Page 143 of The Wayward Son

“Xander.”

“I insist.”

“Thank you.” She looked around the room. “Have you ever thought about offering breakfast sandwiches? Bagels, eggs, ham or sausage?”

“I’d have to put in a grill.”

“It might be worth it. You could do sandwiches for lunch, too.”

“Are you trying to raise my revenue?”

“I’d like to see you stay around a while.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Ranch Girl.”

“Good. I’ll see you Thursday at six.”

“That works for me. Can’t wait.”

She smiled. “And wine, not beer.”

“Got it.”

“And maybe something for dessert.”

“Brownies?”

“Perfect.”

She headed for the door and he called after her. “Tell your brother to get his head out of his ass and tell Jade he wants her to stay.”

“I already have. Though I used a little more finesse than that.”

“Sometimes you need to throw out finesse and play hardball.”

Chapter forty

"That sounds like a great plan."

Sawyer washed down his second shot of tequila with a few swallows of beer, then leaned back in his chair. “This isn’t really helping. People get drunk to forget things. But I still remember everything.”

“You’re just not there yet.”

“Right. More tequila.”

“Time for you to tell me what’s going on. Are you having second thoughts about giving up boxing?”

Sawyer laughed. “No. This has nothing to do with boxing. Although that’s one thing that might help. Getting in the ring with some bastard who wants to kill me.”

“We’ll stick to smashing pool balls around. But first, talk to me.”

“Jade got a job.”

“She’s not going to be working here anymore?”

“No. Hawaii.”

“Hawaii?”

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