by Laurie Roma
“This is bullshit. You should be come to the bar with me instead of taking the day off.”
Looking at him blandly in the mirror, she continued brushing her hair. “Nope. I’m having lunch with Kali at the bakery today, then we’re meeting Francesca to go shopping at some of the boutiques on the boardwalk. I might stop at Fight Hard for a workout when we’re done. Since Evie and Dare are going on a doggie adoption today, they aren’t having their usual Sunday barbeque at their place, so you can come over later and I’ll make you dinner.”
She loved spending time with Dante, but the truth was, she wasn’t used to having a man in her life. She was looking forward to having a little time with her friends. It would also be nice to have a few hours alone to think about everything that had happened over the last few weeks.
Dante was larger than life, and when he was around, it was difficult for her to think about anything but him. Zoe loved him, but she couldn’t spend all her time with him, no matter how much she wanted to. That wouldn’t be good for either of them.
Dante frowned. “I’ll meet you at the gym.”
She shook her head. “You can’t take off until later. Brix has a meeting this afternoon with that art gallery in Houston that he doesn’t want anyone to know about. He won’t be back until later this evening. You have to manage things at the bar until he gets there.”
“Damn it. I don’t want you out of my sight.”
That statement made her laugh. “You’re just irritated because you hate working days.” Her smiled faded. “Dante, what’s going on? Why are you so upset?”
“I just think you should come to the bar with me. We still have work to do for the anniversary party this weekend. Plus, you don’t even like shopping.”
She studied his tight expression, and understanding dawned. “Nothing about my situation has changed. Paul Wei isn’t going to show up on the boardwalk or pop out of the bushes at me. He has no clue where I am, and no one in town knows about me besides you…well, and Nikita.”
His eyes widened. “You told her?”
She hesitated before admitting, “No. She did a background check on me when we became friends. She doesn’t know everything, but she knows enough.”
He sighed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Still, I don’t like you going off on your own today.”
“You don’t have to like it, but you do have to deal with it.” Her eyes narrowed. “Is this why you’ve been spending so much time with me? Because you’re worried about me?”
“What?” He scowled. “Can’t a man just like spending time with his woman? And I’m not worried. I’m not a girl. I’m concerned about your situation. I’d be stupid not to be.”
His woman? Dante was such a caveman sometimes, but Zoe wasn’t about to admit that hearing him call her that gave her a secret little thrill. But his comment about not being worried made her roll her eyes. “What kind of shit is that? Men can’t worry?”
“Nope. We’re concerned. We don’t worry.”
“You’re an idiot.”
Laughing, he pulled her to him for a hard kiss.
They left her apartment, holding hands as they walked down the street. The day was perfect, with puffy white clouds floating over a backdrop of bright blue sky. There was a cool breeze in the air, making it necessary for both of them to wear zip-up hoodies to combat the chill. Zoe sighed in contentment as she tilted her head back a little, letting the sun kiss her face.
Dante glanced over at her at the sound. “What was that for?”
Giving his hand a little squeeze, she said, “This is nice. I like walking around our town with you.” Her voice lowered to make sure no one would overhear what she was saying. “Being with you, I can be myself. It’s…freeing.”
Dante pulled them to a stop. Using their clasped hands, he tugged her closer. His other hand wrapped around the back of her neck, pulling her closer until his lips pressed against hers. “I can be myself with you, too,” he said softly. “And it’s a damn good feeling.”
A car honked, making Zoe jump. Dante chuckled as he raised his middle finger into the air as one of his friends waved his hand out of the car window in greeting as he drove by them.
Zoe slapped Dante’s hand down. “Stop that. We’re on the street and people can see you.”
“What’s the point of flipping someone off if they can’t see?”
She sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Let’s go back home and I’ll show you exactly what you can do to me.”
Her blood heated and her breath hitched as he nipped playfully at her neck. Zoe still wasn’t used to public displays of affection, but Dante didn’t seem to give a damn who saw them. “Behave, caveman.”
