Page 121 of For the Promise

Eli raises his hands. “Leave me out of this.”

“Sorry, Eli. But I can’t. Not when you gave this man-child a job he can’t handle.”

“Hey!” Kai puffs out his chest. “I can handle my job just fine.”

“Which is why my whiskey order fromBuccaneer’swas late this week and I had to stock the bar on a Saturday night when it’s already busy.”

“It was an oversight.”

An oversight? He makes it sound as if he has no responsibility for the situation.

“This is why I will never give you a chance. You don’t take anything seriously. I lost business this afternoon because I ran out of whiskey. And I sure as shit didn’t run out because I made a mistake.”

“I’m sorry.”

I hold up my hand. “Don’t apologize when you have no intention of rectifying the situation. It’s a waste of my time.”

I spin on my heel and stomp away. I can’t believe I was ever tempted by Kai Raider. He’s a child and a goofball. I don’t have time for children or goofing around. I have this bar to manage. I don’t have a family I can fall back on if I don’t earn money.

Chapter 38

“I never thought I could be this happy.” ~ Blossom

Blossom

“What do you think?” I ask as we park in front of the house.

Jaxon shrugs. “It’s fine. All of the houses we’ve toured have been fine.”

“I don’t want fine. I want a forever home.”

“Petal, are you putting too much pressure on this?”

“I haven’t had a home since my parents died. I want a home,” I insist.

“Okay.” He kisses my cheek. “Let’s go get you a home.”

We get out of the car and walk hand in hand toward the house. I love it already. It has a wraparound porch. I can imagine us sitting on the swing sipping whiskey or beer and watching the sun set.

The door opens and our realtor, Jade, steps outside.

“First impressions?” she asks.

I smile. “I love the bright red door and black siding.”

She motions us into the house. I bite my tongue before my jaw drops to the floor. The entire first floor is an open concept, allowing a view of the ocean through the French doors to the deck.

“Sold,” Jaxon says.

“What?”

“It has a front porch you love, a view of the ocean, and I spotted a hot tub on the deck.”

“We haven’t seen the rest of the house.”

“As long as it has good bones, we can fix it up however we want.”

“We don’t know how much it costs.”

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