Polished Rust (Wilkins Brothers Book #4)

Chapter 38

ROSEMARY

"Vincent Garner, CEO of Roland Inc. was taken into custody this morning. He is being held on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion. Lawyers from Roland Inc. have not returned our request for more information at this time. We will have more information on this developing story when it becomes available."

I’ve watched the clip a dozen times this morning. Roland Inc. isn’t a world-renowned company so the report is coming directly from a Las Vegas news site and nothing local to here in Arizona. My heart aches right now, I think about all the people that were working for that company and what it means for them. I have so many questions and not enough answers.

“Babe?” Tate shows up in the bedroom doorway, looking as scrumptious as always. From the looks of it, he just got out of the hot tub. The way his wet hair falls over his face and the drops of water accentuate his muscles almost makes me forget the cluster fuck that is going on in my head.

“Hey!” I turn off my phone and toss it across the bed. He strides over and takes a seat next to me. “What’s going on? You’re not wearing your sling.”

“Having a good day today. Look what I can do.” Tate moves his arm around to show off how well he’s doing after surgery and recovery. 

“I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks for your support. I can tell that there wasn’t an ounce of sarcasm at all.”

“Of course not!”

“How are you feeling about everything with the company and Vinnie?”

“Shitty as fuck. I feel like I should be doing something, but at the same time I just want to step away from everything.”

“Mmhmm,” Tate slides closer to me and presses his lips gently against my shoulder. “Tell me what you’re feeling. You know I’ll support you with whatever you want to do. I sure as fuck don’t want you to move back, but if that is what you want to do.”

“Oh, hell no. I have a lot of questions, but I’m certainly not questioning if I want to be here or not. This is home, Tate. With you and Mercy in this home.”

“Then what is going on? I know it is hard, but try to explain it to me. I’m all ears and no judgement, I swear.”

“I was up so late last night thinking if there was a way to step up and run the company, but do it from here. With all the new technology, I could probably pull it off, but is that what I want? In addition, if I bring Roland Inc. back, what does that mean for the body shop?”

“Babe,” he tilts my chin in his direction, “I don’t want you to make choices based on the garage. We’re good with how things are being run.”

“It’s so easy for you to say that, but you don’t see where I am coming from. I don’t know if my heart is in running that company. I really enjoy the way I’ve been working with Gruff and putting together a business plan. Not to mention, the four of you have all been so willing to listen and consider my input.”

“That’s because we value you.”

“And that’s priceless to me. That’s the other half of my brain, Roland’s is in my past, maybe I should just keep it there. It hurts to see it go and my heart breaks for those who might lose their jobs, but I know it isn’t my responsibility.”

“I think your heart is in the right place. You’re thinking selflessly, but it is also okay to be selfish. That’s really fucking selfish of me, but I have no shame being selfish.” He rolls over in a quick motion and pins me under him, dropping kisses on my neck and down my collarbone.