Page 37 of Fierce-Matt

“I’m more interested in the person and not their job. I have a damn fine job and can take care of myself.” He put his hand up. “I’m not saying that to brag. I’m making a point. I can’t tell you the number of women I’ve dated with a fancy job who were only after my name or what will be mine one day. I work for what I’ve got and am not taking it from someone else.”

Her face paled. “I hope you don’t think I’d do that.”

Guess they weren’t getting off to as good of a start as he’d hoped.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’m stating a fact. I know what you do for a living. I knew before this date.”

He also knew the market was tough and if she was working part time as a bartender, then she wasn’t doing so well in her career and he sure the hell wasn’t judging that.

“True,” she said. “You know my family situation. What my parents have is for them. My mother is going to go through it easily. My father can collect social security. I think they’ve put money away for his retirement. I’m not positive. It’s not a conversation we’ve had in-depth. I know my mother has a decent pension, their house is paid for and their health insurance is good.”

“The important things,” he said.

“That’s right. This will not surprise you, but the building their business is in is worth over two million. Commercial real estate isn’t my thing, but I’ve spent a few days looking into it.”

“I’m sure many of your colleagues would gladly sign on to help,” he said.

“Yep. They would. Which is why I’m not talking to any of them. I want to waive my fee to my mother, but I can’t. I can reduce some of it but not all of it. The firm I work for gets their percentage regardless.”

“I think your mother would want you to have it,” he said. The Emersons were always fair people. “You’re doing a job and should be compensated for it.”

“She does. We’ll fight about it, I’m sure. My point is, I’m going to recommend they list it low to start. The faster they sell it, the better.”

“And they might even get a bidding war,” he said.

“It’s possible. It’s not the goal. The goal is to get out from under everything. My father was in the store today with my mother and they made some calls. They are already liquidating what is in stock and not taking any more orders.”

“Moving fast,” he said.

“It’s for the best,” she mumbled. A sadness crept into her eyes and an imaginary string from his belly to his heart tugged back and forth.

Matt reached his hand over and laid it on hers. “This is a tough time for all of you. I’m going to help ease it the best I can.”

“You already are. My mother appreciated how kind you were to my father yesterday. He was a little out of it and confused.”

“I recognized that.”

He had to explain the power of attorney to Elliot three times before he understood the reason for it. Then he agreed.Anya stopped in without his knowledge this morning to sign the medical proxy so that was set.

“At least he wasn’t yelling,” she said. “He’ll do that at home. He swears at my mother and throws things. He has no idea he’s doing it. Then twenty minutes later when she’s picking up the mess he’ll ask what happened.”

“He can’t help himself,” he said.

She shook her head. “But it doesn’t make it any better. My mom will stand by him because she loves him. She’s giving him the care he needs, but she’ll need help when he won’t be able to eat or dress. He’s not there yet, but we’ll be as prepared as possible. It’s memory and mood swings more than anything now.”

He had no words and wasn’t going to try to keep coming up with them.

“You’ll be there for her too,” he said.

“I will. It’s a good thing I’m not that busy with work. I’ve picked up an extra shift at Fierce the past few weeks. The money helps.”

“That brings us back to what you like to do? What made you want to do this? And for how long have you been?”

“I’m so sorry,” a server said, rushing over. “I hadn’t realized Tina sat you back here and I was dealing with something in the kitchen for another customer. What can I get you to drink?”

Their menus were placed down and their water glasses filled.

“I’ll have a vodka and tonic with lime,” he said.