Even Bell’s voice was different, huskier somehow, yet hauntingly familiar at the same time—just like everything else about her. God, I’d missed her giving me shit. There had been so many times I’d almost picked up the phone. So many times I’d almost come back to see her. But the fear of what I’d find when I got here had always kept me away.

I took another sip of the beer. At least she was talking to me today. “Hank’s making me an early lunch. I think I can handle one pale ale.”

Bell’s nose scrunched as she took in my beverage. “Girlie beer.”

I barked out a laugh. “Don’t pull any punches.”

She started at the sound of my laugh, her eyes widening, and then her expression closed down, shutting me out. I hated every wall she put between us, that I had put between us. Bell turned towards the back hallway, clearly ready to retreat to the office until the doors opened to patrons. But I didn’t want her to go. “Wait.”

She froze, then slowly turned towards me, her expression guarded. “Yeah?”

I inclined my head to the stools next to me. “Grab a seat. I wanted to go over some things with you.” I raised a brow when she didn’t move either way.

Bell straightened her spine and headed back in my direction. I bit back a grin. Trouble never could back down from a challenge. The flicker of my lips faded away when she left a stool in between us. A barrier. “What’s up?”

I gave my head a little shake and gathered up the papers in front of me. “You’ve done a good job of keeping this place afloat.” I looked over at Bell, but she said nothing, a passive mask covering her features. My hold on the papers tightened. “What? You don’t believe me?”

“I’m waiting for the but.”

“There is no but. You’re the reason this place didn’t go under.” I met her gaze and held it, willing her to really hear me. “Thank you”—I cleared my throat—“for being here when I wasn’t. When I couldn’t.”

Bell’s jaw hardened. “I’d do anything for Frank and Kara.”

It cut. Not her dedication to my parents, but the fact that she had to make it clear that her contribution to The Catch’s future had nothing to do with me. “I imagine we owe you some back pay.”

Her eyes hardened, the green glittering like gemstones. “I didn’t do it for the money.”

She said “money” like it was a dirty word. Shit. I was making a mess of this whole thing. “I didn’t mean that you did. But I can tell you’ve been putting in extra hours.”

“They were my hours to give.”