Chapter Twenty
Mitch knew he should have mentioned the buyout sooner. Fucking Linda Madison. She and her friends sashayed past him. “Merry Christmas, Flash.” She handed him a card. “Call me.”
The nerve of the woman.
He didn’t have time to worry about her though. Becca had looked as if steam might come out of her ears at any moment. He tossed Linda’s card in the trash and nodded to Becca’s employees as he passed. They stared back at him with wide eyes, looking as worried as he felt.
He’d known Becca might not take his purchase of her storefront well. But hell, she hadn’t owned it before. Harris Madison, that douche, had. Mitch was a great landlord. Sure, he had others managing his properties in Wisconsin, Washington, and Idaho, but he always made sure to put people he trusted in charge of his assets.
Which reminded him to call Sean later and check on that situation in Green Bay.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Becca said, her voice tight, when they stood alone in her kitchen.
“I think you’re blowing this out of proportion.”
Her eyes glowed.Shit.“You can’t just buy me, Mitch. I’m not a groupie, and I’m not impressed by your wealth.”
He sighed. “I know that. Would it help if you knew I bought all the property on this side of Main Street? I’m investing in my town, Becca. Becoming a part of the community.”
She frowned. “I didn’t mean for you to buy me.”
“So you consider this building and yourself one and the same?”
“Semantics. You know what I mean!”
“Hell. I’m sorry, okay? When I heard you talk about the rent going up, I looked into it. And Harris had some nice commercial property here. I have a lot of investments, which is why I’ll never go broke even though I’ll never again get another million-dollar contract to catch a ball.” He tried to be self-deprecating, but she wasn’t buying it. “I bought that used bookstore on Appleton Street, too. Do you want to know what else I bought?”
“No. It’s your money.” She walked to him and poked him in the chest.Hard.
“Ow.”
“You had no right buying this building without talking to me! It’s different, and you know it, Mitch. We’re a couple, and you’re keeping secrets.”
“You want to know what I own and don’t own? Fine. I’m happy to sit down and tell you everything.”
“That’s not it. Your money is your business. I’m not trying to tell you otherwise. But Bragg’s Tea ismybusiness. I put my heart and soul into this place. Why didn’t you tell me you bought the building?”
“Because I knew you’d be upset.”
“Exactly.”
“Because you wouldn’t understand why I’d done it.”
She paused. “You’re trying to tell me this purchase had nothing to do with the fact that you and I are sleeping together? Nothing at all?”
“That’s not what I’m saying. You told me your rent went up, and I wanted to help. You’re kind of prickly about your independence.”
“Prickly?Seriously? I’m not a little girl you have to explain things to, Mitchell.”
Ouch. The whole first name. She’d never been so angry with him before.
“I’m a grown woman raising a son all on my own. I don’t need you or anyone else to bail me out.”
He wasn’t saying the right things. “You let Nora help you.”
“I pay her.”
“In food.” He winced because she kept poking him. And damn, but her finger felt like steel. “How tax deductible is that?”
