marshall and Aunt Wren,” Layla tells Carter.
Wren whips her head toward me and I shrug.
“He’s always good, right, little man?” I say to Carter.
“I good,” he tells Layla.
“You too, bud,” Sawyer tells Roan. “He’s usually in bed by seven. Especially after a family gathering. All the attention wears him out.”
“So, you love Sunday dinners?”
“Of course.” She laughs.
There is a lot of hugs and kisses before my brothers load their sons into their seats. I load Madeline, and we hit the road. “I’ll swing by your place and stay in the car with the kids while you grab what you need.”
