Page 17 of That Conflicted Feeling

“Youknow who’d appreciateCharlotte’sorganizational skills?”Georgeasks as we round the corner behindTheMoodyRooster.

“Areyou sayingIdon’t?”

“Imean appreciate in aromanticsense.”

George’stwo kids are happily married, with kids of their own, and his wife passed away a few years ago.Itmight be his new life mission to pair off me and my brothers.

“Jesus,George.Whatis it with you and matchmaking right now?”

“Elliot.”

Elliotis my youngest brother.Ownsa multimillion-dollar software company with my cousinOwen—the cousin who got engaged in my parents’ garden over the weekend.Owenruns theWestCoastside of their business out ofSanFrancisco, andElliotruns theNewYorkend from two floors below me.Andyes, he and his company had to go through the same vetting process as everyone else to get an office in the building.

“Oh,Christ.Don’t.EvenI’venoticed him staring at her butt.Butyou know howIfeel about mixing business and family.It’sa giant no.Never.Notunder any circumstances.Imade the brothers and cousins all shake on it, years ago.So, do not go encouraging that,George.Idon’t want to have to fall out with my little brother about it.”

“Ithink they’d be adorable together.”

“AndIdon’t want to fall out with you either.”

Georgestops the car outside a three-storyVictorianhouse with bright window boxes at every window, lace curtains behind them, and a glossy bright pink door.TheSpringsB&Bis written in a curly blue font on a yellow sign.

“Howquaint,”Georgesays.

Myphone rings.

Charlotte.

“Ibooked you into a place calledTheSpringsB&B.Apparentlyit’s the only decent place to stay.Youmight have preferred thePark’N’Sleepagain, butIfigure if you want the locals to adore you, you’d better stay somewhere a little more community oriented.”

“Ifinally beat you to something.Sittingoutside it now.Itlooks like a florist shop threw up all over it, then wrapped it in candy-colored fabric, and tied it up with a lacy ribbon.”

“Hmm.I’mlooking at the interior pics.Youmight find it a bit, well, floral.”

“Great.”

“Stayingthere will be good for the cause, though.You’llwin,Max.Iknow you’ll stop at nothing.Iknew that in my first week, when you parachuted out of a plane with the private jet guy.”

“Terrifying.”Ishudder at the memory. “Itwas terrifying.Andmy ankle’s never been the same since that landing.Worthit, though—the luxury private plane rental biz has been a winner.”

IdoubtI’llever do anything actually life-threatening to push through a deal again.Ilook back up at theB&B’spink door.Retina-threatening, maybe.

“Youknow, being on the ground here has already put a spring in my step and made my blood pump a bit harder.I’vemissed the thrill of being hands-on with a project.”

Charlotte’sdoor buzzer goes off in the background. “Gottarun.Decidedto abandon cooking dinner and order pizza.Moreefficient.”

“You’rea life saver.”

“Iknow.”Shehangs up.

Georgelooks at me in the rearview mirror and raises his eyebrows. “Areyou sure it’s the thrill of the project that’s put the spring in your step and made your blood pump harder?”

Itilt my head at him and open the car door.

“Drivehome safely,George.”

Nowto win this town over.AndIknow exactly who to start with.

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