What You See (Sons of the Survivalist #3) - Cherise Sinclair Page 0,95
“Or is that only when the soldier is dead?”
Gabe scowled.
Bull blinked at the harshness of the comments delivered in soft female voices. But…when he sized up what he’d been doing from an outside point of view, well, yeah. He’d been screwed. By his brothers.
Dante shook his head. “He taught y’all better.”
“F—” Gabe cut the profanity short after a glance at Regan. “You’re right, Frankie. All of you. I’m sorry, Bull. Mako left the mission to all of us and that includes the properties—and the paperwork. Let’s figure out how to divide up the work.”
Audrey took Gabe’s hand and smiled her approval.
JJ raised her eyes at Caz…who gave a pitiful sigh before nodding in resignation. “Sí.”
A glimmer of hope rose inside Bull.
Frankie turned her gaze to Hawk who scowled, then sighed.
“Sorry, Bull.” Hawk rubbed the scar that pulled his lip slightly upward, then made a harsh sound. “If you keep the damned renters and buyers away from me, I’ll take over the maintenance and upgrades. I can deal with contractors and repair people. And Knox and Chevy, too. They’re okay.”
Damn, he’d never expected the hawk to step forward. “It’ll be a relief to get maintenance off my back,” Bull said. “You can take charge of all the physical upkeep.”
“Renters and buyers—give them to me and Caz,” Gabe said. “We’ll work out how to deal with appointments and showings and complaints.”
Caz nodded. “Sí, we can do that. We’re both on-call, anyway. If it’s repair problems, we’ll toss the problem to Hawk and his group.”
Hawk grunted his agreement.
Audrey tapped her lips as she thought. “You can give me the rental screenings and backgrounds. I can also take on the website and advertising.”
Bull frowned. “I can’t ask you to do—”
“Actually, you can.” Audrey’s voice quavered. “Being part of the family means pitching in.” She held up her hand and turned a ring around. A diamond glinted at them.
Silence fell as everyone stared at the engagement ring.
Then Regan squealed in delight and rushed around to hug Audrey. “Now, I’ll have an aunt!”
“’Mano, about time.” With a wide grin, Caz slapped Gabe on the back of the head, then pulled Audrey into a hug and told her, “He talked to us a while ago, but…he’s slow, the viejo is. He always has to think out his plan of action first.”
To Bull’s surprise, Hawk hugged Audrey, too, before shoving Gabe’s shoulder. “Took you long enough.”
Gabe laughed. “I asked her a few days ago. On the anniversary of our first meeting. It seemed…right.”
“Don’t diss romance.” Frankie’s sharp elbow impacted Bull’s ribs before she smiled at Audrey. “Was your first meeting amazing?”
Audrey burst out laughing. “He terrified me and then accused me of shoplifting.” She gave Gabe a scorching glare before kissing him. “But you’re my cop now.”
The love in her eyes sent a pang of envy through Bull’s heart. But, damn, he was glad his brother had found himself such a good woman. Someone to walk beside him, be with him for the long haul, and have his back when needed.
Bull pulled Audrey into a hearty hug. “Welcome to the family, champ.”
He felt her tears on his shirt—sentimental little female—and handed her back to Gabe.
As he sat down beside Frankie, she was wiping under her eyes.
Make that two sentimental females.
Slinging an arm around Frankie’s shoulders, he pulled her against his chest. And realized what she’d just done for him. Somehow, she’d saved him from death by paperwork by guilting his brothers into stepping up.
Last month, after Paisley’s diva-act in the roadhouse parking lot, Dante said a lover was like a teammate on steroids. He was beginning to see what the Okie meant.
“Are you all right?” Frankie asked softly.
He kissed her lightly. “Thanks for having my back. I might have retreated otherwise.”
“You probably would have,” she agreed. “Family expectations can mess a person up.”
Her tone wasn’t bitter, but…resigned. Unhappy.
Frowning, he rested his chin on her head and wondered what expectations her family was forcing her to fulfill.
Perhaps he should investigate—and see what he could do to intervene. Because damned if he wasn’t going to do his fucking best to keep her right here where she belonged.
He brushed his lips against hers and murmured in a voice for her ears only, “I love you, Frankie Bocelli.”
And saw her eyes light up.
Chapter Twenty
If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly. ~ David Hackworth
While Bull helped Hawk repair a lawn mower, Frankie joined Lillian and Audrey in the garden. The