Page 24 of Rules to Love By

He ordered pop and a pastrami on rye, thanked him for the meal, then turned back to Eli as the older man disappeared back down the stairs.

“Guess we start unpacking boxes after lunch?”

Eli scratched the back of his neck. “Guess so.”

Marcus nodded, gazing at the boxes. The perimeter of the room was piled two and three deep with the haul. It was going to take some time to get it all counted and inventoried.

When Ambrose came back with their sandwiches, he also brought an old laptop.

“What’s this?” Eli took it from him with a frown.

“Uncle Ty’s. He says there’s a spreadsheet on there with the inventory.” Ambrose gave a one-shouldered shrug.

“That’s something you should know, Ambrose,” Eli said.

“I’m sure he’ll show me someday. When he feels like he’s ready.”

Marcus almost butted in to tell him to learn now, before it was too late. He knew all too well how easily “someday” became “when I feel better” and then “too late.”

“You know his passwords, right?” Ambrose asked Eli.

Eli’s brows came down in a black bunch, and he scowled at his cousin.

“Don’t worry.” Ambrose elbowed him. “Even you can’t mess it up. He has them written on a sticky note inside.”

Eli’s scowl darkened.

“As for typing up the lists…” Ambrose chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll get it figured out. Eventually.”

Eli’s grip on the laptop made the plastic case creak.

“I’m sure we will.” Marcus eased the computer out of Eli’s hands and took the bag of food from Ambrose. “Thanks.”

He got it. Ambrose was being an asshat, poking at Eli’s buttons because he knew where they were and how hard to push. For all his long lines and feline grace, it wasn’t a good look.

“Fine.” Ambrose held up both hands. “Enjoy.” He turned and headed for the stairs.

“Ambrose.” Marcus set the computer on top of one of the piles of boxes.

“Yeah?” He levelled a sultry look at Marcus.

“If you do take over someday, and you can’t be bothered to learn how to run the business end of it? You’d better find someone who can. You won’t be able to cut hair in the dark, and six hundred bottles of shampoo won’t keep the lights on.”

Ambrose’s eyes narrowed. “What would you know about it?”

“I know what I carried up those stairs, and I kept a diner open when it barely broke even. My aunt kept notes on literally everything, which is why I could keep it going. A system kept in someone else’s head works for no one who isn’t that person.”

For a moment, Ambrose stared at him, and then he broke into a grin. “Competence. Very hot.” He glanced past Marcus to Eli. “Don’t you think?”

Before Eli could reply, he whirled and thumped down the stairs.

“I’m gonna fucking kill him.”

“Sandwiches!” Marcus held up the bag and rattled it. “I’m starved.”

While Marcus watched, fascinated, Eli visibly gathered himself and stuffed his annoyance back behind the iron control. “You’re right.” His voice was still low and gravelly, and Marcus definitely should not have found that such a turn-on. Especially if Eli was objecting to Ambrose flirting, which was not his business. Unless…

“I’m sorry.” Eli focused on him, distracting him from possibilities. “He gets under my skin. Sometimes I swear he does it on purpose.”

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