Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) Kaylie Hunter (books to read this summer TXT) 📖

it won’t help our cause if we all beat the shit out of Grady when he arrives.”

“I’ve only caught bits and pieces of everything that happened today,” Anne said, “but it was enough to make me want to punch at least three people.”

“It’s been a wild day.” I picked up my drink, finally taking a sip. It was delicious. I took another long drink before setting it down.

“Well? Did I pass?” Shipwreck asked, grinning.

“You did. The bar’s yours if you want it. We just have to work out the details.”

“The country bar you were considering building?” Anne asked. “I thought you changed your mind on that.”

“I did, and I didn’t. It lost some appeal to me until Shipwreck’s situation. I like the thought of having somewhere close by to drink rather than my dining room turning into a frat house every night, but I didn’t want to run it.”

“I’m not sure about the country bar theme,” Shipwreck said, wrinkling his nose. “I’m no cowboy.”

Shipwreck was still wearing a Hawaiian shirt and shorts.

“Everyone has been bugging me about building a pool somewhere. I was thinking we could combine the pool and the bar. We could build a big cabana-style building with a tiki bar on one end of the building and an indoor pool on the other.”

“Now we're talking,” Shipwreck said, laughing. “I can totally picture it. Ladies walking around in bikinis all year round.”

“Before your brain goes to the dark-side, I’m also thinking the bar should be membership-only, not open to the public. It would be less profitable, but we could control security easier.”

“I still need to make a living.”

“Ha!” Anne said, sliding off her stool and running into the kitchen. She dug around in a cupboard until she found a short round vase. Placing it on the breakfast bar, she dug a twenty out of her pocket and dropped it inside the vase. Wild Card pulled his wallet and dropped a twenty as well.

Anne looked at me.

“I’m wearing yoga pants.”

Wild Card rolled his eyes and dropped another twenty into the jar. “What Anne’s trying to demonstrate is that everyone has healthy bank accounts. Your tips will be higher than what you’re used to.”

“I’d still pay you a percentage of the profits, too,” I said.

Shipwreck looked at each of us. “What’s the catch?”

“The catch is that the bar will be your headache. I don’t have time to deal with it, and I’d likely have you report to my guy in Miami so he can keep an eye on things. He already looks over everything associated with alcohol or food sales for me. Katie keeps track of my retail businesses. Donovan keeps the ball rolling for my share of Ace’s. And Bones’ sister Rebecca manages all the national and international companies.”

“How rich are you?”

“Very,” Wild Card said, chuckling.

“Loaded,” Anne said, grinning.

“What about this guy in Miami? What if I don’t get along with him?”

“Not a problem,” Wild Card said. “I’d be happy to accompany you and introduce you to Baker. He runs one of the most successful sex clubs in Miami.”

“Hmm. What about starting a sex—” Shipwreck started to say.

“No!” the three of us answered at once.

Chapter Eighteen

I was up with the birds, but Tweedle still beat me to the kitchen. “You just don’t stop, do you?” I asked as I looked over all the baked goods on display.

“I texted Ryan. He’s coming over to move some of this to Headquarters. I’m out of counter space.”

I filled a cup of coffee and poured the rest into an empty carafe, carrying it along with several coffee cups to the dining room table before returning to the kitchen to start breakfast. Tweedle stopped baking long enough to help me cook enough food for the masses.

Whiskey, Ryan, and the poker players were the first wave to eat, leaving afterward to take the excess baked goods to Headquarters. Katie, Anne, Sara, and Nicholas were part of the second wave before they scattered to get dressed and ready for the day. Alex, Carl, Haley, Bridget, and Lisa were part of the third wave, who were almost done eating.

“Please tell me that’s everyone,” Tweedle said as she wiped sweat from her forehead on a paper towel.

“We still need to feed the security crew and likely a few guys from Headquarters.”

“I’ll make more French toast.”

“I’ll help,” Reggie said, coming in from the garage. “Sorry I’m late, sis,” he said as he kissed my cheek on his way by.

“Are we going to have a good day or a bad day today, Reg?” I asked while looking at the red blotches on his forehead where he’d obviously tried to scrub the word idiot off his skin.

“Good,” Jackson answered for him. “Reggie promised me he’d behave.”

“At least I can count on one brother,” I said as I wrapped an arm around Jackson. “Food’s on the table. Dig in. Reggie, start taking plates of food out to the day shift guards. Not everyone was able to make it inside. I’m going to check on Hattie.”

“She hasn’t been down yet?” Jackson asked, scrunching his forehead.

“I told her last night I’d handle breakfast. She’s wiped out. Too much going on the last couple of days.”

He steered me into the living room by my elbow. “Pops is worried about her,” he whispered.

“Why?”

He shook his head. “She’s been tired. A lot. Says it’s nothing.”

I studied his face, reading the concern before turning my attention to the dining room. “Haley, can you give me a hand?”

“Sure. What do you need?” she asked as she walked over.

Haley was only a second-year medical student, but she also worked at the clinic with Doc.

“I need you to get a hold of Doc and have him do a house call,” I whispered. “Hattie