Teague (The Family Simon 4)

“And?”

“And apparently the word on the street is that he’s offered you a gig to help produce and bring to life a news show that would air once a week and cover political and world issues. Real stripped down and gritty, from what I heard.”

“What of it?” Teague snapped, finishing his beer and slamming the mug down onto the table. He had no idea why he was angry, but he was. Holy hell was he. If his brother didn’t watch it, there would be entertainment in The Black Dog tonight—entertainment of the fighting kind.

“Are you considering it?” Tucker asked.

Teague stared into his empty beer. He let the sounds of the bar soothe him—funny how noise could quiet his head—and then with a sigh, he pushed the mug away. “I might be.”

“So I was right.” Tucker’s grin made Teague want to smash his fist and ruin that pretty face. “The fact that you’re considering a gig that keeps you here and out of danger tells me something.”

“Oh yeah? What would that be?”

“You’ve finally found the one thing that you’ve been searching for your entire life and it’s not a story or some Seal mission that could get your ass blown off. It’s a woman and she’s up north and probably pissed that you’ve been gone for months.”

Teague opened his mouth to let his brother have it. He wanted to tell him that in no way did this potential career change have anything to do with Sabrina. Hell, it’s not as if he’d gone looking for it. It had landed in his lap and after his initial reluctance, he’d run with it. He’d negotiated a job that would let him work from home. A job that would require him to travel to New York City once a month for three days of taping.

It was a job that had stability and would challenge him. It was a job that meant a normal life.

All he had to do was sign the contract. And up until this very moment, he hadn’t realized how badly he wanted this. Normal. Him. Teague Simon

But only if he could do it with Sabrina.

“Shit,” he muttered.

“Guess you’ve got some work to do brother,” Tucker said with a grin.

That, Teague thought, was an understatement.

He grabbed his cellphone once more, and there was no hesitation. He waited and swore when her damn voicemail came on, but this time he didn’t hang up. He left a message.

“I’m back and coming for you.”

It was simple and direct. And God help anyone who got in his way.

Chapter Twenty-four

The doorbell rang out, its shrill sound waking the dog, which immediately jumped to his feet and ran toward the house.

Oh God. Here we go.

“Good Lord, Bingo,” Sabrina said, wiping her hands on the front of her jeans. “Can we tone it down please?”

The dog was now thirty-five pounds of golden brown and white fur. But its bark belonged on a ninety-five pound dog. At least.

Sabrina rubbed Bingo’s head as she hopped onto the deck and headed into the century-old house she now called home. By the time she reached the foyer, the door was opening and she smiled when she spied Allie.

“You have to finish these because I already ate a carton.”

Allie shoved a half-eaten takeout container of poutine into Sabrina’s hands and sailed past her. The French Canadian dish wasn’t exactly healthy, but who could resist the best French fries in town, smothered in cheese curds and hot gravy?

Sabrina popped one into her mouth and followed her friend back outside into the yard.

“Oh my God, your fall mums are gorgeous.”

Allie walked over to the array of bronze, orange, and red mums. “You have a green thumb, that’s for sure.”

Sabrina came up beside her and shrugged. “I’m not responsible for these guys. They came with the house.”