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Chapter 14
Legacy
I haven’t seen Devyn in three days, not since I took her shopping on Sunday. I’ve felt like a complete asshole, but warning her about how the new guys coming in may act wasn’t received the way I meant it to be. I just don’t want her thinking that any of the guys would want more from her than what she has between her legs. I know that’s beyond harsh, but it’s the truth. They aren’t bad guys, but they aren’t going to sleep with her and fall in love with her. She’s young and probably doesn’t understand that kind of stuff.
But what the hell do I know about girls or women? Honestly, not a damn thing.
What I do know is that I need to apologize. I probably should’ve done it before walking away on Sunday, but she floored me with her snapback about watching her legs. The woman is fiery and full of attitude, and I like it much more than I should. I don’t know if she’s avoiding me because of what I said or if I creeped her out with the way she caught me looking at her. I’ve considered going to her and promising I won’t do it again, but I’m well aware of my limitations. There’s just something about her that makes it impossible for me to maintain control of myself at times.
I shake my head, trying to do my best to rid it of the thoughts that have badgered me since that day. Remembering her smooth silky skin while she was sitting in the SUV won’t impress whoever it is that opens the door. I lift my hand, knocking lightly on Kincaid’s front door, my nerves deciding now to remind me that I still haven’t figured out what I’m going to say to her.
I freeze, wholly unprepared when Kincaid pulls the door open.
“You don’t have to knock,” he says, holding his hand out.
I look down at the notebook-like spiral.
“Come on,” he says, waving it until I pull it from his hand. “We’re about to get started.”
I feel out of place and unsure of what’s happening, but curiosity wins out as I follow my boss into his living room.
Several other people are sitting around, all facing a small podium in the front.
I take a seat beside Max and look down at the front cover of the item Kincaid handed me before flipping through the pages. It isn’t very long, but it’s clear it’s some sort of business proposal, the title Devyn Malloy Designs on the front. The logo is hand drawn and a little crude, but it’s distinctly feminine and cute.
I grin as she enters the room, her cheeks pink with nerves. I quickly recognize the clothes she’s wearing but only because it was originally one of the men’s dress shirts I commented on being too large for her. Other than the red-checked pattern, nothing is the same. When she mentioned things needing to be altered, I had no idea she was planning to make a whole new outfit.
The dress is a little shorter than the one she had on the day she arrived, but it somehow still looks professional. She looks like the businesswoman I’m sure she intended to look like.
“Hello everyone,” she says, her voice a squeak that requires her to clear her throat.
She apologizes under her breath.
Em is beaming like a proud mother, so it makes me believe she helped Devyn with this project.
Devyn begins by talking about her love for fashion and the things she’s done to date in the field. Almost a little too late, I realize this is a loan proposal… one I didn’t get invited to attend. Kincaid mistakenly took my arrival as participation when I just happened up at the right time.
Is she so mad at me that she didn’t think I’d want to be involved?
I would’ve offered her money to pay for whatever endeavor she wanted to do, but she didn’t ask me for money. She asked about a bank loan. It feels like every step I take where she’s concerned is one more fuckup on my part.
I can’t help how broody I feel as she continues her presentation. Her nerves are apparent, her hands shaking right along with the tremble in her voice. She’s very knowledgeable, making it clear she’s well-versed in the needs of her business.
I look around the room, seeing Kid’s wife, Khloe, along with Harley and Alyssa. I’ve never even seen her speak to any of these people, so I know Em or Misty had to have been involved in arranging this opportunity for her. I can’t help but feel a little jealous and a lot territorial over her. I want to provide all the help, but I keep my mouth closed.
It’s clear she wants to create a successful, sustaining business and not just get handouts. I wouldn’t be doing her any favors if I just threw money at her.
