Love Restored (Gallagher Brothers #1)(43)

Maya waved her question away and pointed at the computer. “Autumn is working with Griffin today, and she’s the only one that can use the computer of doom.”

Blake snorted. It was a point of contention at the shop that neither Montgomery could work the computer schedule for long periods of time. The fact that both Austin and Maya were freaking brilliant and could practically code any other computer just made it funnier. Blake was pretty sure the damn thing was possessed and should have been taken out and beaten a-la The Office style, but neither Maya nor Austin would let the damn machine win. Or rather, Maya wouldn’t let the ‘piece of shit technology that was too big for its bytes and britches’ think it could beat a Montgomery. The fact that it was, unfortunately, a piece of artificial intelligence, and therefore, had done nothing at all, was not lost on them. They just chose to ignore that bit.

Autumn, Griffin’s fiancée, could work the damn thing without incident and organized their lives for them. Of course, since Autumn also assisted Griffin with his job as a novelist, Maya had to share.

And Maya hated to share.

Unless it was Jake and Border and sharing between the three of them, but Blake didn’t really want to think about that.

“I don’t know if I will be any help,” Blake said slowly. “It doesn’t always work for me, and you know it. You should just get a computer that works.”

Maya narrowed her eyes. “We will not cow to technology.”

“For the love of all that is holy, do not get her started,” Derek said as he walked into the building from the side door that connected the shop to Taboo, the café next door.

Maya whirled. “Why? Are you afraid of what I’ll say?”

Derek just shook his head and handed her a mug. “Not even going there. And before you hurt me, this is decaf, but yummy according to Hailey next door.”

Maya took the mug in both hands and inhaled while Blake did her best not to laugh. Maya on a good day was a bit crazy, pregnant Maya was a whole other matter.

It was going to be a long few months.

“I’ll look at the computer,” Derek said as he handed Blake a mug for herself. “Just make sure Maya doesn’t kill anyone.”

Blake laughed. “That might be a harder job than the computer of doom.”

“I heard that!” Maya yelled from the office.

Derek snorted but went to work, and Blake just smiled over her mug of hazelnut and whipped cream goodness. Though she’d been worried about becoming friends with those she worked with, she couldn’t help but feel the connections she’d been missing for too long. She could laugh at silly things like computers and coffee and not feel like she was out of the loop. Her life might still be a bit crazy and secretive, but Maya knew about Rowan and hadn’t freaked out. She was pretty sure Maya had told Jake and Border about Rowan, but she hadn’t expected Maya to keep that kind of secret from her men.

Soon, others would know about her daughter, and Blake would just have to deal with that.

As long as her circle kept Rowan safe, it would be okay.

That meant Blake might have to explain a few more things, like why she was so worried about Rowan’s safety. Graham might not have wanted to hear her out, but the others would need to know so they understood why Blake did the things she did.

Maybe if she just told Maya, the other woman would spread the word. Apparently, Maya was good at things like that, but Blake honestly didn’t know where to start.

With a sigh, she went back to her piercing station and looked at her tablet, which would have her schedule for the day. That was, as long as Derek had fixed the computer. She grinned and shook her head. At least, some things were constant.

In the next few hours, she worked on a nose ring, a brow ring, and a set of nipple rings before she figured she should probably take a lunch break. As soon as she stepped out of the room, however, she knew something was wrong.

A man in a suit stood at the front entrance, glaring down at Maya, who wouldn’t let him move past. Derek stood on Maya’s side, doing his best to keep the pregnant woman from hitting the other man, and keeping Maya from getting hurt.

Though there were a couple of clients in the chairs, they were regulars who had also stood up. She wasn’t sure what was going on or what everyone was doing, but Blake knew this was about her.

“Blake Brennen?” the man in the suit asked as he pushed past Maya.

Maya growled and gripped his arm. “No way, buddy. You’re not welcome here.”

The man snarled and looked down at Maya’s arm before pulling away. “Get your hand off me, or I will call the cops on you and this place of business.” The way he’d said place made it sound like he was standing in a grungy bar or a trash heap rather than Montgomery Ink.

“What do you want?” Blake asked, her voice cold. She was damned surprised it didn’t shake, but she couldn’t show weakness, not now.

Not ever.

She’d moved forward, though she didn’t remember doing it, so when he placed an envelope in her hand, she started.

“You’ve been served.” With that, the * man in the suit walked away, his head held high, and a growling Derek on his tail.

“What is going on?” Maya asked as she stood in front of Blake. “What is that?”

Blake’s hands shook, the envelope resting on top of her palms shaking with them. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. She’d known this day would come, that she wouldn’t be able to hide for long.