The Wrong Man (Alpha Men 3)

“I won’t.”

“Brand, look, I’m—”

“Thank you.” His voice brooked no argument and she nodded before retreating through the back door.

Sam glared at the plate of half-eaten eggs and bacon in front of him, his appetite completely gone. The woman was a total viper. He didn’t understand how she could be related to Daisy and Dahlia.

“Promise me you’ll think about it,” Aisha urged, and Lia stared at the woman, still a little stunned by the offer that she’d been presented with.

“Oh, I’ll do more than think about it,” Lia said with an incredulous shake of her head. “Aisha, this is . . . I can’t tell you . . .” Abruptly overcome with emotion, Lia dropped her head into her hands and drew in a shuddering breath. She felt the other woman’s arm circle her hunched shoulders and squeeze.

“Don’t be silly, Lia, you have to know how much we—I—value you. And with you aiming to gain your BEd, it makes sense all round,” she said, but her brusque voice had a telltale wobble in it. Aisha knew, better than Lia’s own family, how lost she had felt since her engagement had ended. Lia had once, in a fit of depression and hopelessness, confided her feelings of inadequacy to Aisha. Soon after that, Aisha had started asking Lia to unofficially substitute for a couple of hours here and there. Getting a second chance at a career was priceless and gave her even greater incentive to complete her degree.

“Thank you,” Lia whispered fiercely and wrapped her friend’s pregnant bulk into a tight hug. The baby kicked in protest, and both women laughed. Lia stepped back and wiped her face self-consciously.

“I think you’re late for your lunch,” Aisha gently reminded her, and Lia nodded before reaching over to hug her again, this time a little gentler.

“I’ll call you later,” Lia said. Lia couldn’t wait to tell Daff her news. She couldn’t remember being more excited.

Her sister was waiting for her already, and because of her excitement, Lia didn’t initially notice her sister’s dark mood.

“Oh my gosh! Guess what, Daff!” she said as she sat down across from her sister.

“They finally cured assholitis?”

“No!” Lia squealed, before registering her words. “What?”

“Nothing, sorry. Forget about it. What has you so excited?”

“Aisha wants me to start working at the preschool again. After the vacation.” Most of the schools had closed for a short first quarter break just that day, the preschool included. “Just half a day, twice a week for now, but it pays a small salary, and she eventually wants to offer me a full-time job as a caregiver, but of course she can’t do that until I have a BEd.”

“You already knew that,” Daff pointed out, confused.

“Yes, but I always thought I’d have to leave Riversend to find work, but Aisha wants to spend less hours at work after the baby’s born and Tumi is leaving at the end of the year, so there’ll be a position for me.”

“Yeah, but you can’t really fill Tumi or Aisha’s positions until you graduate.”

“I know that, but they won’t replace Tumi, so the other ladies and I will pick up the slack.”

“It’ll take at least four years,” Daff reminded, clearly playing the devil’s advocate.

“Actually,” Lia said with a shy smile, “it’ll only take about three. I’ve been doing an online degree.”

Daff looked at her for a beat and then squealed. “Oh my God, you’re such a secretive little cow! Why didn’t you tell anyone? How long have you been doing this?”

“I’ve just started my second year,” she admitted, and her smile widened when Daff squealed again. “I should have done this years ago, Daff. It’s a calling. I just kept putting it off and expecting other things to fulfill and enrich my life. I should never have done that. I study at night and on weekends. I have money saved, Grammy and Grampa’s trust, and with the extra I’ll now be earning with this job, I can actually afford to rent Daisy’s house . . . after you move out, of course. Or maybe we can be roomies.”

Daff jumped up and rounded the table to give her a hug. Then she summoned Suzy over.

“We’re celebrating, Suzy! Some bubbly, if you please. And not the cheap stuff, either! We’re going to do this in style.” Lia laughed at her sister’s infectious happiness and felt silly for not telling Daff about the degree sooner.

“You should have told us—why didn’t you?” her sister asked after sitting back down, and Lia shrugged uncomfortably.

“I don’t know. After things ended with Clayton, I wanted to do something just for me. And I suppose I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Know what I mean? I didn’t want to share it with anyone. Not yet.”

“Silly. We would have been nothing but happy for you.”