Page 139 of True North

Keeping it in-house, Brad.

How... convenient.

Bet his mother is pleased.

When I don’t answer, she raises an eyebrow.

“Oh, sorry. Can I see Brad? It’s kind of an emergency.”

She drags her focus from me to her giant appointment book. Her finger runs down the page, and she sucks in a breath before saying, “He has five minutes ’til his next appointment. I suppose you could go in.”

“Thanks!” I turn away from the desk. “Ah, which door is it?”

“Second on the left.” She taps her wristwatch.

I nod and give her a tight wave before laying a knock onto Brad’s door.

“Come.”

Okay, here goes.

I open the door and the surprised look on his face is priceless. Well, I guess this time it has a price.

“Louisa?” He frowns and sits up taller in his chair.

“Hi, do you have a minute?”

“Ah, I guess. Have a seat.”

“Thanks.” I sit on the upholstered seat across the desk from him as I flip through ways to go about this. “I?—”

“I’m seeing someone, if that’s why you’re here.”

My mouth drops open, but I catch it before it can make this more awkward than it already is. I press my lips together and shift on the chair, clinging to the folder in my hands. “Actually, I have a proposition for you.”

He leans back, and his frown deepens.

Not the best word choice.

Dammit.

How is this so hard?

“Okay, sorry, let me start again. I want you to buy Mama’s Place.”

He leans forward a little now. It’s when his hands unfold from his chest and he mindlessly adjusts the stationery on his desk that I know I have him.

“I thought you had the contract on that place?”

“I do. I mean, I did. I need to sell my part. And the Mancinis need to retire.”

“And you came to me?” The frown reappears.

“I know, we didn’t have the best run in the relationship department. Mixed signals and all.”

“Is that what you call your boyfriend punching me in the face?”

Now my mouth gapes open all the way.

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