Chapter 134

“Okay.” He gritted his teeth. “What’s your point?”

She lifted a hand. “Hear me out. It’ll be worth it, I promise.”

Nolan straightened his legs abruptly under the table; his shins smacked the railing and he pulled them back, trying not to grimace. He definitely did not want to spend his morning being told what to do with his family’s money. Attempted seduction, no, he wasn’t in the mood, but at least that would have been exciting and flattering. His big old male ego was bruised already, and now Annie turned out to be Dad Part Two. “I’ll listen. But I’m not planning to take—”

“Just hear me.”

He drew his hand impatiently down his face. “Yeah, okay.”

“As I told you at the party, I work in insurance, but I’m also an artist, a painter. There are a lot of really talented people in this city.”

“Right. I’ve been to some of the open gallery nights.”

“Yes.” She smiled, her eyes assessing him. “Those are great events. But I’m talking specifically about