Polished Rust (Wilkins Brothers Book #4)

Chapter 19

ROSEMARY

“Hey gorgeous, how was your drive?”

Hearing Tate’s voice, even just over the phone, was exactly what the doctor ordered after a long day of driving. “I don’t know why, but it seemed like a longer drive than to get to Arizona to begin with.”

“Probably because you didn’t want to go back there.”

“You’re right. I need to do this though.” I lay back into my bed and sigh, “I’m meeting with the moving company tonight at the house. I’m super stressed trying to figure out what to keep and what can stay.”

“Is Mercy going with you?”

“Yeah, I need her to decide what she does or doesn’t want. I might have them do her room last so she can pack stuff there tomorrow. It is all a lot to get done so we can get back.”

“I’m glad you’re coming back.” I smile at Tate’s vulnerability. I’ve had the chance to see it more and more over the time we’ve had together. He’s got layers that I don’t think many people realize. Even when I first met him I thought he was just a manwhore who was looking for one night of hot sex. I mean, that definitely happened, but now I see more of him. He has a caring and protective aspect to him. He also shows me the fear that lives within him. We’re both scared of this pull we have to each other. I’m just glad he isn’t pulling away.

“What have you been doing today? Did you cry because I was gone?”

Tate chuckles on his end of the line, “I’ve been a mess all day. I’m currently binge-watching rom-coms thinking about you.”

“Figured.”

“Actually, I managed to get some work done today, and then Nico and I went out to the field to test out his airplane.”

“No way! How did that go?”

“It took flight. I never doubted that it would.” Pride filled his response, another layer to Tate. Nico spent almost all his free time the last two weeks in the shop with the guys working on this plane. Tate told me this was just one of the many projects they’ve done over the years. You would almost think he was talking about his own child and not just a nephew.

“I bet that was exciting for him. Maybe he can show me when we get back.”

“You’d want to see that?”

“Why are you so shocked? You spent the last two weeks telling me about this model plane.”

“I just didn’t realize it would be something you cared about.”

“I care about a lot of things that go on with you, Tate.”

He takes a deep breath into the phone, “I really miss you, Rosemary. I wish I would have gone along with you so you could get back here even sooner.”

“You have your own life, Tate. It’ll only be a couple of days. Even Mercy doesn’t want to spend too much time here. I just think it brings back too many emotions for her.”

“I can imagine that. You know you can call me if either of you needs anything, right?”

“Yeah, we’ve been through this a couple of times already.”

“Watch your attitude, girly. I don’t deal well with sassy girls.”

“Oh yeah, what do you do with them.”

I hear a growl on his end and he lowers his voice, “Don’t go there, gorgeous. Not when you’re not here to help with anything that happens to pop up.”