Page 25 of Grand Escape

“Glass?” the bartender asked me, cracking a cold can.

“Nah.”

“Put it on my tab, Billy,” the guy with salt-and-pepper hair said.

“Thanks.” I figured there was no point in arguing. I was drinking more booze for free on this trip than I was actually paying for.

“Jack,” the older man said, introducing himself as he offered me his hand.

“Adam.” I gave him a firm handshake and then tipped my beer toward him. After taking a long sip, I sighed.

“It’s a good life here, isn’t it?” Jack said, chuckling.

“Wish I could make it my life, but you know. Gotta work. It’s a nice break, though.”

“Pain in the ass isn’t it? Work? Life?”

“It is.”

Jack gave me a considering look. “My advice? Get out as quickly as you can. Find your widget and sell it, then come straight here.”

I barked out a laugh. “Too bad I’m the widget. I’m a lawyer. Wish I could sell myself off.”

Jack picked up a lowball of whatever he was drinking. “Then here’s to a big case for you. Settle it and be done.”

Agreeing, I nodded and drank. That would be nice.

I couldn’t help but think of Rylan living here. With zero lofty goals or ambitions other than to be content and happy, she was the exact opposite of me. For a second, I considered moving here, and then I wanted to punch the idea out of my own head.

Jack spoke again, breaking through my thoughts. “I come down every winter for about six weeks. Mid-January to the end of February, after the Christmas family trips and before the spring breakers. I don’t mind the bachelorette parties, although none of those girls are interested in me.” He laughed at his own joke.

“Sounds pretty fucking awesome,” I said, adding, “If you don’t mind me saying.”

Jack grinned. “It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it. Plus, I worked my ass off until I found this little tech company who needed an investor. They came to me, and I liked their presentation. Who knew they’d become the latest and greatest video thing? Anyway, my wife left me for her tennis instructor, and here I am, living the good life.”

“Sorry about that.” And I was. No one wanted a relationship to end in divorce. I knew that better than anyone.

“Best thing she could’ve done, especially since she divorced me before the tech company sold. Saved me millions.”

“Well, good for you. Divorce attorney here. I know the intricacies.”

Jack looked at me, the sun bouncing off his gold Rolex. “How ’bout that. Tell me, here by yourself, Adam?”

“Yeah, it’s sort of a mental-health type of thing. A break from the shit at home.”

“Hope it’s working out for you.”

Before I could answer, Billy swung by.

“Another, Jack?” When Jack nodded, Billy turned to me. “Aren’t you the guy Tony’s going on about?”

“The one and only.” If the staff was going to talk about me, I might as well take ownership.

I’d told Rylan I didn’t care, and I didn’t. In a week, I’d be back home, fighting on some rich client’s behalf for a house or a boat or both, and life on Grand Cayman would go on without me.

“Better not hurt Ry,” Billy said.

Jack leaned in, getting involved now. “This guy hitting on Rylan?”

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