Bad Boys Do (Donovan Brothers Brewery 2)

Gwen looked down at the table. “I don’t know. I always thought…” She cleared her throat. “I always thought I’d get another chance, but…”

“Another chance?” Olivia sobered at the solemn sound of Gwen’s words.

“I had a daughter when I was eighteen. I gave her up for adoption.”

“Oh.” She reached out to touch Gwen’s hand. “I feel like I should say I’m sorry, but maybe those aren’t the right words.”

Gwen nodded and her gaze rose. “I made the right choice. I know I did. She has a great family. But the older I get… It’s not that I’d make a different choice, but I feel like I should’ve been more aware that she might be my only child. I should’ve at least known that when I said goodbye to her.”

“Oh, Gwen.” Olivia squeezed her hand. “You’re only twenty-eight. You’ll meet someone wonderful and have a family. I don’t have any doubt. You’re such a nice person.”

“I’ve got a great personality, huh?”

“And a prestigious rack.”

Even though it sounded a little watery, Gwen laughed and slapped Olivia’s arm.

“Did you ever manage to drop into Paul?

??s office?”

“I was just kidding. He asked you out, Olivia. I don’t want to horn in on that.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure, I’m used to keeping all the men for myself, but I can’t be too selfish this time. I’m otherwise occupied.”

Gwen shook her head.

“He’s cute.”

“I know,” Gwen grumbled. “I Googled him.”

“So talk to him.”

“About what? My favorite new reality show? I’ve learned the hard way that I don’t have anything in common with these tenured guys. I still eat ramen every Monday night.”

“You do not.”

Gwen winked. “Only when I’m too lazy to cook.”

“We’ll see,” Olivia said, conceding nothing. If Gwen wasn’t going to drop by Paul’s office, then Olivia would arrange a meeting herself. He’d seemed nice. He was obviously smart and successful and looking to date. He was exactly what Gwen needed, and Olivia was finding him a little lacking in the kilt department.

“I’ve never told anyone about the adoption, by the way. So…”

“I won’t betray your confidence,” Olivia promised. “You hold one of my secrets, too.”

“Are you talking about Jamie or Victor?”

“Okay, two secrets, I guess, but one of them seems to be getting around pretty fast. I was talking about Victor’s little indiscretion.”

“I still say you should’ve busted his ass.”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything. And in the end, he would’ve kept his job and made sure I lost mine. Then it would’ve been easier to make me come back to him.”

Gwen’s eyes fell for a moment. “I’m sorry I never said anything to you. We weren’t close then, and I wasn’t a hundred percent sure he was cheating. And sometimes people don’t want to know the truth.”

“I know that. Believe me. It was all there for me to see if I’d wanted to. I realize now that it happened before, but I didn’t want to look too closely. You don’t need to feel guilty about that. And you’re right—if you’d been the one to tell me, we wouldn’t be friends right now. It would’ve been weird.”

“Screw it then. Want another drink?”