“You know we’re going to get this out of you.” Tanner pulled his cell from his pocket. “Cash and I will be over this evening. Don’t think we won’t revisit this topic.”
“You’ll be wasting your time.”
With a shrug, Tanner focused on his phone as he sent a text. “I have no other plans tonight. Piper has to go to bed at some time. We’ll get you then.”
Jax laughed and grabbed his keys off the old scarred desk. The same desk Paul used when he took over here years ago. “When Piper goes to bed, that’s when you two losers are leaving.”
Tanner headed out with Jax and stopped beside the old beat-up truck Jax so loved. “Was there something you wanted when you stopped by?”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Tanner rocked back on his heels and nodded. “I wanted to talk to you about a job prospect.”
Intrigued, Jax crossed his arms and leaned against his bumper. “For you?”
“I was given an option of transferring units.”
“Where’s the other unit?”
Tanner pulled in a deep breath, his broad chest expanding beneath the gray T-shirt. “In St. Perry.”
Stunned, Jax absorbed the information. “Two hours away. What made them offer that to you?”
“You know I passed my exam to be promoted to sergeant?”
Jax nodded.
“Well, there’s an opening coming up there and I was offered first. I’m supposed to tell them within the next couple months. It’s a long gap, but they want time to look for others if I’m not interested.”
Raking a hand over the back of his head, Jax truly had no clue what to say. “Do you want the job?”
“I want the pay and the position, but I don’t want to be in St. Perry.”
“You talked to Cash?”
Tanner shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Well, whatever you decide, we’ll support you. I know we were both proud of you for passing. You’d make an excellent sergeant.”
Tanner kicked at a pebble with his work boot. “I’d prefer to be excellent a little closer to home.”
“Well, you can always take the position and wait for something to open up here.”
Tanner simply nodded and Jax knew he was torn up over the life-changing decision looming over him. But Jax would have his back no matter what. It would suck to have his best friend move, but two hours wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t down the street like they were used to, but it could be worse.
“I need to get to the school,” Jax stated. “I’ll see you this evening and keep your mouth shut about Livie around Piper.”
Tanner tossed a dimpled grin. “I know how to handle a toddler. It’s Cash you need to worry about.”
Jax ignored the warning and climbed into his truck. Cash and Tanner had been there for Jax from the beginning of this whole parenting thing. The three of them often took Piper out fishing or to the park and on occasion they’d all pile into the movie theater. Nothing like three guys and a little tomboy heading in to see the latest kiddie flick.
Jax was convinced Tanner liked to use Piper to pick up ladies, but Piper was so damn adorable, it was impossible to ignore so much cute.
As he drove away, his mind circled back to Livie. She’d melted when she’d spoken to Piper and Jax couldn’t deny a piece of him had softened. The way she’d squatted down to speak to Piper on her level stirred something deeply within him. He didn’t want anything to stir, he didn’t want to find Livie even more attractive. Between the kiss and the way she seemed to adore Piper, Jax was having a difficult time remembering they were on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Tonight he was going to have to answer to his cousins. There was no way in hell Tanner wasn’t spilling everything to Cash. Most likely they were on the phone now chatting.
Regardless, he had more important things to address than what they thought. Livie wasn’t going anywhere and it was only a matter of time before he was face-to-face with her again. Jax doubted anything would prepare him, because as much as he wanted to end this property dispute, he wanted to touch her, kiss her, and forget they were technically enemies.
Chapter Seven
“Sweet tea?”
Olivia glanced up from her laptop and smiled at Jade. “Perfect timing. I just submitted the quote.”
Jade sat two glasses of sweet tea on the small table by Olivia. Jade folded her lean frame on the chaise and let out a sigh.
“Where’s Melanie?”
“She said she was going into town.”
Into town was code for Haven. There were many cute specialty shops that had popped up since Olivia had left years ago. The once run-down, sad area was now thriving with day-trippers from Savannah and the locals who appreciated their beautiful, quaint area.
Olivia took a sip of her tea and welcomed that extra kick of sugar and caffeine. After working all day in the bedroom closets, she was more than ready to relax.
“I’ve been thinking,” Jade stated in a slow, careful tone. “Just hear me out before you shoot down my idea.”
Olivia sat her laptop beside her on the cushion and gripped her cool glass. “When you lead in like that, you’re already making me nervous.”
Stretching her long legs in front of her, Jade crossed her ankles and stared out into the spacious backyard. “I had an epiphany while going through your guest-room closet. Maybe I was trying to figure out a way to
