“Jesus, have you even thought of how Taylor would react to living in Treepoint? I haven’t been there but, from the pictures I’ve seen, I don’t see her wanting to live there for the next year.”
“She will.”
“You sure about that, brother? You’re expecting a lot from a woman you just asked to marry you.”
Gavin might not be confident that Taylor would want to move to Treepoint, but he was confident that she wouldn’t want him to spend the year away from her. She had texted him dozens of times since he’d been gone, and that was just two days.
“She will.”
“Brother, you’re heading for a fall. I’m telling you, she won’t.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Viper turned back to his desk, his anger palpable in the room. “Yes, we will.”
Gavin jerked the door open, went outside, then slammed it behind him.
His brother had to learn that he was capable of holding his own without having him constantly in his crosshairs. Even when they were in the service, Viper remained active until he decided to leave. That he remained with the unit when he was needed was another bone of contention with them. And the older Viper got, the more overprotective he became. He trusted his judgment where the club money was concerned, but not his safety. He also didn’t extend the same understanding that Gavin didn’t need his constant advice where his personal life was concerned.
Whether Viper liked it or not, Gavin was determined to be the one to go to Treepoint. He would get the factory built and help Lucky discover exactly how the drugs were moving through the tiny town. When he was done, Viper would realize his little brother was able to hold his own without any help from him.
I’m fucking going to do it, Gavin swore mentally to himself. Even if it kills me.
Chapter Nine
“There’s no way I’m going to a hick town where I can’t find a job.” Taylor shoved him off her naked body when he was finally able to get his breath back after the marathon sex they had just finished and tell her they would be opening the factory in Kentucky.
“We don’t know that.”
“It took me six months to find the job I have now. Does Treepoint even have a hospital?”
Gavin raised up on his elbows, watching as she angrily wrapped a silky housecoat around her. “I’m sure they do.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going.”
“If we moved to Florida or Texas, you would have to leave your job.”
“I’m willing to leave it for a bigger hospital; I’m not going to take a step back on my career, Gavin. I won’t do it.”
“As a pharmacist, you can find a job anywhere. It only took you six months after you graduated because you were being too picky.”
“That’s right, I was, and I’m not going to apologize for it. I have thousands of dollars in student loans to pay off, and until I do, the only thing that will get me to leave is if you pay them off.”
“I don’t have that kind of money. I sunk the last of my money into the factory. I told you, once I can, I will.”
“Until then, I’m staying put.” Taylor went to her nightstand and picked up a hairband to pull her hair back. “Do you even want to marry me?”
He felt guilty when he saw her quivering bottom lip as she sat down on the side of the bed.
Rising, he scooted across the bed to hold her. “You know I do.”
“Then why are you putting up this roadblock?”
“How’s it a roadblock? We can get married anytime you want.”
“How can we get married if we can’t agree where to live? I was willing to marry you when you said we could end up in Florida or Texas. Why can’t you give an inch for me when I say I won’t move to Kentucky?”
Gavin wanted Taylor to say she would be willing to go wherever he wanted. That she wouldn’t, he couldn’t blame her. He was asking her to pick up her life to move to a place that was nowhere on the horizon when he asked her to marry him.
“When were you thinking about setting the date for the wedding?”
“I was planning on talking to you about it tonight; now you’ve spoiled it.”
“I’m sorry.” Gavin curved his hand around her neck. “Babe, forget about Treepoint and the factory. When do you want to get married?”
She laid her head on his shoulder, letting her hand fall to his thigh. “Eight or nine months from now.”
“A big wedding takes that long to plan?”
“Usually longer.”
“If we make it year, you could have the wedding as big as you want, and I should be able to finish up the factory in Treepoint by then. One of the other brothers can take over the training.”