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“So, Mr. Davis, what do you do when Elsie isn’t here?” Beau asks, bringing me back to the room.

His gaze is piercing me with anticipation.

“Let’s see. Work, work, and work,” I answer.

“Even in the summers when you’re off?”

“Especially in the summers.” Beau tilts his head and narrows his eyes, and I explain. “I’m an investor and consultant for a lot of businesses. In fact, I’ve got a portfolio the size of this town. So for me, it’s the perfect time to catch up with all of them or see if I need to step out of any.”

“Makes sense,” he says with a wide smile. “It must be intense.”

Intense isn’t even cutting it. Dolly has been begging me for a few years to ease off, stop taking on more responsibilities, but I’m a workaholic. I can’t stop. Although, recently, I have noticed I’m getting more and more frustrated by all the added stress that’s taking me away from more time with Elsie.

“I love what I do, but yeah, it can be,” I answer. “How are you settling in New Harlow? Do you like it?”

Beau’s smile widens, and it looks like his cheeks have more color in them all of a sudden.

“I love it. I’ve been wanting to move here for a while, although it has been pretty dead all summer,” he says.

“Well, it’s still a college town, more or less. Trust me, it gets crazy during the semester. There’s so much going on. Festivals, events, parties. You won’t know where to start,” I tell him. “When you’re off, of course.”

The last part is more for my benefit than his. I don’t care what or who he does in his spare time. I just need to remind myself that he is under my employ.

And he isofflimits!