Page 44 of The Manny

“It is when it’s my house,” I snapped. “I’ve worked hard to have the life I have.”

He grimaced. “Yeah. I… I know. You should be proud of how far you’ve come.”

Something about his tone made me think he wasn’t talking about the yard anymore. “How far I’ve come?”

He shrugged. “You know, after all you went through.”

“What do you know about what I went through?” I rasped. I’d been waiting for him to bring up the jail thing ever since Mia had mentioned it. Was that what he was referring to now? “You’d better not be sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“I’m not.”

“Have you been gossiping about me with people?”

He dropped his gaze. “No.”

My face warmed because he was lying. I could see it so clearly. “My past is my business.”

“I know.”

“If I wanted to talk to you about that stuff, I would. I don’t. Get it?”

“Yeah. I get it.”

“Good.” I tossed the gardening shears on the grass. “You’re not a permanent fixture here, Thomas. You’re just passing through. You need to remember that.”

“Forgive me for suggesting Mia and I plant somefuckingflowers,” he snapped.

Surprised at his anger, I laughed. “I see Saint Thomas has a temper after all.”

He glanced up, his eyes filled with frustration. “Of course I have a temper.”

“You usually hide it better.”

“I have my limits,” he muttered.

I curled my lips. “What has you upset, Thomas? The fact I don’t want you meddling in my world? I’ll bet that’s torture for you, seeing as you’re such a buttinsky.”

Red spears appeared on his cheekbones. “You’re an asshole.”

I raised my brows. “Is this how you usually speak to your clients?”

“No. I’ve never worked for anyone like you before.”

I crossed my arms. “Huh, well, I’ve met plenty of guys like you.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. Guys who think they have it all figured out. Guys who like to tell you what you should be doing with your life, while they’re floundering in their own.”

“I’m not floundering,” he hissed.

Shrugging, I said, “You devote your life to raising other people’s kids. Do you even have a life of your own?”

His face hardened. “How I live my life ismybusiness.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Seriously? This from the guy trying to tell me how to live my life twenty-four-seven?”

He stepped closer to me and my pulse sped up. “I care about people.”

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