Page 60 of Broken Grump

Oh.At first, I assumed he was talking about Claire, but that didn’t make much sense given the situation. And although, I wish he somehow was talking about her because those words,and especially when paired with the way in which he licked his lips after he said them, made me feel unreasonably uneasy.

“All good, babe?” I ask when she returns—once again placing my arm in a possessive way around her body.

She grimaces at what I guess is the pet name, my close contact with her, or a combination of both.

But after I raise my eyebrows, she seems to snap back into the farce.

“Right. Of course,babe.” Then, she shuffles her shoulders back and settles into my side.

“I was unfortunately just explaining to your husband that we won’t be able to move forward with the land agreement. At least notyet.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Addie looks at me and glowers. But I just rub her upper arm in response.

Then, I clear my throat and shuffle in my seat. “And why is that, exactly?”

He doesn’t give me a clear answer, and he instead seems to just skirt around the issue. I find this incredibly odd because, as I said,heasked to have this dinner.

“So, Addie. Tell me a little bit more about your background.”

Ah, okay.Now I’m starting to understand this sleazeball’s motives.And all while you have a wife at home who is carrying your billionth child.

If I could acquire the land for Ivory Shores from anyone but him, I would pull out of any connection I had right now. Unfortunately, that just simply isn’t the case.

“Well?” he encourages her.

“Okay. Um, I’m from Los Angeles originally, but I’ve lived in Phoenix, Arizona ever since I left for school.”

“You did live—you did live in Phoenix, you mean?”

“Oh, right. Of course. Now, I’m back here.”

That doesn’t only align with our fake backstory, but it’s also just the truth. She does live in Salvador’s mansion now.

“Anyway,” he seems to dismiss all of that, “I absolutely love Phoenix. I’m hoping once all the kids are grown and out of the house, the missus and I will be able to retire somewhere around there.”

“Oh, it’s the perfect place for that because it’s quiet enough in the places you want it to be, but then there are lively parts where you can find just about anything to do at any time.”

“Exactly!”

As they continue to bond over a city that I, quite frankly, find too muggy and desolate to be worth much, I can’t stop touching her.

At first, it was just the arm slumped over her shoulder, but then I even tried to grab her hand a few times. Except she declined my advances and even flinched away.

Fortunately for her, I guess, our steaks arrive, and I require both of my arms to properly cut and eat mine.

“That’s really pink, isn’t it?” I ask after peering over her shoulder and seeing the discerning color all over her plate.

“Well, yeah. I asked for it to be rare.”

Ick.Now, I’m no “hockey puck” man myself, but I prefer my beef to be a little more cooked than that.

But this seems to get Randall’s attention.

“You aren’t used to your wife’s preference?”

“I—” my heart drops a little in my chest. “No, I am. This just looks particularly undercooked, that’s all.”

He immediately starts bobbing and weaving his head in the air. “Let me find our waiter. I’ll ask him to take it back. I’m sure the chef will be happy to her of your helpful critiques.”

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