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“Did you even want to talk?”

“What do you e of a plate “You see else”

She was te ink that seemed to be inspired by the sea The vivid strokes of color were still iether in spite of her inebriation She decided against asking “They intrigued me, especially that cute little turtle”

“Past tense?”

“Everything that was nice and fun and honest seeuess that has to be ed “Must be karma Or God Or a Hobbit, who the hell knows”

“I’ed towns, that’s all”

She shook her head vehemently “No, no you’re not”

“Because I have money and a suit and a conservative work ethic? I’, believe me”

“Oh, I do believe you” She put her hand over the top of her glass to stop hiined you’d turn out to be such an acco an itinerant drifter is one thing, but blacke is quite another I can see why you’ve been so successful in business, Matt You’re selfish, ruthless, and nothing gets in the way of what you want”

His jaw dropped for a second and his sht?”

Their eyes locked for longer than she was co so harsh, but it was too late to take it back “Sorry, that caer than I intended”

He put down the sangria jug and nodded toward the hand that was still clas are different now that we’re back in Colorado Or you are Restraint wasn’t in your vocabulary a few days ago”

It was none of his business, but she was going to put hiet blind drunk a few thousand ht stand with a co to do, but I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time and I just wanted to lash out souilt stalled her for a moment “Hurt? For real? That was nevera drifter and an opportunist, reht stand of consensual, no-strings lust does not equate with hurt”

“Okay, I was offended, and upset because I wanted to see you again”

“Looks like you got what you wanted in that case” She needed this conversation to end and its subject ht as well know I behaved like I did because I’d been hurt badly The e cocktail waitress on Christreat excuse, but it’s the truth, and for what it’s worth, I’m not particularly proud of ust “What a jerk”

“So like that” His words pleased her Stanley was a jerk and not just for du, relationships, all that kind of thing is totally off the ood”

“But you still have needs, hence Sanibel I was a kind of sexy tapas, just a taste of what could be soy” She pushed away her glass and looked him in the eye They were such a dark brown they were almost black, like ood right noever genuine they are, however pleasant or attractive they hed and looked out of theat the front of the bar Snoas beginning to fall “Matt, I’ with your crazy plan, you’ll ain, ruin my reputation, and harm my business in the process, so let’s not pretend otherwise And, as you’ve pointed out, the beer caht not have to work for that rotten agency again But we have to keep this strictly business froaze “Okay, I’ll keep it strictly business for as long as you do”

“Which will be until the bitter end at your PCB No 68 official launch I still need a firreed, and you’ll know as soon as I do about the launch date I’ll get that list of publicity-related appointeive you a head start, we have a gallery opening to attend in a few days’ ti Dress code is ultra-expensive It’s being billed as the Passion Creek wedding of the year”

“So far” Piper was iet those tords to drip with sarcasht now, understandably, but it’s a dress-to-iht wear a tie”

“I’ suitable into tide you over until I can get a company credit card processed for you” He handed over a roll of bills and a business card “Should cover some nice shoes and stuff This season’s, please And my card has allwithwith ether in a frown “Strictly business, reet Now I’ you to turn up at the brewery’s finance depart you a couple of days, paid, to eood of o out and buy a ue and forced a brittle sround her teeth as she waited for her friend Melanie to arrive at the Passion Creek Beanery coffee house that afternoon Had Matt DeLeoher to buy new clothes that ?