“Still a little sore, but I’m okay, thanks to Jack.”
“Yes, indeed. My grandson is quite something…”
I blinked my bleary eyes at his rapt tone as if he knew a secret, but my med-fogged mind wasn’t interested in unraveling riddles. I cut off a tired yawn.
“I’m glad you and Jack are friends.”
Not wanting to hurt Nigel’s feelings, I slowly nodded. “He’s fine now…no, he’s not,” I groused. “He’s too damn bossy, and he refuses to let me go home!” Oh, great.
A wide smile shaped Nigel’s mouth. “I understand your plight, my dear, since I’m often on the receiving end of it, but do you have anyone at home?”
“Wilbur. A stray cat who adopted me.”
His blue eyes twinkled, the corners crinkling. “Then Jack made the right call while you’re hurt, Ray.” His brow puckered in puzzlement. “Haven’t you and Jack known each other for a few years?”
Hesitantly, I eyed him. Just how much did Nigel know about us? I could never tell this lovely man that I hadn’t been able to stand Jack—his beloved grandson—until recently.
“Yes, we have. I actually met Max first. He saved me from a couple of drunks one night after work, and the next evening, I met Jack and War. They’ve been coming to the bar ever since.”
“Hmm…” He slowly nodded.
“My sister’s marrying Max. You know that, right?”
Nigel gave a small incline of his gray head. “Yes. We are family friends.” Then he smoothly changed the subject. “About dinner. You still coming, despite being at loggerheads with Jack?”
Aw, crap. I couldn’t renege since I’d already said I would. “Maybe Tuesday? I don’t work that evening.”
“Perfect. And since you’re here, there’s something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
I eyed him curiously and waited.
“I’m an old man—”
“Not that old,” I interrupted.
He smiled. “Thank you, my dear. Since my heart attack last fall and being home and bound with restrictions”—I knew whom he meant—“it can get lonely. Would you consider becoming my companion?”
I gaped. It was the last thing I’d expected.
“That is until you have to go back to university,” he said. “While I have a caregiver, he’s no fun. And Iknowif I left it up to Jack, I’ll probably end up with someone I won’t get on with.”
“Difficult?” I teased.
He chuckled. “I like my own way.”
I couldn’t stop my laughter, then grimaced at the ache in my ribs. Yup, I could deal with crankiness, had experience there from taking care of Mom. I sighed in regret. “I work in the evenings—”
He waved that aside. “I know, at the bar. After you’ve healed, let’s say a two-week trial to start with. If you’re happy, we can work around your university hours.”
God, to not work in the bar anymore… It would be a heaven-sent opportunity. Then he named a sum that had me gawking.
“Oh, no, that’s far too much,” I said, horrified. And yet, I couldn’t help thinking how much it would help me. It would pay for my final year without having to take out another loan, and not put further pressure on Dad, not with the medical bills for Mom a constant thing.
But that meant I would see Jack. Every single day. I bit my lip and rubbed my hot brow. Not sure if I could do that.
“It’s what I would pay anyone working full-time for me. Think about it and let me know after the weekend.”
Nigel rose to his feet. “Now, I will leave you to sleep. Jack will have my head if he knows I’ve disturbed you.”
