Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(99)

“I’ve told him that same thing a hundred times,” Wade replied with a shake of his head. “He’s taking the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

“No one could have known. He played everyone. We all thought he was…” Shane pushed back from the table. “I don’t want to think about him. I want to forget what happened to those men and focus on the fact that we’re all good. Our team. We were lucky. We’re all whole and here.”

Remy agreed, but he had to go and make sure Tag was fine, too.

Dec slapped Shane on the shoulder. “You’re right. Tonight we celebrate.”

“The dancing is about to start so grab your girls,” Wade offered with a smile.

All around, the people started moving to the dance floor as the music started up and Mr. and Mrs. Wade Rycroft were invited to share their first dance.

Lisa was standing and talking with Charlotte Taggart. She glanced up and gave him a smile and a brief nod. Like his little shrimp could read his mind and give him permission to do what he needed to do.

Remy winked her way. Their wedding had been nothing like this, but it had been his best day. He stepped outside the barn. There was a temporary playground where the crazed army of lunatic children roared and several harried adults watched after them.

Sitting to the side, a beer in his hand, was Ian Taggart, his eyes on the kids. His mind…well, that was likely somewhere else.

“Hey, boss. How are you doing?”

Taggart was silent for a moment. “I’m all right.”

“Do I have to say it?”

“If you do, I’ll likely figure out a way to shove this beer bottle straight up your ass,” he growled and then sat back and sighed. “I’m fine, Remy. I just need some time. I don’t handle change well and we’ve had a whole lot of change lately.” He stood up suddenly. “Kala, baby girl, let that little boy out of those ropes right now. Now. I don’t care if you’re playing superheroes and villains.”

He stalked over and came back with a small length of rope in his hand.

“I have no idea where she got that,” Tag said with a shake of his head. “And I always knew Jesse’s kid would end up being a sub. Never tell Charlie I said that.”

At least the big guy was still sarcastic and a little afraid of his wife. It was good to know some things never changed. Remy eased onto the bench beside his former boss. “You know you have to replace us, right?”

Taggart’s expression never changed. “I could shut everything down and live the hobo life. That’s always a choice.”

Remy chuckled at the thought of the Taggart clan riding the rails. “I don’t know that Charlotte’s shoes survive that experiment.”

Tag’s lips curled up. “Yeah, well, she loves her shoes. Listen, I might have found a way to solve both our problems.”

“I have problems?” Remy asked. He had several but he wasn’t aware of any Tag could fix unless he had some skills Remy didn’t know about.

“A little birdie told me you need a new refrigeration unit and you lost two boats in the storm a couple of weeks ago. Someone didn’t have insurance.”

“Yeah, Jean-Claude let that lapse.” It had been an oversight. Business was tough. His business was complex, with a thousand moving parts, but then Taggart should know that. “We didn’t realize the boats weren’t covered, and that fridge is a million years old. Was.”

“Find me a new team, Remy. You put together this one and it was a great group.” Taggart took a long swig from his beer. “Do it for me again. Train them. Shane and Wade are too busy working. Give me a month of your time a year for the next several years and I’ll keep you from having to take out more loans. This was the deal Julian Lodge made with me a long time ago and it worked out pretty well. Besides, you know you miss it. Fill the douche again, Remy.”

Taggart’s smile this time was pure amusement, and Remy realized he would be cool with the ridiculous nicknames if it put that smile on Big Tag’s face.

How had he gotten so damn lucky? He’d worried he would have to take out another loan, but this did solve his problems. And there was nothing he wanted to do more for his old friend than give him a new team he could rely on. He held out a hand. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Taggart shook it and sighed with seeming relief. “Thank god. If I had to take one more interview I was going to murder someone. Kala, your sister’s hair is not a rope to climb on. Seth, stop eating dirt.” He stood and nodded toward one of the women watching the kids. “I swear those kids are going to be the death of me.”

“They will if you keep having them. What’s this? Number four? And Erin’s pregnant again. Are you building your own army?” He started back toward the barn.

“Charlie promises me this is the last, but I get a feeling that’s not how it’s going to work out,” Taggart said, still smiling. “And I’m damn happy for my brother. They’ve been trying for a while. This is definitely their last, but at least Theo will be here for this one. I pray it’s a girl. I’m the only one who walks around in a tiara. I forgot I had it on the other day. My brothers never let me forget. Well, hello, Mrs. Guidry, you’re looking lovely.”

Lisa slipped a hand in his. “Thank you. I’m happy to see everyone again. It feels like a reunion.”