CHAPTER 22
Zane opened the door and walked into the GAPS D.C. office. Closing the door behind him, he stopped and took it all in.
A lot had happened since that day he signed the lease two months ago. He'd been shot. He'd recovered. He'd hired an office manager, then gotten back to work, taking on assignments.
And most importantly, during the time that had passed he'd lost his mind and planned a damned surprise wedding, which happened to be scheduled for this very weekend.
He blew out a breath, trying to wrap his head around that.
“You all right?” Chelsea asked, glancing up from her desk.
“Yeah. Just still amazed at how great it looks in here.” He admitted to a partial truth rather than admit he was scared shit Missy would say no.
The pretty blonde office manager laughed. “Zane, it's been furnished for weeks. You're not used to it yet?”
“Getting there. But even when I'm used to it, it won't mean I'll stop being impressed with all the work you did to get it into shape on your own.”
Chelsea shrugged. “It was fun. I enjoyed spending your money.” She grinned. “But seriously, I'm glad you like it.”
“I love it.” He noticed the time on the old wooden schoolhouse clock on the wall. The newest addition to the décor had appeared a couple of days ago. Apparently the interior design was a work in progress. Chelsea wasn't joking when she said she enjoyed doing it. “It's after five. What are you still doing here?”
“I had to work with one of the new West Coast operatives. Help him fill out his expense report. I was just finishing up.”
Jon and his reports. For a man who hated all the red tape in the Navy, he sure embraced the concept of the expense report just fine in their company.
Zane nodded his head. “Gotcha.”
“But I'm done so if there's nothing else . . .”
“Nope. You can take off.”
“All right then.” She smiled, stood and grabbed her bag and jacket. “See you Monday.”
Chelsea opened the door just as Brent's bulk filled the opening. “Oh, excuse me.” She shot Zane a questioning glance.
“You can go. He’s a friend.”
She nodded and with a little wave was gone.
“Wow. Who was that?” Brent's eyes widened as his gaze followed the path she'd taken across the street before he finally closed the door.
“That's my office manager, so hands off.” Zane made sure he imbued his tone with exactly how serious he was about the matter, just in case his words didn't make it through his friend's lust-filled head.
He frowned. “What? Why?”
“Why?” Zane laughed. “Because I don't want you doing your infamous date-and-dump and make her quit on me. She’s good and I don't want to have to replace her.”
“Fine.” Brent scowled. “And for your information, I don't date and dump anymore.”
Zane laughed. “And for your information, I don't believe you.”
“Fine. But you'll see. I’ll prove it to you.”
“How? You going to be around here more often?”
“Good chance. We're acquiring a small publishing house in the area and we're thinking about keeping the location open. And if we do that, we'll need someone here to run it.”
“And that someone might be you?” Zane asked.
Brent tipped his head. “Very likely.”
“So you'd move here?”
“Probably. If it all works out. Yeah. At least part time.”
“I'd like having an old friend nearby.”
“Yeah, I wouldn't mind it either. Even if the old friend is you.” Brent grinned.
“Hey.” Zane delivered a punch to Brent's shoulder.
He frowned and rubbed the spot. “Hey, yourself. And no fair punching me when I can't punch back.”
“Who says?”
“Uh, the gunshot wound to your gut.”
“It was in my side and I'm fine. Perfectly healed. I promise.”
“Yeah, well I'm not going to be on the hook for damaging you before your wedding. Your bride-to-be might take offense at that.”
“I truly hope she is my bride-to-be.”
Brent eyed Zane closely. “So you weren't shitting me? This wedding you invited me to really is a surprise?”
“No, I wasn't shitting you, and yes it really is a surprise.”
“Wow.”
Zane laughed at his friend's expression. “And yeah, I know it's nuts. I might have lost my mind but I'm in too deep now to back out. The country club is booked and paid for. The dress is bought and fitted. Flowers ordered. Guests are arriving.”
Zane indicated Brent, the first out of town guest to arrive, and shook his head. So many people going out of their way for an event that might end up not happening.
Christ. Zane ran his hand over his face. “A surprise wedding. What the hell was I thinking? I must be crazy. This is nuts.”
Brent laid one hand on his shoulder. “Cold feet?”
“No, not cold feet.” He wanted to marry Missy more than anything. But jeez he'd gone about this in a fucked up way. “I'm afraid she'll walk out of this wedding and not marry me.”
“What are you worried about? You proposed and she said yes, right?”
“Not exactly.” Zane brought his gaze to meet Brent’s. “I proposed and she said no.”
Brent’s brows shot up high.
Zane continued, “There were extenuating circumstances at the time.”
“So this isn't just a surprise wedding. It's a surprise proposal too?” Brent asked.
“Yup.”
Brent drew in a breath. “All right. Yeah. You probably should be nervous.”
“Thanks, bud.” Zane rolled his eyes at his friend’s lack of support.
“Come on. Don’t worry. Seriously. It really is a nice gesture. Very romantic.”
“You really think so?”
“Yeah, sure. Hell, I'd marry you.” Brent delivered a crooked grin.
Zane laughed. “I might take you up on that if she says no.”
He'd spent months putting together this wedding with the help of his mother, Missy's parents and Amelia. If Missy said no in front of dozens of people . . . he couldn't even think about it.
Zane drew in a big breath and let it out.
He needed a distraction and a change of subject. “So how'd it go with your cousin in Cali?” He hadn't gotten to catch up with Brent to follow up on the aftermath of the case.
“She screamed. She yelled. Basically saying how could I not trust her and her judgment? How dare I investigate him? How dare I involve you, a stranger to her, in her personal business?”
Zane cringed. “Damn. Sorry.”
“Nah, it worked out okay.”
“How?”
“I gave her the address of the coffee shop and told her to see for herself. She did and though I haven't gotten an I'm sorry yet, she hasn't brought up the subject again. So I'm calling it a win.”
Zane agreed. “Sounds good to me. Glad it worked out for you.”
He could only hope this weekend would work out as well for him.
Brent raised an arm and squeezed Zane's shoulder once again. “It's going to be all right.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.” Brent sighed. “But I know this. There's a bar a block away and I'm buying. Hell, we can even call it a bachelor party if you want.”
Missy was getting her nails and hair done with Amelia—all under the guise of a bridal party get-together.
Zane nodded. “Yeah. I can definitely get away.”
Alcohol might be the only thing to calm his nerves—other than a yes from Missy—but he could only get one of those things right now so he turned toward the door. “Let’s go.”