“You like it when I go all wild and primitive on you.”
“I do, but not in the middle of the street. Later,” she promised. “Come over after Noah gets to the bar to take over for you.”
He groaned. “That’s hours from now.”
Laughing, she stepped back and pulled at his hand to get him moving again. “I’m sure you can hold on until then. You know, if you made GT the day manager, you wouldn’t have to worry about someone covering the lunch hours.”
Dante just grunted in reply. Despite his lack of response, Zoe knew he’d consider her suggestion. They made their way to the Sinfully Sweet bakery and Dante held the door open for her when they got there. The bakery was doing a steady business even though the morning rush was over. Soon, the afternoon crowd would filter in and the place would be packed.
Anna Cortez and Becca Nuria were busy helping customers, but they both smiled in greeting at Dante and Zoe. Anna waved a hand at them. “Go on back. Kali’s expecting you.”
Dante followed Zoe around the counter and through the swinging doors that led to the back kitchen area. He should have left as soon as they got there, but he wanted to prolong their time together. Not to mention, it smelled damn good in the bakery. He figured Kali would take pity on him and give him something sweet to snack on before he left to open the bar.
His brow rose as he saw Hammer sitting on a stool near the large center counter where Kali was working. Jared “Hammer” Caufield was a large man, with dark hair shorn close to his scalp and a plethora of tattoos covering his massive arms. With a dark scowl on his face, Hammer looked intimidating as hell, but the fact he was sitting in the middle of a bakery knocked him down a few pegs on the bad-ass scale.
Kali looked over at them and smiled in relief. “Hey, guys!”
“Hi,” Zoe said as she surveyed the fierce frown on Hammer’s face with caution. “Umm…if you’re in the middle of something, we can come back—”
“No!” Kali shouted, then she huffed out a breath. “Sorry. I’ve been looking forward to hanging out with you today. I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever. Don’t mind Mr. Grumpy over there,” she ordered, tilting her head toward her fiancé. “He’s just in a bad mood.”
“Because you won’t fucking sit down and do that,” Hammer bitched. “It isn’t good to be on your feet all day. You need to rest.”
Dante and Zoe exchanged a look. She’d told him about Kali’s pregnancy, but she’d sworn him to secrecy until the couple told everyone the news themselves.
Kali threw her flour-covered hands into the air. “You are driving me crazy! I’m pregnant, not incapacitated! You act like I’m missing a limb or something.”
“I love you, damn it. It’s my job to make sure you aren’t overdoing it! I’m…concerned.”
Zoe rolled her eyes as Dante nudged her. Men could be simple creatures sometimes.
“Concerned my butt, you’re nagging. Standing is not overdoing anything,” Kali argued. She shot a look over at Zoe. “I started getting morning sickness, and now Jared thinks I should quit working until I have the baby.”
Zoe choked back a laugh. “You do realize that’s months away?”
“Exactly.”
Hammer transferred his glare over to Zoe, but Dante shifted in front of
her in a casual move, blocking her from view as he shot his friend a warning glance. Pulling Zoe with him, Dante walked over to Kali and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Congrats, little momma.”
Kali beamed up at him. “Thank you. Now, why don’t you boys go do something productive with your day, and leave me and Zoe alone.”
“I should stay and take care of you. My kid is making you sick, little fairy,” Hammer said even as he stood up and offered Zoe his stool. “What if something happens after I leave?”
“I’m fine now, baby,” Kali said softly. “I promise, if I get tired, I’ll sit down.”
Hammer frowned at her until Dante slapped him on the shoulder, distracting him. “Damn man, you’re gonna be a daddy. That’s awesome news.”
“I know. It’s fucking amazing.” Hammer’s face lit up with pure joy.
“You need to start watching your language,” Kali scolded, but there was a twinkle in her eyes when she said it. “I will not have our child running around throwing out the F-bomb.”
“Shit—I mean, sorry, baby.” Hammer’s massive shoulders hunched.
