“Is he okay?” Garrett asked, his whole body tightening. Aidan was in constant danger over there.
“He’s fine, but you know.”
No, he didn’t know. He waited for more, silent.
“Your mom used to say you’re only as happy as your least-happy child.”
Many times, he thought. It had been his mother’s mantra. “So Aidan’s not happy?”
“He’s in a war zone,” Dad said simply.
“He could get out, you know,” Garrett said. “He’s hitting ten years.”
Dad snorted. “I know. And I reminded him how much he’s needed here.”
“What did he say?”
“He didn’t commit. But…” His father heaved a sigh. “A good buddy of his was badly injured in a skirmish last week, and it crushed him.”
Garrett closed his eyes, hurting for his little brother and fearing for him.
“Who got crushed?” Another man’s voice came from the hall, along with heavy, booted footsteps. Thank God, it was Shane.
“Aidan called,” Dad said. “He’s alive and safe, which is all that matters.”
Shane’s wide shoulders slumped as he walked in the door. “Wish that little bastard would come home.”
“He’s not a bastard,” Dad corrected.
“And he’s not little,” Garrett added. “When are you leaving for DC?” he asked Shane. “I need to talk to you.”
“I just got your text. I’m leaving now, actually.” He frowned at Garrett but instantly crouched down to greet Rusty with two hands. “Hey, big boy. Why aren’t you over in the kennels, Garrett? There’s a class getting assigned their training dogs any minute.”
“Do you remember Jessie Curtis, Molly’s friend when she was young?”
Shane screwed up his features. “Whippet Legs? Didn’t you feel her up once?”
Garrett shut his eyes in disgust.
“Well, don’t deny it, dude.”
“When did this happen?” Dad demanded, a flash in his eyes.
“A thousand years ago,” Garrett replied.
Dad gave him another good, long look. “So that’s why you don’t want her here. You have a little history.”
“Very little, and that’s not the reason.”
Dad pushed up from his seat, ending the conversation. “I know all I need to know. I have a meeting in town, and Shane, you better get on the road if you’re going to make it to the DOD this afternoon. They could be a big training client, Son.”#p#分页标题#e#
Dad came around his massive desk and put a hand on Shane’s shoulder on the way out. “Talk some sense into your younger brother here.” With a gentle pat on the back, he left the two men alone, his footsteps fading as he walked down the hall, Rusty hot on his heels.
“What sense do you need?” Shane asked.
“Common. Jessie Curtis is a journalist,” Garrett informed his brother through clenched teeth. Only Shane would know exactly why that was an issue. “She writes tell-all exposés for that ITAL site. Inside the A List or some such crap.”
“They have a TV show, too,” Shane said. “Biopics. I saw one on this hedge-fund billionaire who inherited a winery in Italy from his dead dad, and by the end, the guy was bawling like a baby because he met the love of his life. You should totally do that.”
“Are you out of your flipping mind? Or have you forgotten what we went through in Seattle?”
Shane thought about that, stabbing his fingers into his short brown hair and dragging it back. “Look, she’d have to be Pulitzer Prize quality to dig up your dirt. I made sure of that when I handled the legalities. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Garrett stood. “Too late. I am. And Dad thinks a great story about me is going to mitigate the lingering effects of that Forbes story.”
“He might be right, but I think that’s ancient history. It’d be good PR for Waterford.”
“Also what Dad said.”
“I say do the interview. You know what she doesn’t know, and that gives you the upper hand.”
Garrett rolled his eyes. “Says the lawyer.”
“Says anyone with a brain. Haven’t you ever heard that you catch more flies with honey?”
“I’m not trying to catch anything.”
Shane hooted softly as they headed out. “No? Well, if she’s the one I saw out in the field, she looks good. From a distance.”
“She looks good close up.”
“Then I’m right. You should catch that honey and count your blessings.”
“She’s a journalist, Shane. You know why that could be a problem. I don’t care about me, but there are other people involved.”