Page 63 of Negotiating Tactics

“You think you know shit about me?” I asked.

My voice was rough-edged, but Beau brushed it off.

“I know enough to know that there has to be some external cause for this cheery disposition,” he said.

I said nothing, munching on fries as I considered my words.

Then, I decided what the heck.

“I’ve been seeing Alex,” I said.

It felt good, right, to say the words out loud.

I hadn’t said anything to anyone else at first, initially respecting Alex’s wishes, even though I fucking hated them. And since her birthday, the opportunity hadn’t come up. But now, I wanted to scream it from the rooftops.

Beau nodded his approval.

“Alex is awesome,” Beau said. Since Birdie had worked for Dominic for so long, I knew that Alex had been in the Wilders’ orbit, so Beau had had the opportunity to get to know her a little bit over the years.

“That she is,” I responded.

She was awesome. She made me feel things that I had never felt before, feel things that I wasn’t even sure I believed were real.

“So, you’re going to stick around for a while?” Beau asked.

“Yeah,” I said, knowing I would stay with Alex as long as she let me, and now fully determined to build a relationship with my brothers no matter what.

“Good,” Beau said, nodding his approval. Then he smiled. “So if you buy the building, will you cut us a deal on rent?”

I laughed. “Not a fucking chance.”

Fifteen

Alex

I stared across the ancient card table at my would-be opponent, my gaze unwavering as I kept my eyes locked with hers.

“I’m in a good mood, Aunt Clem. I will not ruin it by playing cards with you,” I said the Sunday after my birthday.

I’d thrown on a gray and black sweatsuit and was looking forward to a few hours off. Noah was spending time with Beau, Tristian, and Dominic, and I hadn’t wanted to intrude, excited that he and his brothers were building their relationship.

Plus, I’d see him later—assuming I got some work in first.

“Smart girl,” Aunt Clem said as she shuffled the cards, her gaze not leaving mine.

She did so with strength and agility in her hands that I hadn’t seen in years. Further confirmation that her health was still holding up. At seeing that, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

“What about you, Birdie girl?” Aunt Clem asked as she shifted to look at Birdie, trying her best to look innocent.

Birdie could see right through her. “No, ma’am,” she said.

Aunt Clem shuffled one more time, then put the cards away.

“That’s fine, spoilsports. I’ll get Miranda to play later,” Aunt Clem said, referring to her aide and occasional card partner. “And besides, that’ll give us time to talk.”

“What are we talking about?” I asked, leaning in conspiratorially.

“You and that new man of yours,” she said.

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