Page 155 of Fought and Freed

He pulled her back into his arms, and whatever he whispered into her ear made her blush.

Two weeks after Jared left, Skylar and Maddy were sitting on the floor playing with E.J. when Jace came to them with a long face. “Can I talk to you guys?”

Skylar picked E.J. up. “Should I ask Giselle to watch him?”

“No, he’s fine where he is.” Jace paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, and every so often, he rubbed the back of his neck.

Skylar glanced over at Maddy, who shrugged. She didn’t know what was bothering Jace, either.

“Dad called last night, and he wants Skylar back,” Jace finally spit out. “He said he found a nice nanny to help with EJ while you’re gone.”

Skylar’s shoulders dropped, and he gently bounced E.J. in his arms. “Oh.”

“We knew this day would come, eventually. Your mom will be happy to go home,” Maddy said.

“I made a call after I hung up with Dad.” Jace took a deep breath and focused on Maddy. “I called your uncle.”

“Which one?” She chuckled. “Marco or Sal?”

Maddy had been having lunch with Uncle Marco at least every other week to get to know each other, and he’d tell her stories about her mom. He turned out to be a good guy.

“I spoke to Sal. Dad’s not ready to retire anytime soon, and I…” Jace puffed out his cheeks. “I don’t want to be away from you for weeks on end, so I decided to open my own small construction company. Your uncle said he has at least three construction sites he needs help to build, and all of them are local.”

Jace sat beside Skylar, and E.J. reached out for him. Jace gently took the baby and cradled him against his chest while he focused on Skylar. “I want you to quit working with my dad and come down here to work with me.”

“What about your schooling?” Skylar asked.

“I already understand the construction business. I grew up around it, and Dad’s taught me everything he knows.” Jace held his finger up for E.J. to grasp. “What I’m learning in school is for the big corporate jobs, not standard construction.”

He looked at Skylar earnestly. “When I talked to one of my teachers, he told me I’d be wasting four years by staying in college. I already know more than most business students, and what I lack, I can learn from a book in the library. I want to take start the process to get my license and quit school.”

“Your dad won’t like that,” Skylar said slowly, thinking it through. “But I think Al is just like your dad and never going to retire, either. He taught me everything there was to teach in the first month. Now, I’m just part of the crew. I’m not leading anything.”

They both turned to Maddy.

“It’s your decision, guys,” Maddy told them. “If you want to quit school, Jace, that’s up to you. I’ve been thinking about it myself for the same reasons. I learned how to run a bakery at Crumbs, and I can take Janet’s classes without aiming for a degree.”

Maddy let out a long breath. “I wanted to go to school so I could get a good job and save for my bakery, but I have money now. Lots of it. As for you moving back home, would I love to have you back all the time, Skylar? Yes! I miss you during the week. I love this idea because it’s not just you anymore, it’s also E.J.”

Skylar pulled Maddy onto his lap. “Of course, you want me home all the time because you get your best-looking boyfriend back.”

She glanced back at Jace. “Do we have to keep him?”

“Hey!” Skylar tickled her, sending her into a fit of giggles.

That night after dinner, Skylar sat down and talked to his mother and brother about what they’d discussed.

Giselle gave him a stern look. “You’re an adult, and I raised you to be polite. After everything Curtis has done for you, leaving him in a bind would be rude. You need to at least give him two weeks’ notice.”

Skylar looked offended. “I plan on offering at least that, but because of E.J., I don’t think Curtis will make me stay.”

Cody said little. He just stared off into space.

“What do you think?” Skylar asked his brother.

Cody roused himself. “I agree with Mom.”

Maddy watched Cody after that. He seemed bothered that Skylar’s life was going well. He was doing what he enjoyed, while Cody was still floundering around at school.

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