by Lisa N. Paul
He knew the correct answer to her question, but damn it, hearing that son of a bitch hit on his wife without cause or care to the fact that she was married pissed him off. “Yes, it matters, okay? It matters. You’re mine. That punk had no right—”
“‘You realize that you’re it for me, right?’” Meaning danced through Julie’s eyes as she repeated the words he’d spoken weeks earlier when she’d come to him with her concerns about Suzette. “‘I don’t care who flirts with me. I only want you.’ That’s what you told me and I believed you, but it doesn’t feel reassuring when you watch someone trying to take away the person who holds your very existence in their hands, does it?”
Damn, the woman had a point, but he wasn’t ready to concede…yet. “No, it doesn’t, but Jules, that guy—”
“I know you’d never hurt me, Danny,” she said. “I know you have full confidence that I’d never hurt you, but it sure as hell feels horrible having that shit in your face every day, no?”
“Now, to answer your question”—glass crunched under Julie’s feet as she made her way closer to him—“no, it wasn’t the first time he’d flirted with me, but it would have been the last.”
The feel of her hands splayed across his chest quickened his pulse for all the right reasons.
“We both know that some flirty behavior can come with the job, but what he was doing was harassment. That is unacceptable in our home. While I fully intended to fire his ass before you came in all bad-ass and sexy, you sure saved me the trouble.” Her eyes glittered. “How can I thank you?”
Danny looked at his wife—feisty and beautiful, sexy and smart. How the woman could take all of his anger and frustration and shape it into something entirely different with just words and her warm touch baffled him. “We’ve got about seventeen minutes. I’m sure I can think of something.”
He led her back to their office and locked the door. A lot happened in seventeen minutes.
From that day on, when they hired staff, they found themselves looking beyond the resume, beyond the good looks, and into the eyes of the applicants. They weren’t seeking workers; they were looking for team members.
Just like Max DeLucca, Kyle Marx sauntered into Danny’s on Main one sunny day looking for work. One look into his stormy gaze, and Danny and Julie knew he was searching for more than a paycheck and a steady gig. They didn’t know the depth of the pain he hid, but they saw enough. It took mere minutes for them to welcome him aboard.
###
“MY HEART ACHES for both of those boys.” Julie’s tired voice shook as she swept broken glass into small piles for Danny to scoop up.
The scene that had gone down between Max and Kyle was one that would forever be imprinted in her mind. A confrontation that led to an explosion. Virtual strangers learning secrets about the other that even close friends wouldn’t share.
Watching Max come undone as what seemed like his already fragile life blew apart was devastating. Seeing the guilt, torment, and anguish slice across Kyle’s face was flat-out debilitating. Every bone in Julie’s body ached to help the two men she’d grown to care about, to mend a hole that needed to heal. But Danny had held her back, both physically and emotionally. He wanted her away from accidental harm and felt no words of wisdom would be heard until the damage had time to settle.
“Jules, they’ll be okay,” Danny reassured. “It’s gonna be tough. Hell, if I found out—from a new friend, nonetheless—that my wife was fucking someone else—hell, lots of someone elses—I’d lose my goddamn mind. But add to that that the nasty bitch allowed that shit to get filmed and uploaded to the internet?” Danny shook his head. “Doesn’t matter what Max has ignored in the past. He can’t ignore this.” Shattered glass tumbled from the dust pan into the trash can. “Max is ashamed and angry, and he may misplace that on Kyle for a bit, but it won’t stay there. Max is a good man. They both are. It’ll pass, I promise.”
And it did, quicker than Julie could ever have imagined. Max’s wife died in a car accident the following morning, in the process of leaving her marriage behind. The minute Kyle heard the news, he got to Max’s side and stayed there.
In the months and years that followed, a brotherhood formed between the two that made no sense to some, but to Danny and Julie, it felt like a blessing. Two amazing men both fighting darkness but doing it together instead of alone. That was what she and Danny had been doing for years—fighting darkness together.
