Page 53 of Savage Spades

He didn’t have anything else to lose. “Shoot.”

“Make the decision easy on her. She has a lot to lose.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I have nothing to offer her.”

“You’re wrong. You gave Megan a lot when she came here. I know you don’t think it’s a lot, but it is. She had nowhere to go, and you gave her a place to live and a support system. You gave her the opportunity to find a job and get back on her feet. That’s not a small thing, and you can do the same for Cam if you think about it. She doesn’t want to sell the bar because after it’s gone, she has nothing. Give her something to run to.”

He stared at Zeke, as if he’d grown two heads. Zeke patted him on the shoulder as he stood. “You’ll figure it out.”

*****

Kit parked his bike in the empty spot up front and took a deep breath. Convincing her to sell the bar was a challenge he wasn’t sure if he was up for. Especially because he had no idea why she was still hanging on to the place. He ran a hand over his beard before climbing off the bike and crossed the sidewalk. The door creaked as he opened it.

Her green eyes met his before she quickly looked down again at her notebook. Yeah, this wasn’t going to be easy. The entire place was empty. Not even the regulars were here today.

“Where is everyone?” he asked her as he approached the bar. He didn’t bother sitting down.

“Ernie’s in the hospital. His daughter called. Apparently, he had a bad fall last night. According to the gossip, Melinda and her husband are trying to save their marriage again. She’ll be back next month.”

“So, now, you don’t even have your regulars?” he challenged.

She shoved the notebook away and stood to her full height before crossing her arms over her chest. It made her tits look bigger as she pushed them up with her arms. She didn’t wear a touch of makeup, but she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She didn’t have to try so hard like the girls at the clubhouse. Cam, when she first woke up, looked better than all of those women put together. God, what he’d give to have her waking up next to him again…

“Did you just come here to argue?” she asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

“No, I came here to talk to you. Talk to me for once. Give me a reason why you are holding onto this place that is costing you money and stress. This bar is killing you, and it’s not giving you anything in return!” He tried to keep the bite out of his voice, but he wasn’t successful.

She looked away from him. A beat of silence passed.

“Talk to me, baby,” he begged.

She faced him again; her eyes tearing up.

“He’s here, Kit. His scent is in the walls. His favorite songs are bookmarked on the jukebox. Every time I pour a customer a drink, I think about how he laughed at me as I attempted to make my first cocktail. I know I need to sell the bar, but that’s easier said than done.”

He walked behind the bar and pulled her close to his chest. Her tears stained his t-shirt as she let it all out. Her body shook as the tears fell freely. She hiccuped, as if trying to get herself under control, but it was like a broken faucet overflowing the sink. Finally, she gave up and her muscles relaxed under his hold. He was helpless. All he could do was hold her as she sobbed out months of stress and grief. Kit rubbed her back as she let herself feel everything she had tried so hard to avoid. It felt like hours before she was able to breathe normally. She pulled back from him, but he didn’t let her go.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have pushed,” he said.

She shook her head. “It’s not that. I know I need to sell. I’ve known for a while. It's inevitable. My dad couldn’t keep this bar afloat, and neither can I. What am I going to do? I don’t know how to do anything besides run this bar and go to school. How am I supposed to make money?”

“Move in with me?” he blurted out. He’d been thinking about what Zeke had said, and he wanted nothing more than to have Cam live with him. To wake up with her in his arms every morning. He wanted to find a way to make her life more comfortable, and getting rid of the overhead of rent would give her one last thing to worry about.

Her eyes widened. “Are you sure? That’s a big step.”

“I know, but I want to help. Megan is still living at my apartment for the next few months, but until then, you can stay at the clubhouse with me.”

She seemed to be thinking it over. “What about Jen?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Talk to her. Who knows, maybe she’ll move Hugo in.”

She laughed. “I don’t know about that.” She took a deep breath. “So we’re doing this? I’m putting the bar up for sale and moving in with you?”

He nodded.

“What am I supposed to do for money?”

“How about you help me at the car shop on the weekends?” he suggested.

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