by Brynn Hale
Maybe I’ll be the one to stop him.
I saunter in when I want to and he’s standing right outside his office with his arms crossed.
“Finally!” he motions me into his office.
I burst out in a laugh. His lip is broken open and bleeds when he talks, and his left eye is swollen shut. And when he takes a step he cringes. Those Muay Thai techniques I learned from Leif came in very handy.
“You get to stay out here Mr. Dvorak.”
Plenty of the legal staff are now raising their heads above their cubicle walls to see what’s going on. Mr. Dvorak prides himself on being in control of all situations, but he knows that I have the upper hand, and this time I’m likely to cut his fucking hand off if he touches me again.
He doesn’t listen and closes the door behind us. I walk to it and open it back up. “Sheila, can you please come here?”
She walks toward me quickly.
“You watch Mr. Dvorak while I find his fucking file.” I pull off my glasses and she gasps, then glares at him.
See, people like me. They tolerate him. I keep this place tolerable. I take his heat. I take…make that took…his crappy advances and sleazy innuendos for four years, but I’m done being nice and putting up with that crap.
I find what he needs, take one last look at the piece of shit in front of me, and shove the file at his chest. “I quit, you fucking piece of human excrement.”
Sheila looks him in the eyes. “I quit, too, dickweed.”
Soon others are at his doorstep, giving their version of nickname for him and some are quite inventive: douche canoe, megadick, puck muppet, and finally, wanker—she’s Aussie, but it fits—and by the time we’re done, he’s left with two male paralegals, out of a staff of eight. Five women and one man leaving Jack with his mouth open. He’s screwed. No, wait, he’s completely fucked, but not how he ever wanted to be.
“Girls, and Troy, let’s go get us some drinks.”
“Where at?” Troy asks.
I check my phone. It’s after eleven. “I know just the place.”
Our cackling and laughter makes Snake shake his head.
The door opens and in walks the man I’ll be sleeping by for the rest of my life. I know this to the depths of my soul.
“Hey, babe, what’s up?” He kisses my cheek and all eyes widen at the table.
“I quit my job.”
“About fucking time.” He lifts me up and gives me a hug that squeezes the breath from me. “And on that great news—the next round is on the house, ladies. Snake, take good care of them.”
I’m good at reading people, and there’s rock-hard tension in his shoulders.
Maybe he’s changed his mind about me. About us. It would hurt, but I don’t want him to be unhappy. Last night was special and although I’m hoping we can make something of this permanently, I won’t force anything to happen.
I follow him into his office.
“Zale, are you okay?” I ask as I close the door.
“Yeah, I… I need to tell you something and it’s going to be hard to say after knowing what you want, but I don’t want any secrets between us.”
My gut coils around the glass of champagne we all shared in celebration. I take a seat in one of the club chairs in front of his desk and he takes the other one.
“Ella, do you remember in high school when I was on the baseball team?”
“How couldn’t I? Those baseball pants were one of the only reasons I ever went to a game.”
Zale chuckles, but soon the amusement is gone. “Second to last game of my senior season I took a ninety-six mile an hour fast ball to the groin.”
“Oh, my God!” I cover my mouth with my hand.
“It messed me up down there. Actually, the frank’s still good, it’s the beans that are bad.”
“What are you saying?” My eyes fill with tears imagining the pain and horror he’s been through.
“I hate telling you this because it makes me feel like less of a man.”
I turn my chair to face him. “Honey…”
I lift his face to me and all I can see is fear in his darting eyes. I hate that he’s scared, but I also remember the feelings I used to have when I was alone with Jack. I knew that bastard would try something.
Fear is real.
Fear is powerful.
Fear makes us vulnerable.
I move to press my forehead to his. “Before you say anything more, I want you to know that what I feel for you will help us overcome anything. I spent years with a man where I didn’t know him and I didn’t know myself. I want to know everything about you and I know me now. I know how powerful I am and I think you inspired me to do what I did today. Okay… just tell me.”
“I can’t have kids.”
I try to not react before I understand. “You’re infertile?”
“Not one swimmer to be had. Both of my testicles are basically for show. One is actually a silicone implant.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “And most people think it’s me that’s had the implants.” I wink at him and I garner a smile that make me see a little hope in all of this.
He sighs and I wind my fingers into his. “Ella, if having more kids is what you need and want, I want you to have that.” Zale sits back. “I’ll let you go—”
I press my lips to his. “No. There is absolutely no letting me go. I’m here to stay.”
“But—”
“I have two kids. We have two kids. I know Rebel and Roxie will love you. The way that I love you. I’ve seen you with Leif’s son, Dillon. I know how Rebel is going to be begging you to throw the baseball around. I mean…if you want to.”
His face lights up. “You think he wants to play baseball?”
“Walker tried to coach his team this year and it was a failure. He’s great at the basics, but he needs someone to help teach the big picture stuff to the kids.”
“And what about Roxie?”
“Roxie likes dance, so if you’ve got moves…” I lean back and hold up my hands in a questioning way. “Well, you’re gonna have to convince me, first.”
His face brightens even more. “I can do that.” His soft lips press to mine just for a moment. The hint of him understanding that all I really need is him. “You’re sure?”
