Page 87 of Bad Boy for Hire

“Ant, you remember Dean.”

“The beer brewer who left you high and dry.”

“That’s me.” Dean offered a guilty smile before tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I didn’t plan on coming to your house. I guess I should have called first.” His eyes went to the crib. “Looks like you’re busy.”

“I’m going to grab another beer. Dean, beer?” Ant offered.

“Uhhh…” He looked to Xavier for permission. “Is that okay with you?”

“Depends. You here to apologize or ask for your job back?”

“Bit of both.”

Xavier nodded at Ant. “Bring me one too.”

Ant pushed off the truck bed and went inside.

“This yours?” Dean circled the truck bed, admiring the crib. “Nice piece.”

“It’s mine. Ant built it.”

“Wow, he doesn’t fuck around.”

“No, he does not.” Ant had driven over here to hand Xavier his own ass. Ant didn’t fuck around at all.

“My girls had to share one. Didn’t expect two babies, and by the time they were here, we couldn’t afford a second crib.” Dean had talked about his twin girls quite a bit. “They changed my life. My focus. Used to be about me. Even married, I made it about me.” He shook his head as if lamenting his own stupidity.

That seemed to be going around.

“I didn’t come here to give you parenting advice. I’m here to apologize for leaving and not giving you proper notice. My friend’s restaurant plans fell through. He had a bad weekend, gave up, and moved back in with his parents.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Not sorrier than me. I’m unemployed, and my wife isn’t happy that I left Salty Dog to take a risk. You were always fair. I let you down. So, I’m here to ask if you still need a beer brewer?”

Xavier knew that answer instantly. “No, actually. I don’t.”

Dean pressed his lips into a tight line before saying, “I understand. Sorry to bother you at home.”

Ant stepped outside, his fingers wrapped around three beer bottles, eyes narrowing as he took in the situation: Xavier leaning on the edge of the truck and Dean backing away from it.

“I don’t need a beer brewer,” Xavier called out. “I have a bigger opportunity for you. If you’re still interested in co-owning a restaurant. But in this case, there’s a zero percent chance I’ll bail on you and then move in with my parents.”

Dean took a tentative step toward his former boss. “Really?”

“Really.” It was high time Xavier made space in his life for what mattered now. That had shifted and changed over the years and had drastically changed in the last month.

Ant handed Dean a beer bottle. “I’d take the deal.” When he handed a bottle to Xavier, there was a look of pride on his face.

“I’d listen to him if I were you,” Xavier told Dean. “Ant’s a successful entrepreneur in his own right. He has insight I don’t have.”

“If you say so.” Ant chuckled. “Let’s take this discussion to the dock. Dean, you coming?”

“Yeah. Yes. Thank you.” Dean’s demeanor had shifted. He walked a little taller. Held himself a little lighter.

As Xavier paced down to the dock behind them, he noticed that he was walking a little taller too. Partially because he’d taken the first step to backing away from the bar, and mostly because he finally knew what to say to May.

It was simple.