“You involved me,” Reese insisted. “I’m here. If she’s having problems with some bozo, tell me. I can—”
“Not happening.” Rowdy got out the whiteboard to write up the day’s specials.
“Fine. Have it your way.” Reese pulled out his phone. “I’ll call Pepper. And Logan.”
Rowdy frowned at him.
“Might as well tell Alice, too.”
Of all the idiotic...
“I assume Avery knows what you have planned?”
Temper sparked, Rowdy set the board aside. “I don’t know what the f**k you think you’re doing, but—”
“Rowdy?” Her gaze going back and forth between them, Avery approached. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine.”
Reese snorted.
Avery smiled at him. “I couldn’t help but overhear you guys bickering.”
That annoyed the hell out of Rowdy. “We weren’t bickering.”
“Actually,” Reese said, “I was trying to convince Rowdy not to be so pigheaded.”
“Good luck with that.” Avery laughed at his expression. “I’m just teasing. I’m sure you’ll be entirely circumspect and cautious in all you do.”
“Avery,” he warned.
Grinning, she took his hand. “My mother is busy for the entire week, but she said she’d love for us to visit next Sunday. Does that work for you?”
“Whatever you want, honey.”
“Okay, I’ll let her know.” She went on tiptoe to kiss him. “Thank you.”
After she went back to the bar, Reese dropped back against the wall and stared.
“What’s your problem now?” Rowdy asked.
“I’m in shock.” He blinked twice. “Did you actually say you were heading home with her to meet her mother?”
“Already met her.” Rowdy began lowering chairs off the tables. “She’s nice enough. Jury is still out on her stepdad.”
“You’re kidding me.” Reese pitched in with the chairs. “And the ex? Did you meet him, too?”
“Grade-A prick.” The next chair landed a little harder than he meant for it to. “Her folks like him, though.”
Reese shrugged that off. “I’ll take your judgment over theirs any day.”
Rowdy hated to admit how much that meant to him. “He says he followed us out of concern for Avery. You know, just checking up on her to make sure she was okay.”
“Right.” Being facetious, Reese said, “I’m sure he had only altruistic motives.”
Without thinking about it, Rowdy shared another concern. “It’s been a rough time for her. She’s struggling with some things.”
Reese clapped him on the shoulder. “I think you’re doing a little struggling of your own.”
Ready to flatten him, Rowdy said, “Go bug someone else, will you?”
Grinning, Reese pointed at him. “Don’t do anything with her ex. If he bothers her again, let me know. If you murder him, you’ll be the one in jail and Avery will be alone. Then how will she feel?”
Yeah, maybe something to think about. “You made your point.”
“Several points actually.” He waved to Avery. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“The same.” Rowdy walked with Reese to the door.
As long as Fisher left Avery alone, he wouldn’t have to deal with him.
But if the bastard ever thought about hurting her again, all bets were off.
* * *
CANNON ENJOYED WALKING. It was good exercise, gave him an excuse to look around the area and check on things and it freed his mind.
Even on an overcast day, he could fill his lungs with fresh air, watch a bird fly by and hear the buzz of the neighborhood.
Hands in his pockets, his stocking hat pulled down over his ears, he checked out every building, those closed up and those still trying to get by.
At a small, family-run pawnshop, Cannon watched an elderly man sweep leaves away from the front door. Cannon knew everyone, at least well enough to wave and exchange a greeting, so he was already aware of the owner’s eighteen-year-old granddaughter, Yvette.
She spotted him and immediately started to flirt. Though barely legal, she was old enough to know how to look at a guy to get the biggest reaction.
Although amused, Cannon kept his nod reserved, polite, but nothing more. Yvette was at the age where she liked attention a little too much, always flirting with danger. Being stacked and really cute, she could find that danger whenever she wanted, but she wouldn’t find it with him.
At the corner, gangly youths hung out, probably because of the girl. They hadn’t yet caused any real trouble, but they were at risk of getting recruited by the real thugs. If he got his gym opened soon, that might help. He’d need another six months or so. Possibly longer, depending on how his next fight went.
When the boys noticed him, they called out. Grinning, Cannon lifted a hand—and his gaze got caught by a luxury sedan coasting slowly toward the bar. Not the silver hybrid this time, but a new model Audi.
Like money on wheels.
Even as the hairs on the back of his neck prickled, tinted windows kept him from seeing inside.
The boys noticed the car and made a big fuss about it. Cannon didn’t want them to draw attention, so with a final wave he jogged the rest of the way to the bar. They wouldn’t open for another forty-five minutes. Why would a slick ride like that be hanging around?