Page 129 of Bad Love

I hold up a hand. "Wait. It getsworse."

Her fingers twist her napkin before laying it across her lap. "Ohdear."

I square my shoulders. If I’m going to deliver this, I’m damn well going to do it like a man. "I wagered my stake in the company. It was an ignorant bet I was sure I could win. But that doesn't excuse the fact that I did it, and I shouldn'thave."

I meet her cool gaze. She doesn't look as shocked as I’d thought she would, but she's good at maintaining her composure. Being a businesswoman, she has tobe.

“I don’t want you to think that I made the bet because I don’t love this company. Or that I don’t respect what you’ve built. On the contrary, I respect it—and you—more than anything in the world. The poor decision rests entirely on me. On my…” I struggle for words—a rarity. “Weakness ofcharacter.”

Our drinks come, and the waitress takes our food order. I don’t notice what I order or what my grandmotherdoes.

Hell, I'm assuming we'll be here long enough to eat, though that may beuntrue.

When we're alone again, my grandmother picks up her steaming cup ofcoffee.

She sips it, her steely eyes on me from over therim.

I start to wonder if she's forgotten what I said. The possibility gives mehope.

Briefly.

When she sets down the cup, she says, "That behavior is irresponsible andimpulsive."

Her sharp voice cuts me to thebone.

"I understand. And I'm not leaving Hunter’s Cross like this." I hand over the folder I've been working on for the last two weeks. "I've been working on ideas for how to grow the business. You don't want me running the company, or even the marketing department, but I put together some plans for the next person who takes itover.”

It turns out Deacon wasn't perfect either. He was behind on paperwork. Deferred numerous projects that should’ve gone forward and green-lit others that should’ve beenaxed.

"I know why we're not growing. And I'm going to fix it,” I say. “I'll make sure of it before someone new takes over. I can't make up the amount of value I've lost, but I will work until Ido."

The waitress returns with our plates. I stare at the eggs Benedict, hollandaise running over brioche. Not sure I’m gonna be able to eat any of thattoday.

When the waitress departs again, I clear my throat. "I've never expected anything from this business. But I've always admired what you did. How strong you are. I wanted to love it the way you did even if I didn't deserveto."

She peers down at the folder for barely long enough to count thepages.

The hollow feeling in my stomachgrows.

"You've given me more than enough to think about. In light of everything you've raised, I think breakfast is onyou."

29

"Hey.I haven't seen you around in forever." The barista grins at me from across the counter. "Theusual?"

"Sure. Plus whatever he wants." I turn toward Rory, who's studying the menu with a criticaleye.

"Little brother?" the baristaasks.

"Rory's myson."

His smile wanes a few degrees, but I don’t care. I fish in my pocket for change and come up with a flashdrive.

"Ahh… we don'tbarter."

"Of course. I'm not sure where that came from." I hand him a credit cardinstead.

Once upon a time, I thought the guy wascute.

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