Page 6 of Beau Pair
“So, Mr. Davis, what do you do when Elsie isn’t here?” Beau asks, bringing me back to the room.
His gaze is piercing me with anticipation.
“Let’s see. Work, work, and work,” I answer.
“Even in the summers when you’re off?”
“Especially in the summers.” Beau tilts his head and narrows his eyes, and I explain. “I’m an investor and consultant for a lot of businesses. In fact, I’ve got a portfolio the size of this town. So for me, it’s the perfect time to catch up with all of them or see if I need to step out of any.”
“Makes sense,” he says with a wide smile. “It must be intense.”
Intense isn’t even cutting it. Dolly has been begging me for a few years to ease off, stop taking on more responsibilities, but I’m a workaholic. I can’t stop. Although, recently, I have noticed I’m getting more and more frustrated by all the added stress that’s taking me away from more time with Elsie.
“I love what I do, but yeah, it can be,” I answer. “How are you settling in New Harlow? Do you like it?”
Beau’s smile widens, and it looks like his cheeks have more color in them all of a sudden.
“I love it. I’ve been wanting to move here for a while, although it has been pretty dead all summer,” he says.
“Well, it’s still a college town, more or less. Trust me, it gets crazy during the semester. There’s so much going on. Festivals, events, parties. You won’t know where to start,” I tell him. “When you’re off, of course.”
The last part is more for my benefit than his. I don’t care what or who he does in his spare time. I just need to remind myself that he is under my employ.
And he isofflimits!
