Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
I look back and forth between the two handsome men and feel the tension leave my shoulders.
I kind of love the idea of not being tied to the bar anymore, but knowing that it’s still going to be a place where our regulars can go makes me happy.
“Would you be willing to hire Ben?” I ask. “He’s an excellent bartender and a good person.”
“I’m sure we can work that out,” Walker says with a nod. “If he wants the job, that is.”
I look over there again and then turn back to them.
“Let’s look into an appraisal and get this ball rolling.”
Both sides of Walker’s mouth tip up now, and he offers me his hand to shake.
“Thank you,” he says.
“You’re the one that’ll have to tear down that place and start from scratch,” I remind him with a grin. “So thank you.”
Walker leaves soon after, and Xander and I are left at the table, finishing our drinks.
“You really want to be part owner of a new bar?” I ask Xander. He reaches over and takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze.
“I’m always interested in new investment opportunities. Walker’s a good guy, and I think this town needs something like that. So yeah, I would do it. But not if it makes you feel weird.”
“Oh, it doesn’t. Not at all, actually. I’m kind of relieved that I don’t have to make any decisions for it or deal with rebuilding. I can wash my hands of it—and my mother—once and for all. I can pay off the back taxes she owes, and give Ben and the others some pay to help ease the burden of being out of work. If there’s anything left over, I should send it to Brenda.”
Xander shakes his head. “No way, Red. She owes you a lot more than what might be left over after you pay her debts. You kept that place afloat for a long time.”
He’s not wrong. I sigh and decide to wait and see how I feel about it when the time comes.
Xander clears his throat, and I tilt my head to the side.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need to come clean about something.”
He looks so guilty.
“Okay.” I squeeze his hand and lean closer. “What’s going on?”
“Brenda contacted me a while ago. Tried to extort money from me. Clearly that didn’t happen, and she doesn’t worry me, but I’ve had a private investigator keeping an eye on her because I didn’t want her to try to hurt you. I felt better keeping tabs on her.”
I exhale and close my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, no. This isn’t your fault, and I was purely trying to protect you. But I got a call this morning that Brenda’s in Arizona. She’s not good, Ivy. She’s homeless, and he says it looks like she’s using. I need to know what you want me to do.”
I pause, frowning at him.
“What do you mean? What in the world would there be to do about this?”
“Do you want me to pay for her to get off the streets and clean her life up?”
“Fuck no.” I shake my head, and I wish that we were alone because I want to climb in his lap and hug him to me. “No, Xander. I don’t want you to rescue her. She made her choices, and she’s a horrible human being. I did what I could to help her, and she let her life fall to shit all on her own. I hate that it’s come to this for her, but if you gave her money, she would waste it and end up right back where she is. You sent her to rehab for me, and she basically threw it back in your face. We’re done helping her. Because she’d never return the favor for me.”
His eyes move over my face, and when he sees that I mean every single word, he nods.
“Okay. I’ll tell the PI to close the case, and we’ll leave it alone.”
“Good. I’m ready for her to no longer be an issue in my life. I just want to move on.”
He leans over to capture my mouth with his. “Then that’s what we’ll do, wildcat.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
XANDER
“No pain?” Ivy asks as I do a deep squat with a hundred and fifty pounds on my back.
“No.”
She nods and I do another. I’m almost six months out from my injury, and I’m pain-free. Of course, she watches me like a fucking hawk, but I don’t mind because I love having Ivy’s attention.
I’m fucking addicted to her.
She’s been putting me through the paces today, and I’m a sweaty mess, but I don’t mind because I feel great, and this means that I’m so close to getting back on the ice with my team.
“We’ll head to the rink this afternoon,” she says. “Run some skating drills.”
“Does this mean I can go to Denver and practice with the guys?”