“I know nothing.”
“Robbie’s little sister, who’s also a very good friend of mine, is married to Declan Collins.”
She scoots back, breaking our connection, and looks at me with complete shock. “Declan Collins of Sayge? Robbie’s sister is Ravenel Hayes, the woman hated and loved throughout the music community a few years ago?”
“Yeah, that’s her. But most of that was complete bullshit. She’s a normal girl. Grew up with all of us and has a crazy group of friends that all live here now. You’ll understand when you meet her. The fame hasn’t gone to her head at all.”
“So when Jenna mentioned at the symphony event that her son-in-law was a musician, she was being modest?”
“No, she was telling the truth. He’s a musician.”
Her body language changes immediately, and I can tell by her expression she’s uncomfortable.
“He’s more than a musician
,” she mutters, breaking our gaze and looking blankly at the play area.
My phone dings with a text, and I curse when I read Robbie’s message.
Robbie: We need you at the office. You out of class yet?
Me: At Chick-fil-A. Bad time
Robbie: EMOP.
Fuck! Now is not the time for an Emergency Operation Plan. I have my own impending situation with Presley and the way she’s staring silently into space.
Me: Not a good time. Don’t even have a car.
Robbie: I’ll come get you. Trust me this is important. Text me location.
“Shit!”
“What’s wrong?”
“We need to order, babe. I have to go into work. Robbie’s on his way to get me.”
“Work tonight?”
“EMOP— Emergency Operation Plan. We have a situation.”
Her face pales, and I realize I’m going to have to have this talk with her sooner rather than later.
“You do a lot more than security systems and corporate security, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
She swallows hard, and her eyes dart between me and Winnie, who’s on the slide, waving.
This is a fucking disaster. I planned to explain my job in a little more private setting. Ideally, with her in my arms, so she had no choice but to listen.
I know she’s delicate and has reservations about taking risks. This was obvious without her dad filling me in. My being included on her nights with Winnie after knowing me for such a short time is a big deal.
So telling her the extent of my job with Hayes Security is going to take some finesse.
“We’ll talk about it tonight. I’ll be over after we finish. You can ask me whatever you want.”
“Tonight’s not good. I have that conference call early in the morning.”