Page 58 of Needing You

I swallowed. Was that why Will had asked me about opening my own shop? Because he’d discussed my hopes and dreams with thisweaselbehind my back?

“Hey, sorry,” Will said, maneuvering through the packed tables looking a little out of breath. “I heard someone was asking for me, but we had an actual fire back there I needed to put out. Long story, don’t ask. Will Walker,” he said, offering his hand to Jason as if he had no clue who he was.

Jason stood and shook his hand. “Will, great to meet you in person. Jason Cole.”

Will’s body stilled, and he pulled his hand away as if he’d been burned. He took a step back, his gaze flicking frantically between his brother, his son, and me. Then he looked back at Jason like he wanted to grab him around the neck and choke the life out of him, probably because he’d planned to break the news to us all in amuchdifferent way.

Having seen enough of this shit show for one night, I grabbed my purse off the back of my chair and stood. “Jackson, let’s go.”

“Kate—” Will started, but his words were cut off by Sammy’s voice over the PA system, announcing that it was time to kick off the night.

I looked down at my son and tipped my chin toward the door. “Now, Jackson. Home.”

“Kate, don’t go,” Will rasped, stepping around the table in an effort to grab me.

I took a step back, and he stilled, frozen in place.

Jackson slowly stood and gave his father a confused grimace, but his gaze was full of ice when he turned it on me. For a brief moment, I worried he might not come with me. Might choose his father and the sparkling future Jason Cole had painted for him. But then relief replaced that fear as my son glared at me before storming out the door.

I looked down at Eric, who was the only one still seated, his eyes fixed on the dark woodgrain of the table.

Oh, Eric.

Will had told me all about how much he regretted his part in their fallout, and now this. I knew I had a right to be angry about being blindsided by Will’s attempts to uproot my son without even talking to me about it, but Eric didn’t deserve this at all.

Will reached for me again, but I shook my head. “We’ll talk about this later. It seems like you have some”—I glanced between Will’s twin and the businessman who looked mighty proud of himself for being such a shit-stirrer—“businessto take care of.”

And without another word, I waved to Jenna and Ellie where I’d seen them watching from the bar. Then I held my head high as I walked away from Will Walker to let him sort out his mess.

28

WILL

Stunned in place, I watched Kate slip out the door without so much as a backward glance. At least Jackson had given me one more pained half-smile before he’d disappeared into the night, and my heart clanged with love for the kid who’d made that last-ditch effort to make me feel better in what was undoubtedly a needless shitstorm.

In a flurry of movement, Eric shot to his feet and Terminator-walked to the back like he’d finally found John Connor, and Denver Dick slapped my shoulder.

“Guess I jumped the gun a bit, eh?” His pleased smile made a wave of disgust roll through me. “I figured they’d be excited to learn more about your big opportunity in Denver. Guess not.”

His words were like a punch to the gut.Mybig opportunity? He’d told them about it as if …shit. They probably all thought I was leaving them. Again.

“Does Eric possess the ability to relax?” April’s voice pulled me from Jason Cole as she approached the table, her eyes on my brother’s retreating form. “Yeesh, that one is woundtight.”

“He’s… I need to go get him.”

She shrugged. “No big. Did I miss Kate?”

“Yep, she and Jackson left. Sorry, April, I’ve got to go.” And without a word to Cole, I hustled after Eric. Only one of the two men was liable to burn the place to the ground with his rage, and that man was Eric James Walker. I needed to protect my kitchen. Though, I was the kitchen-trashing twin, right? He didn’t havemykind of temper, but April wasn’t wrong about how tightly he was wound up.

My mind spun as I sorted through what I’d seen and heard.Fuck.I’d botched this about as well as anything I’d ever messed up. Clearly, not thinking Jason Cole’s relentless recruiting efforts were anything to talk about was a mistake that would hurt a bit.

That said, I wasn’t so much panicked that this was unfixable as I was anxious to put Eric’s anger and then Kate’s confusion to rest. Jason Cole had overstepped by a hundred miles when he showed up here, so it should be a simple enough conversation.

Before I caught up to him, I could see Eric pacing the small space in front of his office. I exhaled, willing myself to calm the fuck down and prepare to be on the receiving end of his frustration for a few minutes before we worked through this. It was all a stupid misunderstanding, and when he saw that, we’d move on. “Hey, man, that guy—”

“Fuck you and the airplane you flew in on, okay? Why don’t you just give me your notice now.”

Well, shit.I knew he was mad, but I hadn’t expected him to take Jason Cole’s word over mine. In fact, I didn’t even know exactly what Cole had said other than that he’d obviously made everyone think I had plans to move to Denver.

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