Free Protecting His Assets by Cari Quinn

daisy wallpaper. “It’s like a damn blast from the past.”
    Chase couldn’t help grinning. “Still have the same meatloaf too.”
    Jax’s hazel eyes gleamed while he fingered Chase’s menu. “No shit? Does it still have a whole can’s worth of sauce?”
    “Don’t know about that part.” Chase would’ve said more but their waitress took that moment to appear, her smile firmly in place to greet Jax.
    “Why, hello there. Welcome to Slocum’s.” She thrust a menu at Jax before he had a chance to sit and rattled off the day’s specials, ending with the meatloaf.
    “I’ll take a Coke and a meatloaf, please,” Jax said, returning the menu with a wink. “And I like it extra saucy, so don’t skimp, okay, darlin’?”
    She tucked her pencil behind her ear. “I never get any complaints.” With a wink of her own, she turned to Chase. “And you? What’ll it be?”
    “Meatloaf for me too.” And a clue how to flirt so effortlessly, though he wouldn’t get that information from the waitress. It hadn’t been that long ago that he’d been able to charm the panties out from under a woman’s skirt before she had a chance to unzip. Now everything felt stilted and unnatural. Guess he’d lost his taste for the game in a lot of ways. “And a lemonade, if you would.”
    “Sure thing, sugar.” She sashayed off.
    “Lemonade? Guess the rumors are true then.”
    Chase glanced at Jax and unrolled his silverware to give himself something to do. “What rumors are those?”
    “That you’re dry as dust. Good for you, man. I never believed you were in trouble like they said, but still, it’s not a bad thing, considering—” Jax cleared his throat, apparently catching himself. “Your family history and all.”
    Sometimes it was great to reconnect with those who’d known you since you were a boy. And sometimes, it was a fucking pisser. “Yeah, well, my dad’s doing better too.” He toasted Jax with the lemonade the waitress set in front of him. “Cheers.”
    Once the waitress had dropped off Jax’s drink and left the table, Jax leaned forward. His brows scrunched tight over eyes way too earnest to have seen and done all that Chase knew he had. Somehow Jax always managed to play the angel role while having the soul of a devil. “Let’s lay it all on the line. I know you’re a free agent now. You want me to use my connections, see if I can get you the inside scoop on where your best bet is?”
    Chase only gaped, but Jax wasn’t finished yet. Use his connections? What the hell? He had an agent for that. Talk about an overinflated ego. “Thing is, I’d love to help you if I could. But I can’t.” Jax tore the wrapper off his straw. “I’m out of the game too.”
    “You really think a lot of yourself, don’t you? How stupid of me to believe I could possibly get back into ball without you and your fancy ass friends pulling stri—” Chase broke off. “What? What do you mean you’re out of the game?”
    The news wasn’t totally out of left field. He’d heard rumblings about Jax stepping away while he was still on top, something that was virtually unheard of in the major league. That was one of the reasons he’d approached him about the bodyguard agency. But he’d figured Jax walking away for good was a year away, maybe more. Until then, he’d planned on going solo with the agency if he didn’t get back into ball himself, and that was still a strong option.
    Moderately strong.
    Jax shrugged and drained half his soda. “It’s not the same anymore, man. I’ve been quietly working my way toward this for years. Last season was my final one.” He jerked a shoulder. “I got into ball because it was fun. It hasn’t been that for a long time. I had to get out.”
    Chase rubbed a line of condensation off his lemonade. They kept the diner hotter than a sweat lodge, so it wasn’t too surprising. “That’s what it’s all about for you? Fun?”
    “Not entirely, no, but if I’m going to enjoy it as