Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)
“We’ll get to her,” Jardin said. “Even if we have to kidnap her.”
“Finally some decent food.” Maddox stared at the burger on his plate like it was a gold nugget.
Carrick had to grin. Maddox Malone was just as he remembered him. Outspoken, outrageous and funny as hell.
Maddox picked up the burger and took a huge bite. “Yeah, this is the shit.” He didn’t bother to swallow before he spoke.
Jardin sighed, grimacing.
They’d ended up at a steak house for dinner. Not somewhere Jardin would usually eat and he looked out of place in his suit. Not that he seemed to care.
“Could you swallow before you speak?” Jardin said coolly, cutting up his steak.
“Hmm, nope. I’m starving. Jeeves hates me.”
“His name is Gerald not Jeeves.”
Maddox took a few gulps of beer then flagged down the waitress. “Another beer thanks, darlin’.”
The waitress smiled at him, leaning over him to grab the extra glass. “Sure thing, sweetie.”
Carrick shook his head as Maddox watched her walk away. “You haven’t changed.”
Maddox grinned. “Sure as shit hope not.”
“So what did you want to talk to me about?” Jardin asked after the waitress brought back a new beer for Maddox.
“Oh, now he wants to talk.”
“Maddox,” Jardin said warningly.
“How is that cute PA of yours?” Maddox asked slyly.
Jardin tapped his fingers on the table, clearly losing his patience. “We’re not here to discuss Thea.”
“Sore spot, is she?”
“Maddox, you came to me for help. This is not the way to get it. You guys have never wanted me to visit before so why are you in an all-fire hurry to get me there nos?”
Maddox placed his hand over his chest dramatically. “Jardin, you wound me. You’re family. Our house is your house.”
“Right, that’s why Tanner takes great joy in using my car as target practice.”
“Well, now, that’s just our way of saying we care.”
Jardin let out a breath. “What do you want?”
A serious look crossed Maddox’s face, surprising Carrick. “There’s this big corporate company. They’ve been trying to buy up some land in Haven. They’re putting pressure on a number of locals. They want to build a big ugly strip mall. We need to stop them. And we need your help.”
Jardin pinched the top of his nose. “You do realize I’m a family lawyer. This isn’t my area of expertise.”
“So you won’t help.”
Jardin shared a look with Carrick. “I didn’t say that. I’ll look into it. I can probably come to Haven in about a week’s time.”
“Awesome. Make sure you bring Thea with you. She might like the place so much that she’ll stay.”
Jardin shot him a quelling look.