Dani interrupted her. “This is my home, Taryn. I’m safe here. That’s what makes it the perfect place for me while I try dating. I know you’ll always have my back. And to answer your question, yes, I like Mason. A lot. But we’re taking it slow. I don’t want to get overwhelmed and make a rash decision that will ruin it.” She shot Taryn a pointed look.
“I didn’t ruin anything,” Taryn muttered. “He did.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Sure, you had nothing to do with it.”
“He asked me to go with him, when he leaves with Hope.”
Dani’s eyes widened. “Holy shit! What did you say?”
“I didn’t answer and he pushed for one.” Taryn sighed. “I can’t leave the bar, Dani. No, that’s not quite right. I don’twantto leave the bar. I’ve made Razor Jack’s my own.”
“And here you are trying to convincemeto leave? Don’t think so.” She waved Taryn off before she could argue. “That’s a tough situation. You really like him, don’t you?”
Taryn didn’t want to lie. Not to Dani. Not to herself. Not about this. “Yeah. I do. I mean, I did.” Her heart twinged.
“Then you should go for it,” Dani said, like it was the easiest thing in the world.
Taryn shook her head. “I can’t. The bar, what I do here, is too important.”
“More important than love?” Dani’s voice was soft, but her words were a wake-up call.
“Is this love?” Bewilderment washed over Taryn. Was that what all these feelings were? The pain in her heart when she thought about her last interaction with Ash at the bar? “I’ve never been in love.”
“That’s the perfect reason to follow it through.”
“There’s too many girls that I could still help.” How could Taryn put her happiness first, when there were women who’d never felt it?
“You don’t have to save them all,” Dani said gently. It was an old argument. One that they’d never see eye to eye on. “You can’t.”
“I have to try.” Taryn had to give them the chance that she’d never been given.
“You could move with him, start over,” Dani countered.
Taryn had thought about that, but the logistics... “I’d have to build an entirely new network. In a new city. It would take me years to gain knowledge of all the players, make the connections. Too many things could go wrong. Too many girls would be hurt in that time.” Taryn looked her in the eye. “It’s too much.”
“You can’t let this run your life forever.” Another old argument.
“Maybe not. But it’s going to for now.”
Dani sighed. “Fine. You know how I feel.”
“I know. And I love you for trying,” Taryn said. “But this wasn’t supposed to be all about me. Are you going to see Mason again?”
Dani blushed. “Yes. In a couple nights. He’s taking me to the theater.”
“So fancy,” Taryn teased. “Seriously, though, I’m so happy for you.”
Pink tinged Dani’s cheeks and her eyes got dreamy for a moment. Then she returned to the present. “What are you working on? Hope’s rescue?”
Taryn nodded.
“We’re still doing that?”
“I haven’t heard otherwise. Plus, I told Ash that we would help.” She might have broken up with Ash—maybe—but she wouldn’t abandon a woman who needed help because of a broken heart. “And he’s already started working on the payment.”
“You’re right. If he’s already paid us, we can’t back out.” Dani’s lips quirked in a half smile. “Have you figured it out?”
“Finally,” Taryn said. She briefed her friend on the plan and Dani whistled when she was done.