She looked around the bar, their dream packed into four walls, but she heard Chester’s voice and encouragement everywhere. He gave it to them, changed their lives, and she wanted to pay it forward. She went to her office and called her friend. His voice still made her smile.
Chapter Twenty-One
We Can’t Just Take Her On – We’ve Gotta Take Her In
DANNY’S ON MAIN was closed on Sundays, a decision made during their second month in business.
“The bar was our dream,” she’d reminded Danny as they dragged their exhausted asses into bed at three o’clock one Sunday morning. “The last thing I want is for it to turn into our nightmare. Until we find people we can trust to manage it without us, I think we need to see what day is our least profitable and not open the doors that day.”
When Danny’s bloodshot eyes focused on her for too long without him responding, Julie thought he’d fallen asleep with his eyes open. Not something he’d done before, but their fatigue had reached new levels. She wouldn’t have been surprised.
“Woman…brilliant. Tomorrow, closed.” While lacking enthusiasm, Danny’s voice, hoarse from repeating orders, breaking up bar fights, and just being social, made it clear he truly did think a day off each week was a great idea.
“We can’t close tomorrow, babe.” Julie rubbed her hand over her husband’s stubble-laden cheek. “We have staff that may or may not turn up and customers that are expecting us. But we can look at our reports, pick our day, and put up a sign with our new hours.”
Within a couple weeks’ time, she and Danny had determined the bar would be closed on Sundays. It gave them a full day and night to do home projects, explore the surrounding towns, or drive to Maryland to visit with Sheila and Chris. A day off gave Julie time to bake and Danny time to exercise—something he’d started doing more as he got older. Nothing sexier than Danny without his shirt, covered in sweat, and knowing that he was keeping his body healthy. Mmm.
###
JULIE SIGHED AS she fastened her seatbelt. “I love seeing Sheila and Chris. It doesn’t matter if it’s been a month or six months—we always pick up where we left off.”
She and Danny had driven to Maryland for the day. It had been months since the four of them had been together since Danny’s stayed busy and Sheila and Chris had become grandparents. Conveniently, the baby had been born on a Saturday, so Julie and Danny got to go to the hospital that Sunday with Sheila and Chris.
“Seeing that man holding a little girl…” Danny chuckled. “You believe he told me not to curse in front of the kid?”
Julie giggled. “That’s sweet.”
“She’s a baby. What’s she gonna repeat?”
Being with Sheila had been wonderful and seeing Sheila’s granddaughter was lovely. But a tiny part, not so deep down inside, of Julie still grieved the loss of their family. Julie didn’t begrudge her friend a family, not even a little bit, but watching Danny hold that sweet pink bundle…grandkids were another thing Julie could never give him. No children… no grandchildren. Shake it off, Julie.
Julie forced a laugh. “She won’t repeat anything…yet. But Chris was being protective of his girl. Let him be.” Julie rolled down her window as the need for fresh air overwhelmed her.
Danny’s large hand covered her knee, and silent comfort filled her body. “I get it, honey. Understand exactly how he feels, wanting to protect his girl.” His voice lowered. “The only thing that matters, baby.”
His words, more gentle than his caress, eased the ache in her chest that she hadn’t had the hear
t to voice. The way he knew her, saw through her, loved her was a blessing.
The way Danny could read people in general was a gift.
***
“WHEN’S THE LAST time you had yourself a real meal, sweetheart?” Danny stared at the skinny young woman who had entered the bar but had not taken a second step past the doorway. Sadness and loss rippled off her body in waves, too fierce for any person, let alone someone so damn young, to navigate. He’d seen that look before—every day when he’d seen his own reflection.
“Umm…” The blonde’s gaze darted around the open space, looking for what he had no idea, but when her shoulders slumped, she took a second step away from the door. And then a third.
“Seriously,” he coaxed, “have a seat, hun. We make a mean burger and a sweet cherry soda.” He didn’t leave his position behind the bar, fearing that his size may intimidate her, but he hoped the enticement of food would be enough to make her stay. Girl looked as if she’d been living off of hardly anything for weeks. She was clean and kempt but malnourished, which led Danny to believe that she could afford to eat but didn’t have the desire to do so. “Hamburger?”
