Page 22 of Big Booze Boss

"I noticed the man was dressed in a baseball uniform. Nice attire for the servers."

He chuckles, "They're all athletes. Mostly males. College kids."

I shake my head. "Smart! The real reason women watch sports."

He chuckles again. "Exactly."

He points to the stool he pointed out earlier and says, "Take a seat." Then he walks to the back and disappears. I look around at all the bottles of booze along the wall and spot Blazing Fire. The bottle is shaded red. The label is blue with a big red kiss. The gold slogan reads, "A kiss as smooth and hot as Summer Breeze."

"And I thought he was joking," I smirk.

Blaze returns and steps behind the bar. "Would you like a beer?"

"No, thank you. Water, please."

He opens a cooler, removes two, twists the tops off, then slides a bottle of spring water to me.

"Place your order for tonight's dinner." He hands me a menu. "I've got a platter of chicken fingers coming."

I open the menu and study the choices. It's a full restaurant menu. "What are you having?"

"Steak and mashed potatoes, of course." He smiles.

"I'll have the Bison Burger." I close the menu and ask him, "Is this why you're not overly concerned with your thumb healing?"

He shrugs as he enters our orders on an electronic menu device shaped like a scoreboard. "You know baseball has been my life, and I intend to play as long as I can. But being a pro means it's my job. It's a demanding schedule. There isn't any time for anything else." He cuts his eyes at me. "Or anyone else."

I nod, knowing how demanding it is, having followed his career like the fanatic I am.

Our chicken fingers arrive, and the server stares, smiling at me but doesn't say anything.

As we eat, Blaze tells me how he markets to the wives for the experience of the 'authentic game day atmosphere.'

And I laugh with him. Then I ask, "Your sign has the #1. Not 14. How come?"

"This is the first."

Surprised, I ask, "How many are there?"

"Seventy-five in Montana and another three hundred scattered across the West. With plans nationwide."

"MY GOD! I had no idea." I'm shocked and impressed.

He laughs, "No one in Florida has heard of it yet, but in four years, they will."

"You're franchising them?"

"The plans are to make it a national brand."

"Wow! That's incredible! Congratulations!"

He smiles, "Thanks."

The conversation quiets while I absorb this information. If Blaze owns nearly 400 of these, then he must be very wealthy!

I ask, "Does Brandon know?"

He shakes his head. "No."

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