“Do you think she’ll keep coming around?”
“I don’t know. She had an air of panic about her.”
Dallas swiped a cloth across the bar. “You think? I tried to ignore her.”
“Did you see the Drummond girl? The youngest one. I can’t remember her name. She was with two guys.”
Dallas stopped wiping the bar. “A Drummond? In here? You’re shittin’ me. Which one was she?”
“Perky blonde. Curvy with a sexy ass. Dressed in jeans and a Napier Kings rugby shirt.”
“Numbskull, you’ve described the majority of our female customers.” Dallas breathed out his trepidation and went back to his cleaning.
Patrick didn’t know.
“True. Personally, I prefer a redhead. Lots of fiery passion locked under the surface.”
Dallas chuckled as he was supposed to. “These days, I prefer blondes.”
“Not that blonde.”
“Do I look stupid? I wonder if she knew she was in O’Grady territory.”
“But your mystery blonde was here. Maria noticed her.”
“Maria talks crap. I don’t even know why we’re wasting time talking about her. I’m not interested nor am I stupid enough to let her crush my heart under her boots again.”
“Good to know,” Patrick said. “You sleeping at the apartment tonight?”
Dallas’s phone let out a peep, indicating an incoming text. He scanned the screen and grinned. “Nope. I have a hot blonde waiting.”
“Can I stay here?”
“Sure. Appreciate the help tonight.” Dallas scanned the bar and set aside his cleaning cloth. The kitchen staff had already left. He stacked more glasses in the washer, and searched for his remaining staff members. “Hey, Chris. Helen. You almost done?”
“This is the last of the glasses,” Chris said with a loud yawn. “Damn, my feet hurt.”
Patrick grinned and tugged on one of her red ringlets. It sprang back into place the instant he released it. “Are you sure you’re happy with your husband?”
“He likes redheads,” Dallas said.
Chris laughed. “So does my husband.”
“We’re done,” Dallas said. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” He turned back to Patrick. “You okay to lock up?”
“No prob.”
Five minutes later, Dallas was driving away from the pub, going home to Laura. Lights shone like a welcome beacon as he pulled into the driveway, and anticipation flickered through him.Down, boy.
He used his keys to open the front door and stepped into the warm. “Honey, I’m home.”
Laura appeared at the end of the passage, a welcoming smile curving her lips. Then she was running. She sprang at him, hooked her legs around his hips and gripped his shoulders for balance, laughing the entire time.
Their lips met, and something inside him turned over. A fleeting sensation of rightness and comfort before it faded, lost in the flare of passion. He backed her against the wall and deepened the contact.This. This was what he needed.
He lifted his head and grinned. “I like the welcome wagon.”
“I missed you. It’s hard seeing you and not being able to touch when I want.”
