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“At the very least. Mechanics, too. Particularly one who’s good with vintage bikes.”
“I know just the guy. One of my fosters. Gage Moore goes by the nickname of Apex. You’ll like him. He’s a retired Marine. Force RECON, I believe.”
“You’re just a wealth of knowledge, aren’t you?”
“I am, and you should thank your lucky stars, mister.” She gestured toward the front door. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a delivery.”
He turned around and saw that a truck had pulled up outside. He chuckled. “Okay, lady. Thanks for the help.”
He went out the front and directed the guy who emerged from the truck to the freight elevator at the back.
Granny was on the phone when he went back inside. He took the regular elevator up to the sixth floor and opened the loft as he heard the freight elevator grind to a halt and the doors open. He pushed open the wide door to the big empty space. The walls were gray concrete, and the floor had just been done yesterday in a natural wood to add warmth to the space.
Vincent Dubois, his designer, showed up as the men from the trucks were hauling the couches, rugs, tables, bed, dining chairs, and art into the loft. The morning was spent getting everything placed. Granny had the foresight to provide a pot of coffee. As the loft warmed with the furniture and décor in a dark blue and yellow color scheme that made him feel homesick for the Navy, he could start to feel like this place was home. It drove it deep for him when they hung up the American flag over the bed and other art on his walls, including a trident and a framed photograph of his squad.
At noon, Granny Steele showed up with lunch for them all and he was beginning to think she was a good choice for his office manager. At least for now.
By late afternoon, the loft was finished and ready for him to move his clothes into. He went downstairs to find Granny preparing to leave.
“I’ve set up some interviews. Here are the candidates. Look them over tonight.”
Where in the heck had she gotten file folders? He took them.
“I’ll be expecting you for my birthday party tonight. You should get home and catch a little nap before.”
“I got the invitation. I’ll be there.”
“I hope you got me something nice.” She smiled and patted his cheek. “See you tonight.”
After he closed up the shop and headed home, he stripped down to his briefs, set his alarm, and crept into bed. He’d tried like hell to not think of O all day, but she had slipped in against his will. He supposed he owed her an apology. Many apologies. But it was unlikely he was going to see her again to deliver them.
He fell asleep thinking of her fine, dark eyes.
When his alarm went off two hours later, he showered and dressed, then grabbed up the nicely wrapped package as he slipped his feet into deck shoes. The day had heated up, the shimmer from the heat wave visible on the asphalt. He tucked the package into one of Stella’s saddlebags and donned his helmet for the ride over to Granny’s house.
He parked in the street and dismounted the bike and removed his helmet as he grabbed the package. The place was already packed inside, spilling into the backyard. Delicious aromas wafted from the buffet table as he greeted people he knew.
Granny was a popular personality in LA. She was a steadfast advocate for lost children. For years she’d played mom, grandmother and friend to kids who were homeless, run-aways or just needed to escape a fucked-up home. She’d taken Neo in after he killed their father. Neo hadn’t been interested in living with a depressed, alcoholic, and raging stepmother.
Dean was forever grateful. It hadn’t alleviated any of his guilt, but he didn’t have to worry about Neo as much.
“Hey there, stranger,” Chry said as she moved through the crowd toward him.
“Hey,” he said warmly and wrapped her in a tight hug. “Is my brother here with you?”
“No. He’s deployed unfortunately,” she said. “How are things going?”
“Well, now that I have your granny as an office manager—”
“As a what?”
“You sicced her on me,” he said, and she laughed.
“I mentioned that you were doing all the work yourself and it must be exhausting. Someone should help you. I guess she took that as a hint. You do look tired.”
“I’m fine. Just preoccupied.”
“Have you heard anything from our…friends?”
