Page 99 of All Bets Are Off

I sighed. “Fine. If he’s taking me out for seafood tonight, though, then maybe we should hit the Mexican place.”

“I think that sounds like a grand idea.”

MOM, WHO WAS NEVER MUCH FOR DRINKING,went straight for the jalapeño margarita when she ordered. Amused, I arched an eyebrow.

“It’s kind of early,” I hedged.

“Unless you’re carrying my grandbaby and keeping it to yourself, there’s no such thing as too early for a margarita in Vegas,” Mom countered.

I didn’t disagree, so I went with the watermelon margarita. Once our orders were in, talk turned to the dancers.

“Do you think the bar owners are negotiating in good faith?” she asked.

I nodded. “Actually, I do. Well, most of them. There are a few who are purposely difficult. They can’t argue with the casino owners, though. They’re deadly serious about wanting their whales to be happy and the bar owners need them. I think we’re getting close.”

“What seems to be the sticking points?”

Before I could answer, the chair between Mom and me was pulled out, and the one person I wasn’t expecting to join us for lunch plopped down.

“Hello.” Cora grinned from ear to ear as she looked between us. “I heard you were down here. I thought I might join you. Just us ladies.”

I recovered from my shock relatively quickly. “Of course,” I said automatically. “I didn’t realize you were here today.Otherwise I would’ve invited you to join us.” That was a lie. I didn’t seek out Cora for meals or gossip. I didn’t want to be rude, though. She was my mother-in-law. There was a chance, however slim, that she was going to stay my mother-in-law. We had to find common ground.

“I had to stop in and talk to Ryder about something,” Cora explained. “Zach was in with him, and he told me you were here, Patty. He didn’t know what restaurant you ended up at but suggested I find you and make sure you weren’t eating a ham sandwich. Whatever that’s supposed to mean.”

“It’s just an inside joke,” I replied.

“Yes, apparently Olivia has issues eating food she doesn’t pay for,” Mom agreed. “It’s ridiculous if you ask me. I would be taking advantage of this situation before grandbabies arrive on the menu. I mean … it will be a fun adventure for a year or so. She’s kind of a prude when it comes to certain things, though.”

“I am not a prude,” I argued.

“Oh, yes, you really are.” Mom patted my shoulder but turned her focus to Cora. “How is Ryder?”

“He’s an asshole,” Cora replied, not missing a beat.

I jolted in my seat. “What?”

“You’ve heard the word ‘asshole’ before, Olivia,” Mom chided. “Don’t be weird.”

“It’s the right word to describe my husband,” Cora volunteered. “He is a difficult individual. He always has been. The older he gets, however, the more of an asshole he turns into.”

I was caught between the absurd urge to laugh and hiding under the table. “What’s he doing today?”

“Still whining about losing the charity event.”

I stilled as I reached for my water. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nope.” Cora shook her head. “He’s an absolute idiot. Like… I really want to shake him until his head falls off. He just won’t let it go. He’s complaining about the dancers too.”

I froze. “I’m not stopping what I’m doing,” I declared out of nowhere. I had no idea if that was Cora’s goal when she tracked us down, but I had to draw my line in the sand somewhere when it came to her. Otherwise, she would run right over me.

Over, and over, and over again.

“I’m not asking you to stop what you’re doing,” Cora replied. “In fact, I looked over the latest proposal that your team sent over. It was on Ryder’s desk. I happen to think it’s more than fair, and I suggested to Ryder that he lean on his team to get this deal done.”

“You did?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “I didn’t think you were on my side for this.”

“While I wouldn’t have gone the route you did and put myself out there so publicly, I admire you for your dedication to the cause, and I agree these women deserve some support.”

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