Page 24 of Smooth Moves
Cash did the math and nodded. “Not counting me, Reid, and Dan.” Retired Gunnery Sergeant Dan Thompson, their elderly office manager they couldn’t do without.
“Right. Even with all the overhead, employees, trucks, and maintenance, we’re making money. That’shuge.We need to keep capitalizing on Naomi’s PR strategies.”
“You know, that’s great. But could we not talk about work for a while? I’m beat.”
“Sorry,” Evan said. “I’m just excited to be getting out of my job. My brain hurts at the end of every day.”
“Yeah? If you don’t want to think too much, come move stuff for a living. I’m not too proud to admit I’d die if I had to work behind a desk. I want to get out and do shit.” He filled his plate with more food, famished despite having devoured more than half a large pizza.
The food satisfied but was nowhere near as tasty as Jordan’s meal had been.
And that easily, he was thinking of her again.
“Evan, man, how come you’re not married?”
Evan choked. After he’d caught his breath, he glared at Cash. “You too? My mother on my ass is bad enough.”
Cash felt for the guy. Aunt Jane had given birth to Evan at an older age, making her feel more like a grandmother than an aunt to him and Reid. She’d always been sweet to them though, and the fact she hadn’t cared much for Cash’s mom was another point in her favor.
“You can’t blame her. You’re single and rich.” At Evan’s expression, he corrected, “I mean, comfortable. That’s the word, right?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Buddy, you got a mom who loves you. She wants grandkids because she wants little mini-me’s ofyou.Make her happy and get married. Settle down.”
Evan studied him, a bemused look on his face. “Did you give this same speech to Reid?”
Not that Cash needed to. His little brother had already fallen hard for Naomi. Cash saw it in the way Reid looked when talking about her. And to see Reid get all dopey around the chick… “Didn’t need the speech. He’s already a goner.”
Evan nodded. “He and Naomi are good. I like her.”
“I do too.”And I don’t because she’s stealing Reid.
“Too bad you haven’t given that speech to Reid. I’d love to see his face when you tell him about making little mini-me’s.” Evan grinned. “Better yet, tell that to Naomi.”
“Hell, no. I don’t tell that woman what to do. I don’t have a death wish.” His brother’s redhead had a temper.
“Well, what about you? You’re the oldest of us. You’re, what, thirty-eight?”
“Thirty-six, dickweed.”
“I’m only thirty-one. Still a baby, really.”
Cash scoffed.
“I have plenty of time to fall in love, have kids, get divorced, start all over, get married and divorced again, then become a raging alcoholic because my life is a mess. You’re not getting any younger.”
Cash shook his head. “You really went there, huh?”
Evan laughed. “Hey, I watch all the same shows you do, Drama Queen. I’ve also been to several weddings in the past ten years, and only about a third of those couples are still married.”
“Yeah, but your mom and dad loved each other.”
Evan smiled. “That’s true. Dad passing about broke Mom’s heart.” He sighed. “And now I’m feeling guilty for ignoring her. But she nags me about dating every friggin’ time we’re together.”
They sat in silence for a moment then resumed eating.
The next time Cash spoke, he asked the question he’d always wondered about his cousin. “Hey, I’ve gotta know. Is it weird that your parents were always so much older? I mean, people used to ask if you were with your grandma, not your mom.”
