But he did, actually. Which is what brought him here, only Loy
al wasn’t here, and he wasn’t responding to his text.
A rap on the driver’s side window made him flinch. He turned to see Grayson standing beside his SUV, his German Shepherd service dog, Remy, at his side. Before the window rolled all the way down, his brother grumbled, “What in the world could possibly have you looking like someone shot your dog?”
The shepherd lifted her head at the word dog, her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth as she stayed attentive to her owner’s needs.
“I had a job interview this morning.”
“Didn’t go well?”
“Not so much. And I’m down to only a couple dollars cash since Dad cut me off two weeks ago.”
His brother’s dark eyebrows rose. Merit was a bit surprised himself that he’d come out with that so candidly. Maybe he hoped this brother would understand his situation, given he’d grown up without the Diamond name and money. Judging by his truck, he seemed to still live as if he was down to his last dime despite working with millions to open the veterans foundation.
“Problem is,” Merit continued, “no one wants to hire me without experience. But I can’t get experience if no one will hire me.”
Grayson’s gaze narrowed as he crossed his arms. “Sorry, man, but I can’t give you a job here.”
So much for understanding.
“I wasn’t asking,” he retorted defensively. But then he thought better of it. “What if I volunteered to get some experience?”
His brother shook his head, not an ounce of sympathy in sight. “Companies are looking for months or even years of experience, not a couple days. And my guys don’t have time to babysit you.”
He grit his teeth to keep from telling him to fuck off.
“Have your new sister-in-law pull a few strings with her friend who owns that construction company.”
Merit scoffed. “If my own brothers won’t give me a shot, I doubt Honor would find enough stings to pull on her end. Besides which, I’m not asking Mae for a job.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Grayson advised stiffly. “You got a problem working for a woman?”
“I got a problem begging the woman I slept with at Asher’s wedding and who’s now pregnant with my baby to give me a job.”
Grayson blinked and lifted his eyebrows, then turned his head to gaze off toward the Rockies. Merit got the impression the sonofabitch was trying not to smile.
When he looked back, he let loose a sigh. “How many places have you applied at?”
“I sent my resume to at least two dozen places the past two weeks. I got thank you but no thank you from every single one, including the interview this morning.”
His brother nodded sagely. “What do you have that you can sell?”
Sell? Huh. He hadn’t really thought of that.
“How about some artwork?”
“What?” He jerked his head toward Grayson, his heart thumping hard in his chest. How in the hell would he know about his art?
“You know, paintings, sculptures. That kind of crap.”
Okay, so he didn’t know, but…crap? He clenched his jaw and released. “No. No paintings.”
“I thought all you rich guys had useless shit like that in your McMansions.”
Merit forced a tight smile. “Nope.”
“All right then.” His gaze slid down and along the length of the SUV. “How many cars you got?”