asked.
Saint scoffed, but I couldn’t quite meet his gaze.
“Well, I got three job offers.” I spoke almost apologetically, as if I was somehow betraying my family by not just joining Saint’s firm, and Nico took hold of my hand under the table, pushing courage into me through his fingers entwined with mine.
When I glanced at him, though, his face was an unreadable mask, and he appeared to be holding his breath. He and Saint had been the first law firm to offer me a job when I showed them my letter of intent so they could help me fine-tune it for my other applications.
Dad watched me thoughtfully. “And? Have you made a decision? It must be good to be so sought after. The world’s your oyster today, Jamie.”
Nico squeezed my fingers again, and a thread of tension leaked from him.
I nodded. “It’s been a hard decision.” Everyone was still watching me and listening to me speak. “I mean, brothers aren’t always the best option in life, you know? And family politics… Well, sometimes, it’s better to have complete separation of work and personal life. Mom and Kairo know this, right? I mean, Mom was clever enough to retire so she wouldn’t have to work with Kairo in any capacity.”
Kairo muffled a laugh.
“So, I thought it should be kind of the same for me. New challenges, new opportunities, fresh faces.”
Nico’s fingers slackened a little, and I hurried to finish.
“But then I realized those aren’t the most important things. What matters is a good company ethos, care of clients, loyalty. And I’ve already experienced all of those things at Caldwell & Holton. So yes, please.” I grinned at Saint then at Nico. “I’d like to accept a job at the firm where my name is already on the wall.”
Nico grabbed me into a hug, and Saint walked around to stand behind me.
He clasped my shoulder, his grip firm. “Good choice, little brother,” he murmured.
“You guys are just too easy to tease.” Happy tears gathered in my eyes as someone popped a champagne cork. Nothing felt as good as being with my family.
A look passed between Nico and Saint, and Saint clapped my shoulder again before heading to help Dad pour more champagne.
A flicker of uncertainty passed across Nico’s face, and he rubbed the back of his neck. Then he cleared his throat. “I’ve just got one quick thing to say.” He addressed the whole table. “I’ve actually been waiting for the right time to do this, and now feels pretty good.”
He slid from his chair to finish on his knee in front of me.
Mom gasped, and her hand fluttered at the base of her throat.
Nico looked up at me. “I don’t really have a whole speech prepared, except to say I love you more than you can possibly know, and you make me proud every single day. I’d be truly honored if you’d consent to be my husband. Jamie Caldwell, will you marry me?”
I couldn’t even hear my own thoughts above the excited chatter in the room, and I trembled as if all the heat had just left my body. I couldn’t believe it. I’d passed the bar, accepted a job and received a marriage proposal—all in about ten minutes.
“Are you… Are you…joking?” I kept my voice low as anxiety wound a tight coil around me. It just seemed so much that I didn’t deserve.
“No, of course not.” Nico’s eyes shone as he looked at me. “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Let’s show the whole world.”
Elation claimed me, spiraling euphoria through my whole body, and my eyes brimmed with more happy tears.
I opened my mouth to speak, but I almost couldn’t make the words come out past the emotion tightening my throat. “Yes,” I blurted. “Yes, please. Nothing would make me happier.”
And as Nico held me in his arms, and I sat at a table surrounded by my family, I wanted nothing more.
28
Jamie
Three Months Later – March
I bustled from my new office at Caldwell & Holton. Nico had said I could decorate it however I liked, and I looked forward to stamping my personality on the glass-fronted, closet-sized space. I was kind of waiting to see what my personal taste was, though. I didn’t think it was quite Saint’s urge to surround himself with luxury and faux touches of old money, but neither was it Nico’s economical Scandi look.
Still—I paused and looked back though the door—I had time to get settled.
“Hi, Carter.” I