Page 72 of Grump and Grumpier

Ana stops in her tracks, her hands going to herhips. “You told me you wanted to hire me because I was well qualified.”

Derek turns her back in the direction we were walking with a hand on her shoulder. “As a wise woman once told us, both things can be true.”

“This woman was great for the men’s company,” I say. “She brought it back from the brink of disaster, actually, and taught the men to do better and be better. They really wanted to be better men for her, but they let jealousy and fear get the best of them.”

“They were so head over heels for her that they lost their minds, not that that was any excuse for how they acted,” Derek says. “And now we’re at the part of the story where the men are trying to do whatever they can to earn a second chance with the woman they can’t live without.”

We’ve reached the little community park and wandered over to the swingset. I hold the chains on one of the swings steady so Ana can take a seat. Her voice is thick when she asks, “What do these two men want from her, exactly … if they manage to win her back?”

“These two dummies have never been in a serious relationship, because they were always so focused on their company, but they’re determined to make things work with … you. We’re determined to keep improving for you, so you can expect better of us.”

Ana lifts her brows and feigns surprise. “Oh, is this story about me? And you?”

Twisting my swing toward her, I capture her legs between mine, linking us together, and she smiles, giving me a shining ray of hope.

“And they—you—want a relationship?” She looks over her shoulder at Derek, including him in her question.

Derek reaches for her hand, and now the three of us are connected. “We do. We want to be with you, Ana. Dates, nights, mornings, holidays. We want it all.”

She drops her feet to the ground and lets go of Derek’s hand. Her eyes are downcast, and my stomach goes cold as she says, “We’re so different, though. Opposites in many ways. And much as I enjoy a good romance story, I’ve learned that love isn’t that easy in real life. I don’t think we can make it work.”

CHAPTER 56

DEREK

“Our differences are what make us work. We admire your optimism, and it’s what we’ve learned from you that makes us hopeful about a relationship.

“From the very first time we talked with you, we knew you were special—obviously, or we never would have done what we did during your interview. And maybe you’ve had the idea that this has all been about sex, or that we hired you because of what happened at the interview, but if we didn’t think you were good for the company, we’d have tried to date you, not hire you.”

“You light up a room,” Jansen says. “I always thought that was a cliché until I met you and saw it happen.”

“We need you, Ana.” My hand brushes her knee, and she looks up, her eyes watery. “Maybe you don’t need us, but we know youwantus, we know we’regood together, and we want to do whatever it takes to convince you of that.”

“It’s true that I want you, but I can’t handle you telling me what to do and what not to do, and acting so irrationally. Your reaction to me telling you about my other job offer crossed a line, and the Owen situation was wrong in so many ways.”

“I know that was wrong,” Jansen says, “but sometimes I don’t think clearly when it comes to you. I don’t think at all.”

“Jansen shouldn’t have fired him, and I should’ve taken your side, but I couldn’t handle the thought of him with his hands on you. You belong to us.”

Ana levels me with a look of disappointment that’s like a kick in the stomach. “I don’t belong to anyone but myself. Even if I was your girlfriend, I don’t belong to you in the sense that you can control me or try to control who talks to me.”

“I understand that, even though I haven’t acted like I do,” Jansen says. “We’ve acted like idiots, but we want you to be ours and no one else’s.”

“Bossing me around when we’re in the bedroom is one thing, but I don’t want someone acting like they’re in charge of my life.”

Jansen nods. “We’re learning, and we’ll learn fast, because we don’t want to lose you.”

“It hurt so much to know that we hurt you,” I tell her.

She looks conflicted and lost in her thoughts, her eyes on her feet.

“Maybe you can bring us in on a trial basis?” I say, earning a curious look. “We’ll fill the position of boyfriend for six months.”

“Temp-to-hire,” Jansen adds.

She shakes her head, smiling a small smile.

“We’ll prove to you that we’re qualified for the job.”