Page 57 of The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Mafia Princess

“Yes.”

“I have to check the cleared area around the fireworks site before the crowd gets there. I’ll also have to stay after the display to watch for sparks.”

“So you’re working.”

“Part of the day.”

“I can occupy myself without entering an active fireworks zone.”

“I wasn’t worried about that.”

“You looked concerned.”

“I was thinking about how long the day will be.”

Talia lowered her eyes to my hand on her thigh.

“I can handle a long day.”

“I believe you.”

She nodded, but the movement didn’t loosen her grip on the counter.

“What happens when the celebration is over?” I asked.

She met my gaze.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve talked about staying through the week. You haven’t said what you’re doing Sunday.”

“I haven’t decided.”

“You had a working phone and a way home four days ago. You decided not to use it.”

“That was a decision about that day.”

“What changes on Saturday?”

Talia slid off the counter.

I stepped back to give her room.

She crossed to the table and adjusted her handbag strap even though the bag wasn’t open.

“I’m asking because I need to understand what you want,” I said.

“You said you didn’t want responsibility for choices you never asked me to make.”

“I still don’t.”

“Then why does my next choice matter?”

“Because you matter.”

She went still.

Talia turned to face me.