Page 75 of Searching for Bristol
“True.”
“Are you taking on new clients?”
He glanced her way, and she continued quickly. “If I move here, I’m going to need someone who knows Virginia tax laws. Tennessee doesn’t have any state taxes, and the last thing I want is to screw something up and have the IRS on my case.”
“You don’t know if I’m any good,” he said.
Bristol laughed. Hard. When she finally had herself under control, she said simply, “You’re good.”
Drew shook his head in exasperation.
“Drew, you doeveryone’staxes. Sandra, Whitney, Elsie—and I know you charge Elsie half what you do everyone else, which is super nice by the way. And you do taxes for Rocky and everyone on your team for free.”
“You’ve asked around about me,” he stated.
Bristol didn’t hear any irritation in his tone, but it wouldn’t matter to her if she did. “Of course I did. Look, I make a lot of money with my art. Alot,” she emphasized. “I’d be stupid not to get references when looking for a new accountant. If Rocky trusts you, and I know he does, and I trust you with Rocky’slife, why wouldn’t I trust you with my money?”
Drew didn’t say anything until he’d pulled into a parking lot behind the square so she could run in and get her package at the post office. He turned to her when he’d shut off the engine. “You’re gonna stay in Fallport?” he asked.
“That’s the plan.”
“Do you love Rocky?”
Bristol wasn’t sure she was comfortable withthisconversation, and she had a feeling Drew already knew the answer to that question, but she met his eyes and answered anyway. “I’m not prepared to tell you about my feelings for Rocky before I tellhim, but to answer your question another way…do you really think I’d uproot my life, buy a house, move to Fallport, if I didn’t think this was where I wanted my life to be? Where I wanted any children I might have to grow up? Would I ask you to get intimately involved in my financial situation if I didn’t have very deep feelings for Rocky?”
“Just checking,” Drew said with a small smile.
Bristol rolled her eyes and waited.
“What?” he asked.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“About being your accountant?” he asked.
She nodded.
“How much did you make last year?”
“One-point-two million,” Bristol said without flinching.
He whistled. “How much did you pay in taxes?”
She told him—and he frowned. “That’s way too much. Do you have a defined benefit plan?”
“A what?” she asked.
He sighed. “Shit. Yes, I’ll be your accountant. I want to see your taxes from the last three years and any paperwork you have for investment accounts.”
Bristol beamed. “Okay.”
Drew’s lips twitched yet again. “Why do I feel as if I’m a fly who walked right into the spider’s lair?” he asked.
Bristol giggled. “I have no idea. I’m harmless though.”
“That’s what all women say. Stay put. I’ll come around.”
“I can get out by myself,” Bristol protested.