“I’m not all that hungry,” the girl said with conviction that didn’t quite reach her eyes. At that moment, Julie delivered a burger and fries to customers having lunch at a table by the window. “But I guess a cheeseburger couldn’t hurt…and fries too. Please.”
He wasn’t sure why getting her to accept food felt like such a win, but it did. “You got it.” He tapped the order into the computer system that he’d finally learned how to use, then pointed at the stools. “My name’s Danny Marcus. My wife, Julie, and I own this place. Why don’tcha sit on down there, and I’ll pour you a cherry cola. I don’t use any of the pre-made shit.” He grinned, hoping to set the poor young woman at ease. “I have my own recipe.”
The girl gave a tiny smile, and just like that, her face transformed from innocent, maybe even appealing, to alluring.
Every one of Danny’s protective instincts kicked in as he handed her the soda. “Here you go…”
“Ashley. My name’s Ashley. And thank you. I have money to pay for the meal, so this isn’t like…a handout or anything.” Her brows pulled together as if she was rethinking her decision. “I don’t need any handouts. In fact, I don’t need anything from anyone.” She made a move to grab the bag she’d placed on the bar.
“Spicy little thing, aren’tcha? Ashley, didn’t your parents ever teach you there’s no such thing as a free lunch?” He thought his joke was funny, but from the way her pale skin turned ashen, he’d thought wrong.
“No, our parents didn’t teach us shit until it was too late.” She chomped on the inside of her lip. “Sorry, that was probably too much information. No, sir, never heard that one. But I do have money for lunch.”
“I’ll be happy to take your money, Ashley. In fact, I can charge you double if you want.” That got Ashley to smile, which made Danny chuckle.
Danny pulled up the bar phone and called the back office. “Hey, Jules, can you come up front please? Someone I want you to meet. Thanks, honey.” He needed his wife by his side. Julie would take one look at the young woman and help him assess the situation. Julie was astute, smart as a whip, and just as comfortable sitting in a corner as she was front and center, which made her invaluable in just about every situation.
After a few minutes, Julie came out wearing her ever-ready smile and carrying Ashley’s cheeseburger and fries. “I guess this is for you?”
“Umm, yeah. Thank you.”
Danny took in the way Ashley checked out his wife. The younger woman’s eyes traveled from Julie’s shoulder-length sun-berry hair to her black, worn-in Converse sneakers and the fit body in between. Julie may be closer to the young woman’s mother’s age, but his woman was a knock-out for any age. Whatever Ashley saw, she must have approved, because her face softened and her shoulders once again relaxed.
“I’m Ashley. Thanks for bringing me my food.”
“My pleasure, sweetie. I’m Julie, that guy’s wife.” She smiled warmly.
Danny slipped his wife the we-need-to-figure-this-shit-outlook. Julie’s nod would have been too subtle for anyone else to notice, but he caught it. The questions started.
“So, Ashley, where’s home?” Julie asked, sipping on a freshly poured club soda.
“Nowhere.” Ashley took a bite of the burger and moaned. “This is amazing.”
“Thanks, the recipe’s a secret. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” Danny grinned, Ashley snorted, and Julie rolled her eyes. “Where you from?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Ashley slowly said, enunciating each word, “because I’m never going back.” Another large bite.
A chill ran up Danny’s spine. What in the hell?
“Sweet girl,” Julie spoke softly, “is there anyone you need to call? Maybe someone who needs to know where you are?”
“Yeah, there’s someone. But he’s dead now. So he won’t be answering that call.” She popped the last bite of burger in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed before reaching for her drink.
If Danny lived to be one hundred years old, the look in Ashley’s eyes when she answered that question would be burned in his retinas forever. He watched his wife bite her lip, doing her best to hold back the same gasp he felt.
“Wow, that was the best burger I’ve ever had. For real.”
