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The kids were already getting ready for bed when Ace trudged through the door later that night. “Sorry I’m so late. Your dad wanted to have a meeting with Ryan and me about a potential buyer.” He sighed, sinking into a chair at the kitchen table where I put a plate of food in front of him followed by a steaming cup of coffee.
He rubbed at his tired eyes and shot me a small smile. “Thanks, baby girl.”
“A buyer?” I sank into the chair next to him, propping my head up with my hand as I watched him. “Tell me you guys talked Dad out of it?”
He nodded, his mouth full with the homemade mac and cheese I had made for dinner when we got home from shopping. “This is so good,” he mumbled in between bites. “Did you finish gift shopping?”
“Don’t change the subject, Ace,” I scolded. “What happened?”
“It was this Russian couple that wanted to buy it, but they were lowballing and wanted to fire the entire staff. Your dad doesn’t want that to happen. Ryan and I talked him out of it, and I mentioned us selling the lake house to put towards the debt, but he still insists that it won’t be enough money. I’m thinking of selling some of the cars.”
This was news.
Ace had never mentioned selling anything other than the lake house and the boat that was there. Those two combined were nearly two million dollars. He had a few classic cars he had collected over the years that were in the garage at the lake house, but he loved those cars. He had worked on each one himself.
“Are you sure that’s necessary?”
He nodded, taking a swig of the hot coffee. “If it means I get to save the company and keep everyone’s jobs secured and keep us living this luxurious life, I’ll do it in a heartbeat, Celine.” I still got goosebumps seventeen years later from the way his lips curled around my simple name, his southern drawl still thick even though he had been living in South Florida.
“I don’t want you to sacrifice for my family's company, especially not something you love so much.” He finished the last bite of dinner and grabbed my hand after abandoning his fork.
“I am not sacrificing for your family. I’m sacrificing for mine – for you – because I love you, princess, and I promised to protect you and our children the day I married you and the day we renewed our vows. I’m a man of my word.” I fought the swoon taking over me at his words.
This man was something else.
“I love you, too, Asshole.” The old nickname that started out in resentment was now a term of endearment. He smiled and leaned his head against mine, briefly brushing his lips against mine I closed my eyes.
“I’m worried that I don’t have enough gifts for everyone,” I finally admitted.
“I don’t need anything for Christmas – just you and our kids.” Ace had many years of uncelebrated Christmases after the loss of his little brother, so now, he didn’t care about materialistic items. He was more worried about spending every moment with his family.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want to spoil you and the kids.”
“Have you gone over the budget?” He didn’t look at me, his eyes trained on the glass table.
“Not yet.”
“You can go tomorrow and get a few more things, I guess. Don’t go crazy though.” He got up from the table, cleared his dishes, and then loaded them into the almost full dishwasher. He leaned against the counter, his head hanging low. “I hate this, Celine. I’m sorry I have to stop you.”
I hated seeing Ace – a man that was so strong, invincible almost – be down like this.
I got up from the table and circled my arms around his middle, my head resting against his strong back. “It’s not your fault,” I whispered, meaning every single word.
“I don’t want to enforce this budget. I want you to go buy whatever makes you happy.”
“You make me happier than anything, Ace.”
“I know, but I hate being in this situation, having to fight the entire day to keep the doors open, to keep fighting your dad every step of the way. You should see your brother.” Ace shook his head. “That man is a shell. He has already accepted defeat, and he’s going back to active duty.”
I stiffened. He can’t do that to Amber.
“What?” I breathed in horror.
Ace turned in my hold, bringing his hands up to cup my face. “He’s going back to active duty to keep a roof over their heads because he doesn’t know what else to do.”
“Fuck, Ace. We can’t let him do that. You have to stop him.”
“What do you want me to do? We are selling everything to save the company, and he doesn’t believe that it’s enough either. He’s dead set on doing this.”