Kali smiled at him as she moved to the sink to wash her hands. She started filling a white box that had the bakery logo on it with cookies straight from a tray. “These are for you, Dante.”
“Aww.”
“Don’t eat all of them yourself. You’ll get sick. Share it with your staff.”
“Aww,” he said again, in a less happy tone.
She laughed, then her green eyes took on a speculative gleam as Dante kissed Zoe.
“I’m gonna go now. Text me and let me know where you are later.” After receiving Zoe’s nod, Dante turned to Hammer, who was now standing behind his petite fiancée, rubbing her shoulders. “Hey, man. Zoe is going over to Fight Hard to work out after they get done shopping. Can you have one of your guys walk her home after?”
Zoe scowled and reached out to pinch Dante. “What the hell? I don’t need a bodyguard.”
“A little protective, aren’t you, Fox?” Hammer asked with an amused grin.
Dante glared at him. “I hope you have a daughter, then let’s see who’s protective.”
Hammer’s face went pale. “Jesus, bro. That was fucking mean.”
Kali elbowed him before spinning around to give him hell. “Hey! Are you saying you don’t want a daughter? That you wouldn’t love her as much as you would a son?”
“No! Yes! I mean, of course I would love our daughter, sweetheart. I’ll love all our children with everything in me. But…but…dating and boys…” Hammer groaned. “I’m gonna end up killing someone. I just know it.”
Kali wrapped her arms around his waist. “You’ll be just fine, big guy.”
Zoe ignored the couple embracing and turned to Dante. “I don’t need an escort home,” she whispered, her annoyance clear. “You are totally overreacting.”
“Deal with it,” he snapped. “I’m…concerned.”
Her eyes narrowed at his use of the phrase Hammer had a few minutes ago. “That’s really guy code for ‘do what I ask, or I’ll lose my shit’ isn’t it?”
“No, it means I love you, and quit being a pain in the ass and listen to me.”
Before she could argue with him again, he tilted her head up and slammed his mouth down on hers in a hard, hot kiss. When he pulled back, Hammer and Kali were both grinning at them.
Kali fluttered her lashes and sighed while she leaned into her fiancé. “Aww.”
“I’m leaving,” Dante said with a chuckle, then he leaned down and kissed Zoe once more, on the forehead this time. “We might need to get busy making a little friend for Kali and Hammer’s kid. We wouldn’t want them to grow up without someone to hang out with.”
He couldn’t help but laugh at her shocked expression as he made a quick exit, carrying the box out of the bakery. Hammer caught up with him a few seconds later.
“Hey, Fox. Hold up. Shit, man. Were you serious in there?”
Dante grinned. “Yeah, but I’m gonna have to convince her to marry me first.”
Hammer’s eyes went wide. “That’s fast work.”
With a snort, Dante shook his head. “No matter what anyone thinks, we’ve been dating for nearly six damn months already.” When his friend kept looking at him like he’d lost his mind, he scowled. “How long did it take you to know Kali was the one for you after you met her?”
“About five minutes.” Hammer sighed. “I get it. Trust me, I do. And now that we’re having a baby, I have everything I’ve ever wanted. I’m happy for you, but I have to ask—” he took a quick glance around, “—is Zoe in trouble?” His expression darkened. “Is someone bothering her? You seem more…protective than usual.”
Dante opened his mouth, then closed it again. Over the last week, he’d been thinking about everything Zoe had been through, and it pissed him off to just sit around while there was still a threat hanging over her head. He needed to take action, but not before he talked it over with Zoe.
He respected her too much to do that.
“I might need to talk to you about that soon,” Dante said cautiously.
Hammer nodded. “Whenever you need. And I’ll make sure Zoe gets home safe later.”
Dante thanked him before heading down the street toward The Fox Hole. He wasn’t surprised to find the doors already unlocked after he saw his father’s bike parked out front. He pulled the front door open and walked over to sit on the stool next to his father.
