“Tell her we’ll be right there.”
Although she wasn’t a full partner, Bri had a definite say in how things ran around here. If something went wrong, she sorted out the issue.
“We’re wanted in the conference room. Apparently Bri’s called a meeting.” Austin pushed up from his chair.
“Any idea what she wants?” Marcus asked.
He shook his head. “Not a clue but we might as well go find out.”
He headed for the conference room, Marcus right behind him, stepped inside, and heard, “Surprise!”
Blinking into the bright room, he realized the entire staff was present, along with his family. In the corners, gold and white balloons decorated the room, and a large cake sat on the rectangular gleaming wood table.
“What is all this?” he asked, confused. It wasn’t his birthday.
Bri sidled up beside him, her long blonde hair pulled into a bun at the back of her head. “Today is one year since the kidney transplant. A year since you saved Uncle Paul’s life.”
Paul Dare walked up to him, looking healthy, his skin tanned, his eyes clear and gleaming. “Thank you … son.”
Everyone in this room knew the word son meant so much more to both than a random term of endearment. When Jesse Prescott, the man who’d raised them as his own, hadn’t been able to have children, Austin’s mother, Christine, had turned to her best friend since childhood to help her via sperm donation. Her gay best friend. The man she’d been in love with but couldn’t have. To say it had been a shock was an understatement.
“You’re welcome,” Austin said to Paul, who he still called uncle.
Austin pulled the older man into a brief hug before releasing him. “Any chance you and Ron will come to Allstars tonight? Marcus and I are going.”
“I’ll be there,” Bri chimed in.
“We’ll try. Ron’s been sick this week. I’ll see if he’s feeling up to it,” Paul said of his long-time partner, Ron Mayburn. Another Prescott family friend who’d been loyal to them for years.
“Give him my best and don’t push him if he’s not up to it. And let’s do dinner soon. The three of us,” Austin said.
“Sounds good.” Paul smiled. “So what about you? When are you going to settle down?”
Austin grimaced at the thought. “I like my life the way it is, thank you very much.”
“Really? You like going home alone at night to a house that echoes because it’s so big but empty? Ordering in dinner? Eating by yourself?” Paul lowered his voice so they wouldn’t be overheard.
“Whoa, what is with the third degree?” Austin asked, surprised.
“I just worry about all of you. Single. Alone. Even your mother seems open to a new relationship, but you kids?” He shook his head. “I just want the best for you.”
One look into his serious indigo eyes and Austin knew they were related. It was a miracle none of them had caught on sooner, but then no one ever had a reason to assume they weren’t Jesse Prescott’s children by blood.
“Well, trust me, I’m not always lonely.” Austin winked at his uncle, unwilling to admit that just maybe the truth hit a little close to home. But not enough to consider settling down any time soon. If anything, he was now even more determined to get laid and get rid of this annoying desire for someone he couldn’t admit to clawing at him inside.
“I’m always here if you need me,” Paul said before turning to talk to one of the agents in the office.
Letting out a breath, Austin took a minute to just be before he made the rounds as well, thanking everyone for showing up for this impromptu party.
Before he could begin, Quinn came up to him, a warm smile on her beautiful face. “I know I’ve said it before, but you did a wonderful thing for Paul and for your family,” she said, her green eyes shining with admiration.
Her approval meant something to him he couldn’t quite name, but her praise also made him uncomfortable. “I just did what anyone would do.” He shifted on his feet.
She shook her head, a wry smile lifting her lips. “That’s what makes what you did so special. You really believe it was no big deal.” She reached up and patted his cheek, obviously meaning it to be a friendly tap, but their eyes met and her touch lingered.
With her soft hand against his face, he wanted nothing more than to grab her wrist, pull her close, and kiss her … again. Since the yearning had been building for a year, and knowing he was no longer incapacitated by surgery, their union wouldn’t be soft and sweet, either.
A loud laugh broke the silence. Cheeks flushed, Quinn stepped back and turned away, walked to the table, and began cutting the cake, head down, not meeting his gaze.