J.T. frowned. “Me? I told her she needed to quit Ray’s, which she’s already doing. It’s not a secret she’s handed in her notice. Ray announced her last day is tomorrow. We’re having a big party.”
“No one told me that.” Del frowned back at him.
“You’re pregnant.”
“No shit?” Del gave him a fake look of shock. “How did that happen, I wonder?”
J.T. glared, but before Rena could step aside and let the siblings argue, he latched onto her arm. “To answer your question, Cuz, you’re single because you want to be. And you know it.”
Great. Now Del looked concerned. “You ready to start dating again? Want me to set you up? I know a bunch of guys who’d be lucky to have you.” She looked thoughtful as she stared at her plate. “Well, maybe not him. Or him. And Nick is definitely out. But Jay’s not bad for a—”
“Don’t say ex-con,” J.T. muttered. “God knows the types who hang out with your employees.”
“Who happen to be your friends, jack-hole.”
“I know.” He chuckled.
“Shut it.” Del turned back to Rena. “I was going to say Jay’s not bad fora doctor. He’s not snooty or anything. We just fixed his ’67 Charger. Foley did a helluva job. Jay’s kind of cute.” She paused. “You could do worse. Hell, you have done worse. So much worse it’s scary.”
Rena loved her cousin, but she could see why Del and J.T. argued so much.
“Then again, I thought you and Heller had a… J.T., why are you shaking your head at me?”
Rena growled. “Don’t mention Axel Heller again. I have nothing to say to that man.”
“Why? Did he do something to piss you off?” Del’s eyes narrowed. “Because I don’t care how big he is. He can still bleed.”
“Oh my God, killer. Calm down.” J.T. put his hand against his sister’s forehead as if to hold her back while she tried to slap him off. “He’s been out of town for a while, so Rena’s upset he hasn’t asked her out.” He dropped his hand, ignoring the dirty look she shot him.
Del relaxed and ate a chicken wing. “Oh. Well, Rena, his mom just died. You should give the guy a break.”
“A break?” Rena wanted to smack both her cousins. They’d found love with awesome people. Of course they could be nonchalant while giving terrible advice. “First of all, I’ve known Axel for close to a year. He’s nice, sure. But he’s never once asked me out. And I know his mom just died. Six months ago. He’s sad. I get it. But if he hasn’t asked me out before now, he’s not interested. I’m going to find my own Mr. Right. And before you eventhinkabout asking, no, I donotneed your help. Now, if you’ll excuse me?”
She left them looking after her, no doubt with concern she could do without. So she made her way to the only person with a Y chromosome worth talking to and stopped in front of Mike McCauley, who’d recently arrived. She turned to his son and said, “Hey, Colin. About time you got here.” To Mike she said, “Your wife is on my nerves.”
Mike sighed.
Eight-year-old Colin grinned, showing off a new missing tooth. The spitting image of Mike, with black hair, blue eyes, and a killer grin, he’d be a real heartbreaker someday. “Hey, Aunt Rena!” He gave her a huge hug, which she’d really needed. “Is there cake?”
“Yes. Let’s get some.” She hurried him away before his father could caution her about feeding his son too much sugar. As if there could ever be such a thing. “So. Tell me. I need to know. You still hate girls?”
“Yep. Except for Jane.” He glanced over at his baby cousin. “And Del Junior. I’ll like her. But everyone else is gross.”
“I’m with you. Boys are gross.” They high-fived and ate cake.
And though Rena tried to put him out of her mind, she couldn’t help wondering what the big, silent Axel was up to this new year, and whether he’d even bother showing up tomorrow night to say goodbye.
Two
Saturday evening, Axel did his best to stop looking at Rena. She stood in front of the bar wearing aBartendertee but wasn’t working so much as laughing and talking to everyone.
The bar was packed, the music was loud, and the beer and cookies flowed. An odd combination, but Lara—one of Ray’s ex-bartenders—had a reputation for making the best chocolate chip cookies in Seattle. Too bad she’d opted to become a nurse instead of opening up her own bakeshop. She could have made a fortune in cookie dough alone.
He saw her move in to hug Rena, who squealed and hugged her back. Nearby, Lara’s boyfriend and the other mechanics from Webster’s Garage stood drinking and talking with each other. Axel knew he could have joined them. Lou, who did double duty working for both Del and Axel, had waved to him. But Axel was in no mood to hear how much Rena would be missed, what the hell was he waiting for by not asking her out, and, man, what a bunch of lame-asses his guys were for losing the last darts match two weeks ago.
In his current mood, Axel would end up slugging the big one, Sam, who would hit back. Foley, his friend, would join in, while Johnny and Lou placed bets. Then Rena would accuse him of ruining her party. He frowned, wondering if she’d ever make her way away from her many admirers.
And he hated that she had so many.