GT was already at work behind the bar, despite the fact she didn’t have to be there for another twenty minutes or so. Dante could hear the clanking of pots and pans coming from the back, signaling that the kitchen staff was already hard at work preparing for the upcoming lunch crowd. The couple who ran the kitchens were exceptional chefs who made food that packed the house for both lunch and dinner. Rick and Silvia Aldo might not have had any official training, but they had fun tweaking the general bar menu, turning the ordinary into something memorable.
“You’re late,” Malcolm muttered as he sipped his cup of coffee.
In response, Dante set the bakery box down on the counter and shoved it toward him. Malcolm Fox usually didn’t come to the bar before the sun set, except for when he was brooding about something. “What are you doing here so early?”
Malcolm’s frown eased at the sight of the box. He opened the top and inhaled deeply before picking up one of the cookies. “Ah, they’re still warm.” He bit into the cookie and sighed reverently. “Damn, that’s good. I got a call from your sister. Danica isn’t going to be able to make it back for the anniversary party.”
“I told you she wouldn’t. She’s performing at that big concert in Paris with Gemma this weekend,” Dante reminded him.
“I know. I just want my baby here,” Malcolm grumbled.
“We’ll both miss her, but we’ll still have a damn good time at the party. You deserve to celebrate. You built something to be proud of, pops.”
Malcolm smiled. “I did, didn’t I? But now, it’s yours, son.”
Dante paused for a long minute before saying, “Why don’t you bring someone with you? Ask Ellie Tate to come with you to the party.”
Malcolm choked, spitting his coffee out on the bar top. Dante slapped him on his back until the older man pushed at him. “Jesus, Dante. What are you trying to do, kill me?”
“No, I’m trying to get your ass in gear.” Dante looked over to where GT was cutting up limes at the end of the bar. Lowering is voice, he said, “You’ve been sweet on GT’s mother for longer than I’ve been after Zoe. Don’t you think it’s time you did something about it?”
“You sassing me, boy?”
“No, sir. But I am telling you to make a move.”
“It’s not that simple,” Malcolm huffed out.
“Why?”
“Because she’s too damn good for me.”
Dante chuckled. “Seems that the Fox men like women who are out of our league.”
Malcolm snorted. “I guess we do. St
ill, I can’t just ask Ellie out.”
“Actually, you can,” GT called out. “Sorry, sir. You guys weren’t exactly quiet.”
Everyone who worked in the bar—and most of Dante’s friends—called Malcolm “Sir” as a sign of respect. It was something that had started when he opened The Fox Hole.
GT walked over to join them, wiping her hands on a rag. “My mom has been waiting for you to ask her out for years.”
Malcolm goggled at her. “What?”
GT laughed. Over the years, Ellie Tate had given up so much to help GT raise her daughter, and she deserved to find a little happiness. She’d had a crush on Malcolm Fox for as long as she could remember, and GT was damn glad to hear that Malcolm felt the same way about her. He was a good man, and her mother deserved someone who would treat her right.
With that in mind, GT gave a little push. “She’s a catch. You don’t want to miss your chance, do you?”
“Oh…well…” Malcolm sputtered for a moment before saying, “I have been meaning to get a haircut before the party this weekend.”
GT smiled. “She’s working in the salon today. I think she gets off at three. I’m sure if you stopped by and ask her to dinner or something it would make her day.”
“Where’s Sarah today?” Dante asked, speaking of GT’s daughter. Dante couldn’t help but be amused by the flush that covered his father’s cheeks, but he wanted to take the pressure off his old man since Malcolm was looking pretty dazed at the moment.
“Sarah’s at a friend’s house at a birthday party. I’m picking her up after work.”
“About that,” Dante began, coming to a quick decision. “GT, how would you like to be the day manager here at the bar?”
GT froze in place. “But…I thought Zoe—”
“She agrees with me that you would be the perfect person for the job.” Seeing the stunned pleasure on her face, Dante mentally kicked himself for waiting so long to promote her. It would be good for GT to work days and have most of her nights free to spend with her daughter, not to mention, he was sure the extra income would be helpful.
