“Yeah. I have one on my shoulder that wraps around my chest, but I’ve always wanted to get a sleeve.”
This is good. He’s opening up to me a little. I give him a sideways look, wondering if he’d be interested in going into business together. My main guy that has been running my construction business for years is leaving and I don’t want to go back to that full time. I enjoy helping with the commercial renovations and the occasional home renovations, but Connor seems to love it. My main love is the restaurant business.Fuck it, I’m just going to ask him.
“I’ll help you out until you’re fully recovered. I want to discuss us going into business together one day.”
His head snaps up and inhales quickly. “You want to go into business with me?”
“Don’t look so surprised. You’re good at what you do. Everyone in this town loves you. And you did everything within your power to clean up the streets. I admire that,” I say. He doesn’t respond, just stares at me. I shrug. “Just so you know, I always had an uneasy feeling about Donovan, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. I had my reasons for remaining friends with him. I made a promise to his wife, and I didn’t intend to break it.”
I did break it though, didn’t I? I take a drink from my water bottle. “But I’m glad you saw him for who he was and did something about it.” There I’ve pretty much laid all my cards on the table, at least for now.
Connor nods. “I appreciate you saying that. Maybe one day you’ll be willing to tell me why you remained friends with him.”
I stand from my stool and clap him softly on the back, being careful I don’t jar him. I can’t do that unless Olivia tells her friends about me. “For what it’s worth, Donovan and I only saw each other once a month. The only reason I did that was to have an excuse to check in on his stepdaughter.” I begin backing away. “Call me if you have any questions when you start visiting sites. And if you decide you’d like to go into business with me, let me know.”
A few weeks later, Connor is able to drive, and he comes to visit one of the sites. I’m helping unload supplies, and he’s been scowling the entire time. It’s taking all I have not to laugh at him. I finally stop torturing him and go stand next to him.
“You’re hating this, aren’t you?”
He huffs and shakes his head. “You have no idea.”
With a tilt of my head, I smile. “I do. I was in a car accident that broke several ribs and was out of commission for six months. It was pure torture.” Not completely the truth, but the only information he’s going to get from me.
“That’s awful.”
I sigh and watch the guys moving the rest of the supplies. “In more ways than one,” I say.
“Do you still think Donovan is going to show up again?”
“One of the biggest mistakes I ever made was not seeing how destructive Donovan is. If I could go back and change anything, it would be opening my eyes much sooner. Things would be so different.” Leo hasn’t seen Donovan since that day, but it’s time to be proactive.
“Well, you know now. We can make a change before anything happens.” He arches an eyebrow at me.
I inhale deeply and nod. “I hope so.”Does he know Donovan is back in town?“Didn’t your brother used to be a detective?”
He eyes me. “Yes. why?”
“I heard he’s a professor now, though, right? But does he still do that kind of thing?” He’s staring at me hard and I can tell I’m piquing his interest. Good.
“He is a professor, but this is his last semester. He’s starting his own company to be a private detective,” he says.
I lean back on the balls of my feet and nod. Interesting. “I might have a case for him.” He stares at me like he wants more information, but he doesn’t ask for it.
“Well, we’re going over to Melissa’s house this weekend. You should come and talk to him there.” I remember Olivia telling me Melissa is Caroline and Bailey’s mom. I invited myself because it’s time her friends know about us.
“Yes. Olivia told me about it and asked me to come,” I tell him, smiling. I’m stretching the truth a lot today.
“Who’s Olivia?” I forgot he hasn’t known her for very long, so he may not recognize her given name.
“You all call her Liv.”
“Oh, that’s right. You’ve known her a long time, huh?”
I smile. I told him this at the pub a few months ago, but a lot has happened since then so I understand him not remembering.
“Her whole life.”
My phone begins ringing while I’m in the middle of a staff meeting with my restaurant managers. I grab it, Olivia’s name flashing across the screen. My eyebrows furrow as I glance at the time. It’s early for her to be calling me. I hold up my finger to everyone. Stepping away, I swipe it to answer.
