Page 13 of The Earl's Wrangler
“Sawyer, you stay right there.If they cause trouble, I’ll have Roy kick them out of here fast.”She winked.“They tip for shit and always cause trouble.Now, the brisket is to die for today.”She glared at the group of men, and they all lowered their gazes.
“Thanks.That sounds delicious,” Randall said with a smile.
“Well, isn’t your accent just delightful,” she said, her smile widening.
“Sally,” Sawyer said, his eyes darkening and hers widening.
Sally’s smile dimmed.“Oh, I see.He’s yours,” she said.“Well, far be it from me to poach anyone, but sugar, you are one sweet-lookin’ man.”She sighed.“You each want a beer?”
Randall ordered a soda, and Sawyer did the same.Then Sally hurried away, and Randall leaned over the table.“What was all that about?”
“Sally is always on the lookout,” Sawyer explained.
“I’m not talking about her, but you?If I didn’t know better I’d say that you liked me.”He was teasing, but the way Sawyer sputtered for just a second told him he had hit the nail on the head.“Well, that’s an interesting bit of information.”
Sawyer snorted.“You don’t know shit about nothing.”
“Yeah, then why are your eyes so dark?And you’re sweating.I also see the way you watch me.”Randall leaned closer so he could speak more softly.
“What are you doing here?”a gruff voice asked, and Randall turned and looked into the eyes of Sawyer’s father.Bloody hell.
Chapter 6
SAWYER WANTEDto sink through the floor.Just when he thought he had gotten rid of the man, he showed up again.“I could ask you the same thing.”He turned away.
“Did you think you could get rid of me so easily?”
“I suggest you go, and this time leave town,” Randall said.“Remember what I did before.I can certainly take care of you again.”
“I’m not drunk this time.”
Randall stood.“So I won’t go easy on you.This time, you won’t be walking anywhere.Now, turn around, stop bullying your son, and go.”He sounded so reasonable.
“Where did they dig you up from anyway?Are you an extra in a movie or something?”He smiled.“You aren’t really the earl of whatever it was.”
“Actually, I am.I inherited the title from my father.”
“You need to go,” Sawyer told his father.“I’m not going to give you anything, not even the time of day.”
Sally came over to the table.“Is he joining you?”she asked.
“No.He’s leaving, and you might want to get someone to escort him to the door.He’s here to cause trouble.”Randall sat down.“Thank you for your assistance, Sally.I really appreciate it.”
“You better go.Sawyer and the British hottie are welcome here; you… not so much.”She pointed to the door.“Don’t make me get help.You will regret it.”Sawyer’s father leered at her, and Sawyer wondered if he was going to take a swing at someone, but he left and headed to the door.It slammed after him, and Sally refilled their glasses.“Your food will be out soon.”
“Thank you,” Sawyer said.“For helping.”
She snorted.“My father was a real SOB too.I know how to handle assholes like him….”She pointed toward the other guys.“And them.”
“Thanks, Sally.”
“No problem, sweetie,” she said before patting his shoulder.Then she headed to the kitchen, returning with plates that she set in front of each of them.
“What’s your father’s issue?”Randall asked.
“Gambling.He can never seem to stop.And he isn’t very good at it.He loses a lot more than he wins, and he always needs money.It’s why my mother left him, and now he thinks that I’ll be able to bail him out of whatever mess he’s got himself into.”Sawyer took a bite, humming at the spicy warmth in the beef.
Randall set down his fork and wiped the corners of his mouth.“What kind of people does your father owe?”
