Page 75 of Love In Harbor Falls

“What are you doing, Addy?” Colin asked.

“I was going to tell you tonight at dinner.”

“How long has she been working here?”

“Today is her first day. That’s why I came to the bar last night, but you were busy and had to leave.”

“It doesn’t matter. You still should have told me. I can’t believe this.”

“Colin, we’ll talk about it later.”

“You’re damn right we will,” he spoke in a stern voice as he walked out of the gallery.

“Darling, I warned you,” Luis said as he walked up beside me.

I shot him a look. “Be quiet, Luis.” I stormed up the stairs and into my office.

I leaned back in my chair and couldn’t believe how Colin had spoken to me. Was he that bothered that I was helping Olivia out? I’d find out tonight when he came over for dinner. Sighing, I went back down to the gallery, pulled the painting Annie wanted off the wall, and walked it over to her.

“My painting!” Annie spoke with excitement.

“Turns out I had an extra one in the stock room, so I brought it right over.”

“You are the best, Addy. Let me run in the back, and I’ll write out a check.

* * *

After arriving home, I changed my clothes and started the sauce for the pasta for dinner. My stomach was a bundle of nerves because I didn’t know what to expect from him tonight after his reaction at the gallery. I inhaled a deep breath when I heard the front door open.

“Hey.” I smiled as Colin stepped into the kitchen.

“Want to tell me why you hired my ex-fiancée to work for you?”

He wasted no time and couldn’t even manage a simple hello.

“Because she needed a job, and nobody in town would hire her.”

“And for good reason, Addy.”

“Where is this coming from, Colin?” I asked as I drained the pasta noodles and set the bowl on the table. “I thought you made peace with her.”

“I did, but it doesn’t mean I want her in my life or working for my girlfriend.”

“You really need to calm down,” I said.

“Calm down? You should have discussed it with me first! You know how I feel about her. What if I hired Darren to work at the bar? You’d be okay with that?”

“No. But Darren is a different situation.”

“How? Explain it to me,” his voice grew louder.

“It just is. Listen, Colin, she’s pregnant and has no money.”

“That’s not my problem, and it’s not yours.”

“Oh my God. I can’t believe you right now,” I spat.

“You can’t believe me? I can’t believe you would hire her!”

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