Page 44 of Jaxon

"Hunter, can you come out here? There's a man outside with a tape measure. He's under the impression that this shop space will be his soon."

"What the fuck?" Dad wiped off his hands.

I froze to the spot for a second. Was this it? Walsh was making good on his threats. "Fucking hell." I followed Dad out.

The guy was wearing a dress shirt and tie. He was maybe Dad's age but scarecrow thin, and he looked completely stunned as the tape measure hung half open and draped from his hand. He saw Dad and then me come out of the shop and looked as if he might throw up.

Dad walked just close enough to make the man drop his tape measure. Dad walked calmly over, picked it up, reeled it in and handed it back to the man. "What the hell made you think this shop was for lease?"

"Uh, well, the owner called me. He knew I was looking for a place to make my custom furniture, and he told me one of his shops would be coming up for lease soon. Look, I don't want any trouble. Obviously, there's been some sort of mistake."

Dad crossed his arms. "Obviously."

The man spun around, ran to his car and took off.

"What the hell?" Dad turned back toward the shop. "I'd better call Greer and find out what the hell is going on."

"I know." I said it fast, almost hoping he wouldn't hear it.

Both Dad and Mom stopped and looked at me. "What?" Dad's jaw tightened. "Does this have to do with your latest fuck? You'd better drop her quick."

Mom smacked Dad on the arm, then rubbed her hand. "Fucking rock wall," she muttered. "Don't you talk about a woman that way—asthe latest fuck. Now what the hell is going on, Jax?"

"She's not my latest fuck. I really like Bridget. I've never felt—" I shook my head. "Not going to talk about this with you guys. She's important to me. Her dad doesn't approve."

"Gee, couldn't have seen that coming," Dad said. "You're an idiot. What makes you think you could ever just slip unnoticed into the world that girl lives in? What was all that about just now?"

"Her dad is friends with Greer. Walsh told Bridget if she keeps seeing me, he's going to—" I took a deep breath. "He's going to go after my whole family."

"Shit, Greer owns the land that Lazy Daze is on, too," Mom said.

"Yeah, his plan is to get Greer to pull the leases so the businesses go down."

Dad stared unblinkingly at me. "You and that dick of yours?—"

Mom smacked his arm again and then winced. "Why the hell didn't I learn my lesson the first time? Look here, Hunter Stone—you were in your twenties once too, and talk about being led around by your dick. You didn't take a breath unless you asked your dick first."

"Okay, this conversation is getting worse by the minute," I said.

Mom rolled her eyes at me and returned her disapproving scowl to Dad. "And if Jaxon likes this woman, then what her father is doing is fucking cruel, and frankly, I'd like to go talk to Nathan Walsh myself and give him a piece of my mind."

"Yep, what guy doesn't dream of his mom going in to defend him in front of his girlfriend's dad." Fuck Walsh for being so damn persistent.

Mom's mouth dropped. "Did you just call her your girlfriend? I don't think I've ever heard that word come out of your mouth before, Jaxon Stone." She patted her chest. "My heart's all aflutter."

"Look, I'm going to take care of it," I said even though I had no idea how to deal with it.

"You'd better." Dad turned to walk inside. "And don't forget to tell them extra onions on mine. I owe your mom some kisses after those two knuckle punches."

"That's fine. I'll be eating chili and pickles, which will drown out the onion when we kiss." Mom followed him inside.

I took out my phone and sent a text to Stella. "Holy crap, our parents are so fucking weird."

She wrote right back. "That took you twenty-seven years to figure out?"

CHAPTER 22

BRIDGET

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