Page 14 of The Acquisition

"I'm loading everything up now. You sound like this is an emergency, so I could personally run all this to the address we have on file within the next thirty minutes."

"That's what I needed to hear. I'll have the doorman collect it and leave a bonus for you."

"You're my favorite client," she gushed.

"Make sure to tell Beckett that," I teased.

"Oh, no thank you, Mr. Greyson, I like having a job."

I hung up the phone and chuckled. I wondered how long his reputation for being unpleasant would endure after tonight. The world had never experienced a happy Beckett Anderson, and I was pleased my daughter was the only woman who would get to experience it. As awkward as it was to have my daughter marry my best friend, I was also comforted to know she found a man who would fight heaven for her.

Jana started struggling in earnest, and I realized I'd forgotten to release her. She was going to be dangerous by the time we made it to the airport, but I was having too much fun riling her up. It had been a very long time since I'd felt so light and carefree. Instead of acting like a sensible and mature man in his late thirties, I allowed myself to slide into my more juvenile instincts.

I picked her up and tossed her over my shoulder, eliciting a squeal out of her. Strolling out of the office I ran into Sabrina coming out of the copy room.

"Go ahead and run home and pack an overnight bag. You'll need a nice dress for tonight, and be ready, because we are picking you up in a little over half an hour," I instructed her.

Sabrina was used to me bossing her around. She might have wanted to comment on me carrying Jana around over my shoulder like a suit-wearing caveman, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

"You said a nice dress, is this a business meeting or something else?" she asked.

"Evie and Beck are getting married tonight, so whatever you'd wear to an evening wedding. We're going to Tahoe."

"We've got to tell her," Sabrina demanded.

"On the way back. She's going to be mad, but I don't want to ruin her wedding," I agreed.

SIX

JANA

Colt carried the ridiculous green leather weekend bag he bought me. I secretly loved it, but I wasn't ready to give him the satisfaction of telling him yet. Eventually I would, because I had manners. There was a matching garment bag likely carrying a ridiculous cocktail dress that I was practically salivating to get my hands on.

His bag was packed, mostly by me. He dropped me down on the bench in his giant walk-in closet, and I was prepared to sit there and not help him at all. Until I saw him grab a purple shirt. It was a fine shirt, but not at all right for the evening. Besides, it was obvious he'd never learned to fold by the way he was haphazardly shoving everything into his bag.

I had to remind myself I was mad at him as my mind wandered wondering what it would feel like to press up against the soft t-shirts I placed in his bag. I chose a charcoal suit with a lighter grey shirt that would play against the mossy green in his hazel eyes.

He was a very frustrating man, but it was easy to forget when looking at him. Men shouldn't be as beautiful as he was. Even the few strands of silver in his dark hair enhanced his appearance. Both he and Beckett wore their age like an accessory.

Beck had a few lines around his eyes, suggesting there was a time he actually smiled in the past. They softened the scowl he often wore. Colt's face was as youthful as the pictures I'd seen of him in his twenties. The only thing betraying he wasn't fresh out of college was an air of experience and life he wore. While his eyes were unlined, there was a wisdom present only gained through living.

The Anderson Tahoe compound was impressive. While most of the properties we drove past appeared to be enormous log cabins, the Anderson home was slate grey and semi-modern. Its roof peaked like the mountains visible in the backdrop of the sprawling estate.

The tall windows glowed softly as we walked up to the door. I expected a butler to let us in, but instead we were greeted by Grace Anderson herself.

"Oh, thank goodness. Are Beckett and Evie with you?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Beck took Evie around to another entrance," Colter told her.

This elicited a relieved smile from Grace. "Good. I've been hard at work to surprise her. I know she's expecting simple, but I wanted her to have something elegant."

Colt pulled her into a hug. "Thank you," he spoke into her hair. His face was hidden, but I didn't miss the way his voice wavered with emotion.

She let him go and pulled me in for a hug next. "Oh, Jana! I'm so glad you're here. Colter can't come back to help Evie get ready, and she should have some family here."

I gave Colter the side eye. "Funny you should mention that."

"Behave," he admonished.

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