Page 9 of Gin & Jewels

“Deal.”

I watched as she poured the pie filling into the crust, gauging to see if she was in any pain or anything. She looked good. “How are you feeling?”

Mom smiled warmly at me. “Better. I think I’m ready to start looking for a job.”

“Really?” My heart swelled because all I wanted was for my mother to be healthy and like her old self again.

“My body has healed a lot since my surgery. I think I can handle it.”

“Maybe a part-time job,” I suggested.

She nodded. “Maybe. We’ll see.”

Even though Vegas was hot as hell, the Tennessee humidity in the middle of July was no joke.

Cutting off the mower, I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my forearm. I was shirtless, but not because my mother wanted me to be on display for Mary and her granddaughter. It was hot as balls out, and there was no way I was going to mow wearing anything more than absolutely necessary.

When I opened my eyes, Mary and her granddaughter were walking toward the house. Their eyes were glued to me, and the younger woman had a look of want on her face that I’d seen more times than I could count over the last three years in my line of work.

“Ladies,” I greeted.

“Hey, Bradley,” Mary replied. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Likewise.”

She smiled. “This is my granddaughter, Holly.”

My gaze moved to the dark-haired woman next to her. She looked as though she was barely in her twenties. There was nothing wrong with that—I loved all women—but the younger women usually couldn’t afford me, and I didn’tdatethem.

She waved, and I smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Holly replied.

“Mom’s making her delicious peach cobbler—go on inside.”

“Thank you,” Mary said, and she and Holly walked up to the small porch. Just before entering the house, Holly turned her head and gave me one last look with a smile.

Great.

I put the mower in the shed near the garage and went inside to shower off the sweat and humidity coating my body. When I was done, I walked into the kitchen to see an empty dessert plate and a half-empty coffee cup in front of each lady. “Save any for me?”

“Of course,” Mom answered and started to stand.

“I can get it.” I waved her off to sit back down.

“Have as much as you’d like.”

“I will.” I chuckled. I loved my mother’s cooking and baking and always got my fill when I visited.

“I was just telling Holly that you live in Vegas. She’s never been,” Mom said.

I looked over my shoulder as I cut into the cobbler. “Really?”

“Yeah, I just turned twenty-one.”

I knew it.“It’s a fun place. You should go.”

“Maybe I will, and you can show me around?”