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She smiled, “And let them win? I don’t think so.”

“Is he one of the ones who...” Andrew stopped not knowing how to ask.

“He’s an alphahole in and out of bed,” Annabel said. “I made a mistake taking him as a lover.”

“Bastard,” Andrew muttered. He made a point of turning his back on Gerald. He kept his eyes on Annabel. “How’s Olivia?”

“She’s looking forward to coming home for the holidays,” Annabel said.

“When will she be home,” Ryan asked.

They chatted through dessert about Olivia and her plans for the holidays.

Annabel paid for dinner and the two men paid a large tip to Eleanor. Annabel handed her a card. “If you want different work, speak with Charles.”

“Ma’am,” Eleanor slid the card into her pocket. She smiled, “Thank you.”

“Do you do that often,” Ryan asked.

“Do what?” Annabel slid into the driver’s seat of her car. Ryan got in the back while Andrew walked around to the passenger side.

“Hire people you have no idea what their background is,” Ryan said.

“No actually, I don’t,” Annabel said. “Charles will find a place for her if she calls.”

“You’re a very generous woman,” Andrew took her hand. He noted her relaxed state as she pulled out of the parking lot. “Are you embarrassed by being seen with us?”

“Never,” Annabel said. “But I guarantee Gerry will have pictures of us up tomorrow and he’ll make them seem disgusting.”

“We ate dinner,” Andrew said.

Annabel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You go to his site and search for all the columns on me. He hates me. He twists things until they are ugly and so far from the truth no one recognizes it.”

“It was a meal and you were cool from the point he showed up,” Andrew said.

“Any other media, I wouldn’t have withdrawn,” Annabel confessed. “Gerry’s had it in for me for the last few years.”

“Why,” Ryan leaned forward to run his hand soothingly down her arm.

“My ex-husband liked to feed him stories,” Annabel tapped her finger on the steering wheel. “Do you want to hear about my past? We haven’t really touched on this.”

“Tell us,” Andrew asked.

“Don’t order me... No. I take that back.” Annabel sighed. “Sorry, I should take my testiness with them out on you. Gerald Montgomery and my ex-husband did a smear on me. My ex used to give him hints when we were out. He liked the exposure, any and all exposure. If I’m honest, I’ll confess to enjoying the kind words about my clothing and how I looked. It was good for my ego. I wasn’t thrilled with it being every time. He even did it after I had a miscarriage. I just wanted to go home and sleep but there were cameras and media. It was one of the last straws.”

“Your ex leaked it,” Andrew felt his gut tighten at the thought of putting her through a media blitz like that.

“When I realized he was cheating on me, I threw him out. He used Gerald to smear me,” Annabel said. “He told him I cheated... it got ugly.”

“Fucker,” Andrew raised her hand and kissed her palm.

“I’ve mostly let it go,” Annabel smiled at Andrew. “I have you and Ryan so that makes life better. Are you up for some private entertainment at my place?”

“Definitely,” Ryan squeezed her upper arm as his eyes met Andrew’s.

Andrew kissed her palm and gently kissed his way up her arm. “Whatever you want, we’re eager to give you pleasure.”

“Did you see his blog,”Ryan stormed into Andrew’s office with his tablet in one hand and his other fisted.

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