Page 43 of Bad Boy for Hire

Xavier held his own glass aloft. “To an autumn to remember.”

“You two can remember it. Griffin and I are content to blot it out.” Lisa took a gulp of her drink, and Griffin did the same, putting away half of the martini in one chug.

“Wow. This is good. You’ll have to taste the real one, May.”

She was fairly certain alcohol wouldn’t affect her if she were pregnant. Today would be what? Five days after conception? But she appreciated Xavier’s thoughtfulness.

She sipped her mocktail, surprised by the depth of flavor. “This is good. Refreshing.”

“Make you want to roll in the hay?” Griffin asked.

Lisa elbowed him.

“I mean a hayride. The one at Harvest Fest. Speaking of, I need to talk to you, Miss Mayor’s Right Hand. No time like the present.”

Griffin turned his back on them, effectively cutting May and Xavier out of the conversation.

May leaned close to Xavier, propping her elbow on the bar to create a modicum of privacy. “You told him.”

“You told Lisa.”

“Not…everything. Not that.” She hesitated. “Are you worried?”

“I’m not worried. But if… We can’t have you guzzling bourbon.”

“Guzzling.” She rolled her eyes. “I did the math. We’re probably okay.” Probably. Her cycle wasn’t exactly clockwork, but she was choosing to look on the bright side.

His slow smile and hooded gaze threatened to melt her panties. “Tell me that means we can do it again.” Chin tucked, eyes smoldering, his expression was pure sin with a dash of hope. “Please?”

She exhaled: a half-sigh, half-laugh. If someone had told her a week ago that Xavier Dane would be begging for another night with her—while sipping a mocktail, no less—she would’ve called them crazy.

But here he was. And he was asking.

Chapter Fourteen

An hour later, they moved to a table. Xavier had excused himself to shake up another round—mentioning he was adding bourbon to his this time. He had leaned close to ask May’s preference.

“I’ll stick with this, actually.” She’d been enjoying not drinking for a change.

“You’ve been talking about an alcohol break since your failed attempt at Dry January. And Dry July,” Lisa said. “Do it, already! Sober September. Want me to do it with you?”

“But you love your cocktails,” May said.

“Make it sound like I have a problem, why don’t you?” Lisa snapped her attention to Griffin, who was sitting next to her at the table. “You’re currently my only problem.”

“I highly doubt that. Workaholic Lisa Labreck always has problems. You love problems.”

“That’s because I’m really good at solving them.”

“Except for me.” Griffin smirked, as if he liked being a problem she couldn’t solve.

“Right. You’re more of a chronic problem. Like hair loss.”

“Can I request a truce?” This came from Xavier, who kept his tone light. May wondered if he was tired of hearing those two snip at each other, and what he knew, if anything, about Lisa and Griffin’s past.

“You can request whatever you like.” Lisa raised her glass, her expression hinting that she wouldn’t comply.

“Sober September, huh?” Xavier gave May an assessing look. “I’ll do it if you do it.”