Page 61 of Control Freak

Not until Gray entered the office. “Damn, I am starved! Thanks, babe.”

He wrapped one large hand around the nape of Emory’s neck and pulled him into a long, thorough kiss. Emory laughed and ducked his head as he came out of the kiss, flicking a shy glance toward us. “What did I do to deserve that?”

Gray wrapped his arm around Emory’s shoulders, pulling him in against his side. “You’re you. That’s deserving enough, don’t you think?”

Emory laid his head against Gray’s shoulder, emitting such happiness it was difficult to watch.

What must it be like to touch so easily? To express and accept affection without panic or ugly memories getting in the way?

“Well, these sandwiches look great!” Shiloh announced loudly, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Gray dropped his arm and stepped forward to grab his Zaco. “Not you, too, with the sandwiches. Axel will never shut up!”

I flicked my gaze to Shiloh to find him watching me. Had he changed the subject for my benefit? To interrupt the love fest making my chest ache? I didn’t begrudge my brothers’ love. I was happy for them. But it didn’t make it easy to see all I couldn’t have playing out in front of me.

“I heard my name, and spoken with such love,” Axel drawled from the doorway. “What’s up?”

He entered, followed by Bailey and Flynn.

The ex-con we’d hired out at the junkyard was a big guy. Bigger than me, even. Six four, maybe, and stacked with the kind of muscle you got from obsessively going to the gym or working out a hell of a lot while in prison.

In Flynn’s case, I was pretty sure it was the latter.

“Nothing,” Gray said hastily. “We were just talking about how Holden is going to poach Flynn from you.”

“What?” Axel protested. “I just got him trained!”

“Thanks for throwing me under the bus,” I said. “And he’s just doing it so you won’t hear that Shiloh thinks Zacos are sandwiches.”

Axel’s eyes lit up. “Damn straight they are!”

Shiloh shrugged. “They can’t be pizza or tacos because they’re already both. Ergo, sandwiches.”

“Can’t fault that logic,” I said.

Bailey snorted. “You’re just agreeing so Axel won’t be pissed you stole his guy.” He grinned at Flynn. “Don’t you feel loved?”

Flynn looked overwhelmed. “Very.”

Matteo smiled sympathetically. “Sorry, Flynn. I was going to talk to you first, but I do think you’d be a great fit for the job here.”

“I’d be honored to have the opportunity,” Flynn said seriously. “But I also don’t want to leave Axel in the lurch. Maybe I can help out both places until he’s got someone else ready to go?”

I glanced at Bailey. “What do you think?”

“Me?” My little brother sounded shocked to have his opinion taken into account.

“You’re the one who’ll be training him. He needs to be ready to fill your shoes by fall. Do we have time for him to pull double duty?”

“Yeah, we’ll have to start with some basics, anyway. Observation. Rundown of the equipment. He won’t be ready to tackle more right away.”

“I’m happy to stay after hours or come in on the weekends to learn,” Flynn said. “Whatever it takes.”

I nodded. “All right, but Matteo, can you get us someone else out at the junkyard soon?”

“Sure. I can help out, too, until I find someone,” he said.

I nodded. “Appreciate it.”