“Because you’re his favorite,” Brax chimes in, not even looking up from his plate of scrambled eggs.
Vale leans back, pointing at me with his spoon. “My guess? It was an inside job. Perhaps... Victoria?”
I shake my head quickly. “No way. She’s ticked at me. I haven’t heard from her for two days.”
Brendan’s head snaps up, eyes locked on me. “What idiotic thing did you do this time?”
“Told her to go to Seattle,” I say. “And then said goodbye.”
All the heads at the table turn my way, incredulous.
“You. Did.What?” Tate asks, as if I’ve just committed a crime against humanity.
“She wasn’t going to leave, so I...” My voice falters as I look around the table. “What?” I shrug defensively.
Tate shakes his head, setting down his spoon like he’s launching into ayou should know betterlecture. “Look, I might not know much about women?—”
Brendan snorts. “Except fictional women in books.”
Tate frowns at Brendan. “Would you let me finish?” He turns back to me. “But I do know one thing—you don’t tell them what to do.”
Brax lifts an eyebrow. “Especially Victoria.”
“Exactly,” Tate says, pointing his spoon at me. “Every time I even think about telling Lauren the PR Queen what to do, she just...”
The door swings open, and Lauren strides into the house, carrying her signature travel mug and looking like a Harley Davidson model. She normally wears her hair back in a tight ponytail and a blazer, but today, she’s sporting a black leather motorcycle jacket, her hair loosely curled around her shoulders. She pauses, giving Tate a pointed look.
“She justwhat, Tate?” Lauren arches a perfectly sculpted brow as she perches a hand on her hip.
Tate stiffens, his spoon halfway to his mouth. “Uh, nothing. I was just saying how I admire your independence.”
Lauren smirks, clearly not buying it. “Good. Because the last man who thought he could tell me what to do is probably still googling how to write an apology.” Then she looks Tate over with a frown. “Are you ready for the photo shoot? You look kind of buttoned up in that shirt. We need to change that.” She takes her finger, and with one quick flick, opens the top button of his charcoal dress shirt. Then she squints one eye, assessing her work. “Better. Might have to undo a few more.”
Tate glances down at his shirt, and then back up at Lauren. “Do I have to actuallyridethe motorcycle?”
She rolls her eyes. “For the last time, yes. I didn’t bring my Harley over here for nothing.”
“Wait,Sheriffis riding a Harley?” Vale sputters through his laugh. “Is she trying to change your image from grumpy cop to biker dude? Good luck withthat.”
“It’s for social media,” Tate says glumly. “She’s trying to make me more...”
“Fun,” Lauren says succinctly with a gleam in her eye. “Come on, Sheriff, time to shake off that buttoned-up reputation of yours.”
Tate lets out a defeated sigh, muttering, “Pretty sure this is how bad decisions begin.”
Lauren tosses him a smile over her shoulder. “Only the fun ones. Now, follow me, we have work to do.”
Tate gathers his breakfast dishes, dropping them in the kitchen before following her. “Like I said, you can’t tell women what to do.”
Lauren stops in the door before she fixes her gaze on me. “Leo, for what it’s worth, PR’s not just about spin—it’s about timing. Don’t wait too long to talk with Victoria.” Then she lifts an eyebrow and heads out of the room.
Brendan leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “So, Ego, you told Victoria to leave, and now you’re sitting here eating cereal like that was a solid plan.”
“I’m not saying you’re an idiot, Leo, but...” Brax sets his coffee mug down and shakes his head. “Actually, no, that’sexactlywhat I’m saying.”
“Look, she wasn’t going to leave,” I argue, feeling like no one’s on my side. “She was going to stay for me, and I couldn’t let her do that.”
Vale raises an eyebrow. “So, instead of talking to her like a normal human being, you decided to martyr yourself and leave her with a weak ultimatum?”