“Zale, I’ve wanted you for two long years and I’m not letting go.”
He stands and pulls out his phone. “I think you need to see my moves, then to really be sure.”
He starts “Pony” by Ginuwine on the jukebox and it plays in his office speakers. The ladies out in the bar start screaming and I can imagine them on their feet and Troy, too.
Zale’s hips start gyrating and he grabs the neck of his T-shirt and it lands in my lap. My mouth dries. I start cheering and reach out but he steps back with wagging his finger. “No touching, ma’am.”
Oh, the fucking torture this man has in store.
It’s time to see if that desk is just the right height…
Epilogue
Zale
Nine months have passed since that fate-filled Thursday where the woman of my dreams stepped across the threshold of my bar and made me the happiest man on the Earth. Lots of things have changed. My “oath to not date the customers” is now history, and also gone for my employees. Rissa is thankful change for that, too.
“Congratulations, buddy.” Hemi’s hand lands on my shoulder. “You now have everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“And more.” I lift the tiny wiggling body to my chest. “Isn’t she amazing?”
Her body snuggles into mine and I’m fucked up, in a great way.
“It’s time to introduce the new addition to everyone, honey.” Ella kisses my cheek. “I can’t wait to see Cece’s reaction!”
Rebel and Roxie smile after looking up from their phones. Walker and I have the same opinion about that shit, but Ella “wants them to be able to call her whenever,” so we pick our battles. Walker and I’ve been coaching Rebel’s baseball team, and now they�
�re winning games and possibly headed to the championship. And although I’ve never shown Roxie my dance moves, I’ll attend the Daddy and Me dance classes for a recital while Walker’s on the road and I’ll fill him in when he gets home.
I step out of my office and heads turn. “Everyone, we’d like to introduce Bailey Jo Carter.”
Cece’s eyes widen and the bar lights gleam off of the tears settling in the wells of her eyes. “She’s beautiful. Can I hold her?”
I slip our newest addition into Cece’s arms and she snuggles nose-to-nose with Bailey Jo. I step back so all of Ella’s friends can clamor in for a closer look.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I turn. “Hey, Slater.”
“I need a minute with you.” Everything about him is direct and doesn’t leave room for disagreement.
I walk him back to my office and he closes the door.
“We’ve got a problem and I’m hoping you can help me out.”
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
We’ve become the Graffiti Street Guardian’s go-to bar and although I’m not quite sure what’s their real mission, I can definitely say that they’ve made Kildare a safer place. A few new gang factions have taken up residence in Vegas and they occasionally try to make their stake here, but the Guardians are always at the ready to keep our community protected and I feel safer with them here. And they’re good about helping those in need. Most members it seems are ex-military, but some I know how a rougher past, including Snake, who let me know that he was drilling to be a member last week. I wasn’t quite sure what “drilling” meant, but it seemed it was important.
“I wanted to let you know that Jack Conklin will no longer be a threat to anyone in town. Another one of his new employees experienced his un-gentlemanly ways and we got wind of it, so we took care of him.”
“I don’t think I want to know more.”
Slater gives a quick chin-jut. “Probably a good idea. Deniable plausibility is number two on our Guardian Commandments.”
“What’s number one?” I ask and then hold up a hand. “You know, I’m sorry I asked.”
“Number one is protect those who can’t protect themselves, even if it means breaking the law.”
“Oh…” That’s a little heavy for the day, but in my heart I know they give law enforcement a chance to make things right before going in. I don’t love it, but if it gets rid of the Jack Conklins of the world, maybe it’s the right way.
“We’re trying to clean up the streets here in Kildare and keep them clean. If we need a safe space for temporary—”
“Here.” I reach into my desk and pull out a key. “The alarm code is 0606.” The day a newly divorced Ella walked into my life and now I’ll never let her walk away.
Slater slips the key into his pocket. “Thanks. I promise, only in really dire circumstances, but having businesses and good people like you on our side will really help.”
“Just don’t shoot up my place, please. That’s my number one rule.”
He chuckles and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen his face break like that.
“You got it.” Slater turns and looks back over his shoulder. “Great looking family you’ve got out there.”
“I think I got lucky.”
“No. I’ve come to understand that luck is made. You made a move. You took a chance. And you fought for what you know is yours. That’s all the Guardians do. If you ever need anything, let us know.” He holds out a hand for a shake and I accept the contract he’s offering.
He opens the door. “Oh, and Baily Jo’s the cutest damn puppy, I’ve ever seen. I won’t let the guys see me touch it cause I gotta keep my chill, but someday I’ll sneak over and get me some of those puppy kisses.”
I’m floored.
And with that he’s gone. The humanity inside of him will help me to sleep at night.
And Bailey Jo’s snores.
And having the sexiest fucking woman by my side, forever.
I pick up my phone and start “Tubthumping” by Chubawamba, pulling a two-carat princess cut diamond ring from my pocket.
It’s show time, Ella.
THE END
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About the Author
Brynn Hale is a Midwest girl who can spot--and swoon over--a hard-working guy a mile away. She believes in winks across a crowded room, guys who do the dishes, a blue-collar alpha will always win a heroine's heart, and a martini or craft beer is the perfect accompaniment to her stories.
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