AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So then what? You had a great reunion. What happened after that?”
Jax’s mouth curled into a scowl. “You know about Russ?”
“Russ who?” Chase leaned over the table. “Not Russ Jackson. What does he have to do with my sister?” Nice to realize Jax knew more about what was going on with his own family than he did. So much for burying his head under the pitcher’s mound. By the time he’d pulled it out of his own ass enough to look around, everything had changed.
His hometown. Summer. Hell, even him.
“You don’t know?”
“Would I be asking you if I knew?”
“True enough. Guess they’d been seeing each other. Which I discovered when she started gushing about him.” Jax pinched his nose. “I burst her little happy bubble by telling her I’d seen him kissing some chick at a restaurant the night before, and she damn near punched me in the eye again. Then she shut down and refused to talk to me.” He jerked a shoulder. “At least she broke up with the egotistical fuck.”
“Hockey players,” Chase muttered, earning Jax’s grunt of assent.
“So now both Dixon siblings hate me.” Jax forked up mashed potatoes. “It’s a talent I have, I tell you.”
“If I hated you, would I have asked you to meet me?”
“Hard to say. You always were a contrary bastard.”
Only Jax’s smile kept Chase from tossing back something equally obnoxious. But that wasn’t what he was here for, and truth be told, he owed the guy. Big time. If he was looking out for Cass—especially when Chase hadn’t been around to do so—that made up for a lot of negative history. “That may be so, but I have a business proposition for you.”
Jax slung his arm back over the booth again, but Chase could tell the pose was for show more than from true relaxation. “You didn’t know I was getting out of ball now, yet you’re here with business ideas for me. Or does it have to do with the game? If so, I’ll have to decline. I already have a career opportunity to pursue—”
“I want to start a security agency,” Chase interrupted. He loved the dude—had once loved him—but Jax could out-talk any female. He’d gotten Chase in trouble for whispering during class all through school, and he’d probably happily resume old habits if Chase let him. There would be no getting in trouble now. His brain would just ooze out of his ear. “I’m thinking about what’s next for me and realistically, I can’t keep playing forever.” Maybe not even next year. “So I want you to come in with me, help me set it up.”
Jax dropped his fork to stare at him. “Come again? You want to be partners?”
“I didn’t exactly say partners—”
“Then I can exactly say no, end of story. You want to talk turkey, come to the negotiation with more than a damn drumstick.” His frown lifted magically as their waitress came over to the table. “Hey, darlin’, think you can get me some of that apple pie you have on special? I’d appreciate it.”
“Sure thing.” She glanced at Chase. “You too, sugar?”
Pie and old times. When in Yardley… Chase shrugged. “Sure. Why not? Make it peach for me though, please.”
“Such manners you two have.” She pinched Jax’s cheek and earned herself a grin with dimples. Chase rolled his eyes and wished he’d ordered a beer. “Be right back. Finish up that meatloaf so you don’t insult the cook,” she said before leaving the table.
“Cook.” Chase snorted and went back to his mashed potatoes. They weren’t half bad. They had rosemary and thyme in them, like any decent restaurant. His pissy mood was unfairly coloring hapless spuds now.
“So back to business. Bodyguard agency, hmm? How’d you get there?”
“Been thinking about it for a while. And I have a client already.”
“Oh yeah? Who’s that?”
“Sunny Z.” Chase’s lips twisted. “You remember Summer Maitland? Cass’s friend?”
“Sure. Little thing. Big personality. Real flirty and fun. Nice tits.” At Chase’s narrowed eyed glance, Jax sighed and raised his gaze to the ceiling in an apparent bid for celestial help. “Now what? I get why you don’t want me looking at your sister that way, but Summer too?”
“Summer is as off-limits as Cass, so watch yourself.”
“Why’s that?” The corner of Jax’s mouth lifted and out came the dimple on that side. It mocked Chase almost as much as the gleam in his eyes. “You feeling brotherly toward her too? Or just especially friendly?”
“You know, for a guy who’s supposed to be a reformed pussy-magnet, you damn sure seem to be on the make. Keep it in your pants for ten and let me explain.” When their pies arrived, Chase nodded and gestured. “Good. Fill your mouth up with that.”
“Cranky and contrary. Nice combo.”
