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I smile. “Say you’ll accept the job.”

“Of course I do.” He even pulls the paperwork closer to him as if we’re going to steal it back.

“Good. Look it over and sign it by the end of the week. The pay will be retroactive as of today and there’s an additional bump for the responsibilities you’ve been taking on over the last six months, as well as your help last week.” Connor grabs his laptop and starts typing. “If there’s no other questions, let’s talk about the schedule this month. With so much going on, I don’t want to miss anything important.”

Sawyer carefully slides the paperwork into the case of his Morgan Restoration tablet and logs into the device. If he’s nervous about his new position, he doesn’t show it. “We finished the deep water bike while you were out. There’s a little left to outfit the new Highland and then it’s time for Moore’s Cheveau. We need the theme.”

We all wince. Connor’s creative block on that project is the reason we went to Diamond’s and found Daphne, but there hasn’t been time to focus since.

Yet he slides his tablet across the table with a grin. “It’s summer.”

The design is captivating. Bright and eye-catching. Airy and beautiful while still giving enough masculine edges our clients usually prefer. It’s the perfect car to drive around on a sunny day.

Sawyer gapes, pulling it closer and zooming in here and there. “It’s gorgeous, Con.”

“Our omega inspired it.”

That’s obvious too. It’s the lightness of the car. Connor typically prefers darker shadows and midnight forest, not beaches, ice cream and the scent of sunscreen, but there’s still enough of the things that we’re known for to keep it from being completely out of place. My brother’s damn good at his job.

“Best part is, we have most of this stuff already in storage. We’ll need to get some lighting sorted and the paint, but we won’t need to wait for parts.”

After brainstorming the outside designs and the colors, Sawyer leaves. Nate’s making note of some parts he wants to check out and Connor’s muttering to himself about backup lights. Meanwhile, I’m focused on one thing.

“This is a bad time to be working with Moore.”

AJ Moore Jr. is a nepo baby of the worst kind. Son of one of the most prolific collectors in the world, the kid’s car royalty. However, he’s got no skills in restoration, building or collecting, so he relies on us to make him look good. We’d probably like that if he had an ounce of respect for personal boundaries.

AJ’s the type to call every hour of the night and if we don’t answer immediately—I’m talking three rings or less—he keeps calling until we do. Back to back to back.

Absolutely everything is an emergency we have to fix before he can calm down and as long as it’s dealt with, he’s fine paying out the nose. The kid’s good for our bank account and shit for Connor’s blood pressure.

Nate looks up, blinking as if he’s just realizedwhothe Cheveau’s for. “Shit. We really don’t have time to deal with him right now.”

Connor doesn’t seem worried. “That’s what Sawyer’s promotion is for. Well, the promotion is because he deserves it, but dealing with the clients is his job now.”

“Do you really think Moore will accept him as a replacement for us?” What I really mean is, will he accept Sawyer instead ofConnor?He’s never called my phone at four a.m. on a Tuesday.

“Trust me, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.” When it’s obvious we still have concerns, he adds, “I won’t let AJ fuck up this courtship for us. We just got Daphne to agree. No way am I risking that.”

I hope not, but I’m worried. Some habits are hard to break.

HISTORY LESSONS

NATE

Daph hasn’t come backto our house since the disastrous dinner and even though I understand why, I want her in our space. Blankets on our couch, scent in the air while we’re snuggled up on the massive couch for a movie, a chat, a nap. I want her stealing shirts from the laundry instead of the overnight bag I bring over.

I want my omega to feel at home, but I know that takes time. For now, I’m happy she lets me climb into her nest every night so I can cuddle my girl as we sleep. It’s the best rest I’ve had in ten years.

After work’s done, I head directly to Daph’s, ready to pick her up and steal her away for some fun.

Only the downstairs is empty. So is her sewing room.

For a moment, there’s panic, until I remember she spent all of dinner last night talking about how excited she was to try a new design for the storefront. While I cleaned up, she disappeared into her sewing room. Of course, I followed, but didn’t last long.

“You’re too much of a distraction in here, all big and muscly and hot.”

“You think I’m hot?”