I'd been the one to suggest she frame it, and I was pleased she'd done it.She was a good artist, not that she'd ever done anything with her talent.I remembered that her parents hadn't liked her drawing in her spare time.I couldn't understand why they'd given her money to open a bookstore."I can avoid her."
"What's your deal with her, anyway?She's sweet, attractive?—"
I held up my hand to stop him there.I didn't need to hear what he thought of Belle."She's a client.She's off-limits."
His eyes widened, and then he let out a guffaw."You like her."
"I don't," I said curtly.
"What happened?Did you ask her out, and she shot you down?"he asked, amusement evident in his tone.
Of course he would think that.I swirled the liquid in my bottle."It was the opposite."
A crease appeared between his brows."You turnedherdown?"
"I asked her out, and she said yes.I just didn't show up to take her out."
His expression turned sober."What did Mom tell us?Never stand a woman up."
But I wanted to do what was best for Belle.I assumed she'd want me to be a different guy, and back then I was entrenched in being the troublemaker.I took satisfaction every time the principal called my parents.My plan worked.She never looked my way again.
I was public enemy number one, and I relished that role.I'd never get the good girl.I didn't deserve her.
He dropped his head."Fuck.That complicates things.Are you sure you're going to be able to do this?"
I set my drink on the coffee table and stood to pace."I can be professional."
"I heard that you're gruff with her.You sure you don't want me to handle the finer details?"
I paused, irritation climbing up my spine.Did I want my brother handling Belle?Fuck no."I can handle my job."
"This project is important to us.Ford is renovating the inn.Hudson is replacing the pipes in all the buildings, and now you're doing a massive patio project for the bookshop.This is huge for you and the business."
"I know what's at stake."But the fact that Belle had been in my head since I saw her earlier wasn't a good sign.Morgan had a reason to be concerned.I could screw this up.It was a big job, and everyone was relying on me."It will look amazing when it's done."
Morgan nodded."I'm not doubting your work.It's your judgment when it comes to Belle that I'm concerned about.Your track record is bad.If Mom finds out what you did?—"
I raised a brow."You're not going to tell her."
He let out a breath."You know I won't."
We'd made a pact when we were kids never to tell on each other.We'd formed an alliance, and we'd been close ever since.At some point, Cooper had been added.
"Keep things professional."
"Trust me, that woman wouldn't give me the time of day."She'd been surprisingly cordial, but underneath, I'd hurt her.She'd waited for me to pick her up, and I'd bailed.The one thing that helped was that I knew she hadn't told her friends about me.They would have thought she was crazy for dating someone like me.My friends certainly had.
So she wasn't embarrassed by my decision to stand her up.Maybe she was hurt for a little while, but she got over it.As soon as she realized how wrong we were for each other.
He raised a brow."I'm assuming you stood her up because you didn't like her."
"That's right."The lie felt hollow on my lips.
"Then other than a little animosity, I don't have to worry about you screwing around with a client."
Ford had reunited with his high school sweetheart when he renovated the inn, and Hudson had met Angela when the pipe burst in her shop.But generally, we weren't supposed to hook up with clients."You don't have anything to worry about."
He nodded, setting the empty beer bottle on the coffee table."Good."
