Page 69 of Strength

Charlie’s body loosened up. “Yeah.”

“May you please pass me one?” Brian held his hand out and Charlie gave him one. “Thank you.” Brian bit into the cookie. “Mmm, you know, you’re right, they are good.”

“I told you!” Charlie said with a giggle.

“It’s great to meet you, young man. But may I ask one thing?”

“Sure.”

“How in the devil did you break your leg?”

“I broke my ankle, and it’s because Emmett almost ran me over.”

“Charlie, come on, kiddo!” Emmett threw out his arms.

Brian pinned his son with a mock glare. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Charlie covered his mouth and belly laughed.

Brian sat down in one of the chairs. “So, isOblivionstill our choice of dining venue tomorrow night?”

“It is,” Samantha said as she turned to me. “I love that place.”

“Good, I can catch up with Chef Rawlins about his wine supply.”

June dropped her hands against her legs. “Honey, it’s supposed to be a celebration, not another opportunity for you to work.”

“I have to keep my clients on side.”

Samantha cut her hand through the air. “It’s okay, Mom. I know how cantankerous Harris Rawlins can be. You definitely need to keep him on side, Dad.”

“Harris Rawlins has a restaurant, huh?” Emmett said with a chuckle.

“Oh, yeah. It’s the best restaurant in the region,” Brian said.

Emmett brought me in on the conversation. “I went to the same school as Harris Rawlins. He came from big money, but he was such a screw up, always getting into fights and everything.”

“But he’s turned his life around, despite everything, and now he’s a highly successful chef with a restaurant that books out a year in advance. It’s lucky he’s a friend of ours; it meant he was gracious enough to fit us in.”

“Speaking of which, I need to get my outfit figured out since I’ll be at work all day tomorrow,” Samantha said, pushing herself out of her chair.

“You’re working on your birthday?” Emmett asked.

“Today was my birthday, doofus. I took it off, now tomorrow I have to work. Besides, the weekends are our busiest trading days.”

“I’m glad to see it’s no different here,” I said.

“I’ll come and help you,” June agreed.

Brian shook his head. “Women. Do you plan your outfits ahead of time, too, Olivia?”

“No,” I said with a laugh.

“She’s my kind of woman, Emmett. You better keep a hold of her.”

“That’s the plan,” Emmett said with a wink.

I couldn’t hide my blush or my happiness.

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