Page 43 of Broken Daddy

Marla, the manager, was quick to let me go. Probably because her ex-husband was a little too interested in me. It doesn’t matter that I never reciprocated—she got the restaurant in the divorce, and I got constant judgment.

I can’t help the way my shoulders round as I sulk a little, Sienna relating how they had to cut one of my best dishes from the menu because Erik just can’t replicate it.

“But let’s not talk about that. Tell me about the place you’re working; if it’s one of Russ’s friends, they must be well-off, right?”

She rushes on to the next topic, sensing my drop in mood. I start to tell her about Nathan’s place outside of the city but describing it just doesn’t do it justice. I end up taking out my phone and scrolling through a few photos—the pool house, Eva holding up a fuzzy caterpillar, a gorgeous sunrise over the acreage.

Then I swipe to the next one and Sienna stiffens.

“Wait.”

My eyes scan the screen quickly and I realize Nate’s in the photo.

It’s a shot of the barn. I couldn’t help it, the building is just so gorgeous. But one of the sliding doors is open and you can see him just inside wearing that apron of his—for some reason it’s so sexy—his hair damp with sweat.

But Sienna zooms in on the photo and points to a graphic I’ve never noticed before. It’s an owl’s head, sort of tribal style and simplified, on one of the doors. Maybe two feet across, in slate gray paint.

“This is the guy you’re working for?”

I don’t want to drag the photo over to reveal Nate because Sienna will definitely remember we hooked up. I feel guilty I haven’t told her yet. “What do you mean?”

“Owl Factory.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about. It shows on my face, because she quickly pulls out her phone as our food appears and starts tapping away.

An article comes up on the screen.

“Owl Factory: a Mogul Making Magic”

Skimming it quickly, I get the gist. Some bigwig from the city has a hobby making boutique carpentry projects, and it was a secret until someone spilled it, and…

And then it clicks.

“Wait.” I pull her phone closer and scroll through, but there’s no photos of Nate. Only of his projects which, I have to admit, are gorgeous.

“This is your guy. It has to be, that’s the logo for his business.”

“But…his business is Ironside.”

Sienna’s eyes snap to mine. “Ironside…isn’t that the massive construction company that builds, like, every apartment or retail building in the city?”

I nod absently, still half reading the article to see if they drop Nate’s name. “Yeah. That’s where he gets his money from. But this makes sense…I saw some of what was in that barn, and he’s definitely talented.”

Sienna frowns. “Wonder why he doesn’t just do that, then. It sounds like his work is sought-after. Actually, the article makes it seem like he backed off after people started showing an interest in Owl Factory.”

“I have no idea…”

Actually, thinking about it now, I can’t help feeling like Sienna’s right. Nate is good at what he does and he spends every spare minute he can—outside of work and hanging out with Eva—in that garage.

She’s still holding my phone and squints, zooming in again as I poke around my onion rings. The scent of them, which I’ve always loved, suddenly makes my stomach heave and I sit back.

“Damn, Gen. This is the guy you’re working for? He’s—”

Her eyes narrow farther as she stares at the photo. I know what she’s looking at. Nathan in work coveralls that leave his arms and shoulders bare. No shirt beneath. Sandy-blond hair, the muscles in his back standing out.

“Isn’t this the guy…?”

Turning her head, she gives me a suspicious look. I stare over her shoulder wide-eyed.

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