Page 58 of Late to Love

With a grimace, I admit, “It’s just...he’s older.”

“And?”

I stare at her. “He’s closer to my dad’s age than mine.”

She crosses her arms. “And?”

And,she’s right. “Damn, Agatha. You’re a real ball buster, you know that?”

Pointing at me, she says, “I learned from the best. Stop doing whatever you’re doing. I’ve never seen you second-guess yourself, and I sure don’t want to see you start now. Understood?”

I smile at the stern expression she wears. “Yes, ma’am.”

Chapter21

Anthony

IKNOW THAT pretty much everyone sees me as a total grump. And that’s fair. But I smile like a loon when I open up the package of specially designed shirts that I had made for Darcy’s bowling team.

“Hey, boss.”

Harrison’s voice has me shoving the shirts back into the box like I’ve been caught doing something wrong. Which is stupid. I own the damn bar. Hell, I own the whole damnplace.

Ignoring my pathetic attempt to hide the shirts, Harrison continues, “Darcy told me you’re not allowed up in the loft today. Also said you can’t come to the front for a while, either.”

I frown. “Why?”

He shrugs. “I think she’s moving all the stuff in and doesn’t want you to see it. Which is weird, right? Like, you approved everything—why wouldn’t you be able to watch it all be moved in?”

I turn back to inventorying the bar with a grunt. The fact is, I approved exactly nothing. She asked me what colors I liked way back at the beginning, and after that, didn’t ask anything else. Just barreled forward without a care in the world. I’ve liked the colors she’s painted the walls, but hell if I know what kind of furniture and shit she’s picked out.

I didn’t give her any input on the furniture, either. She just…did it. Which is fine. She and I both know that I’ll let her do just about anything, even though we might pretend otherwise.

“Too bad this is her last day. I’ve enjoyed seeing her, if you know what I mean.” Harrison waggles his eyebrows suggestively.

My blood boils. “No, Harrison, Idon’tknow what you mean,” I say, my voice deadly calm. “Why don’t you explain it just a little more?”

His eyes widen. “Dude, chill out.”

“No.” I can’t stop the rage simmering beneath the surface. She’smine.

And fuck.Fuck.I want her. I want her for so much more than whatever this is. That’s…problematic.

In front of me, Harrison’s expression shifts. “Holy shit, man—you’re into her.”

I don’t bother denying it.

His answering grin at my silence is infuriating. “That’s awesome.”

With a squint, I ask, “Awesome?”

He nods, then steps around me, putting some needed space between us. “Yeah. In all my years of working here, I’ve never seen you interested in anyone. This is great.”

“Well. Okay.” I don’t know what else to say.

“So many things make sense now,” he says, nodding to himself. “Including why you don’t get to see what she’s doing up there.”

I rub at my chest absentmindedly. “What’s she doing, exactly?”

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