“There’s more where that came from. You should stick around a day or two and try the chili—Julie’s recipe…it’s amazing.” Danny wasn’t a rambler, but he didn’t think this girl had anywhere to go and didn’t want her to leave. He wasn’t sure how to say that without sounding like some sort of sicko.
“With all due respect, I’m eighteen. I never needed a babysitter, and I don’t need one now.” Ashley’s hazel eyes flashed with golden specks of fire.
An adult by legal standards, but still a child in so many ways. “Respect much appreciated.” Danny’s brow arched. “But I’m a shit-ton older than eighteen, and I know damn well when someone could use another cherry cola. So have mercy on an old man and give me your time. Yeah?”
Ashley’s eyes narrowed as she glared from Danny to Julie and back, then shrugged.
“Spicy little thing we got here, Jules,” he muttered as he mixed the drink.
***
“I SEE MYSELF in her,” Julie whispered in the dark, her leg draped over Danny’s, her head on his chest. “All of her pain bottled up…and those eyes…my God, it was like she was ready to explode.”
“I felt it too,” he admitted as he ran his fingers up the length of Julie’s naked back.
Ashley had spent hours at Danny’s on Main, leaving well after the dinner hour but before the heavy drinking crowd descended. She wouldn’t share where she was staying the night but promised to return the following day. While neither Julie nor Danny was comfortable with Ashley’s choice, they had no say in the matter. So they both hoped the young woman’s promises were as good as her ability to recite the alphabet backward (very much a talent in Julie’s eyes).
“She’s old enough to tend bar, Danny.” His soft skin felt hot under her fingertips as she drew figure eights over his bare chest.
“She is.” His hand paused on her back. “But like us, loss is written over her. She’s young, Jules. We can’t just take her on—we’ve gotta take her in.”
Falling more in love with someone she thought owned her was beyond her understanding, but it just happened.
Danny must have mistaken her silence for something else because he continued. “I’m not saying we invite her to live with us—I mean, we don’t even know the girl. But come on, we know that girl. We’ve been that girl.”
“Yes, we have.” Her fingers trailed up his chest. “I was that girl until you found me.” In the dark, her fingers found his lips and rubbed the soft skin. “And I say if she comes back tomorrow, we do what we can to keep her close. Okay?”
Her husband exhaled. “Love you, bab
y.”
“You’re an amazing man, Danny. Your heart has the capacity for so much compassion, so much love. Every day I’m grateful that we met. I love you.”
“Thank God for that. Thank God.”
Even though they’d made love before their conversation, his reply melted her insides, charging her sated body for another round of play. When she placed a wet kiss on his lips, he got recharged as well.
Chapter Twenty-Two
This IS Home
“MERRY CHRISTMAS, YOU guys!” Julie’s greeting rang through the bar.
“Ho, Ho, Ho.” Danny pulled out three small boxes and placed them on the mahogany countertop.
“Who you callin’ a ho, Danny?” Ashley’s eyes sparkled as a giggle pealed out of her.
“I’m thinking he was addressing you, Spicy.” Kyle chuckled.
More than two years had passed since the feisty young woman entered their lives, and in that time, she’d become like a daughter to Danny and Julie. If he was being honest, even though Max and Kyle weren’t as young as Ashley, he and Julie still looked at them as family…sons. Max, Kyle, and Ashley were the reason Danny’s on Main had turned into the success it was. Sure, the bar had done well before they were employed, but it was doing ridiculously well now. There was a magic between the five of them that Danny didn’t think could be replicated, and for that, he was grateful.
Therefore, when he and Julie had discussed Christmas bonuses, they knew money wasn’t enough.
“They treat our bar as if it’s their own,” Julie had said over a candle-lit dinner she’d prepared one Sunday evening a few weeks earlier.
“I know. They work their asses off, above and beyond what’s expected.” Danny rubbed his hand over his scruff. He’d noticed a few gray hairs mixed in with all of the dark ones and wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Julie had noticed too, and based on her lust-filled eyes, wet lips, and rocking blow job the night she pointed out the first few, he decided he was just fine with the grays.
