I smiled to myself, loving the chance to observe her in action unnoticed. I’d had no doubts that everyone would love her becauseIloved her. I’d never thought I could love anyone again, but I hadn’t seen a lot of things coming about myself when it came to Claudia.
Maybe someday, I’d have the balls to tell her.
She caught my gaze over one of their shoulders, leaning in to whisper something before she darted away. I couldn’t find her in the crowd until she ran toward me and leaped into my arms.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she said in my ear as she roped her arms around my neck.
“Me too, baby,” I said, setting her down to give her a quick kiss. “I told you.” I nodded to the packed bar.
“It’s the first night, and I’m a novelty at the moment. Let’s see how much of it I can hold, babe.” Her eyes lit up when she spotted Dad behind me.
“I’m so glad you came,” she said, rushing over to him and bending to pull him into a hug.
“I wouldn’t miss it, sweetheart. This is a good crowd here tonight.”
“Well, like I just told your son, I’m the new kid everyone wants to scope out. Let’s see how good I am at holding their interest.”
“I have no doubt you will. And I’m glad you bought this old place so we get to keep you.” Dad flicked his eyes to me. I had no reply but a slow nod.
“Well,I’mglad to keep you both.” Claudia squeezed his hand as Dad beamed up at her. “Eventually, I’ll spruce this place up a little, but for tonight, I’ll enjoy the company.”
I couldn’t remember a time when Maggie had ever been glad to see my parents. She had been polite when we dated, but after that, she’d treated them like a huge inconvenience and resented them for the time they took me away from her.
Instead of putting her in her place as I should have, I’d put it all on me. I’d tried to take care of my parents and be a good husband at the same time until I’d realized how short I fell on both. In addition to the anger over what she’d done, I hadn’t believed I’d had it in me to try again with anyone else because I couldn’t handle disappointing anyone again. I’d kept myself in isolation because I’d blamed myself.
Then this beautiful woman had sped into my life, and I’d had no choice. She loved making me smile and laugh and didn’t ask for anything else. Being with her was so incredible, it made me wonder if anything I’d had with anyone else was real before I’d met her.
“What can I get you both?” Claudia asked, dropping Dad’s hand and coming over to me.
“I’ll get it. You’re busy enough.” I kissed her temple and slid my palm against hers.
“Sarge, hey. Nice to see you,” one of the cops I’d seen chatting with Claudia said to me as I came up to the counter.
“Oh, you know each other? Wait, of course you do.” Claudia shook her head. “I forgot about the lack of degrees of separation in this town.”
“Good to see you too,” I said, still holding Claudia’s hand. “Darren is a cop.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in here, but—” he peeked at our joined hands and smiled “—I guess that’s why you’re here now.”
I nodded, glancing toward the back table and the two people in chairs that had come to join my father. Although I couldn’t see their faces, I spied his. He was happy and more like the father I used to know than I’d seen in a while.
Claudia smiled when her gaze drifted toward Dad’s table.
“Looks like you’ve been dumped for the night,” she said, grinning up at me. “Beer for both of you?”
“Sure. Whatever is on tap. Is it okay to kiss the owner?” I whispered in her ear.
“For only you, yes.” She brushed my lips and scurried away.
“I guess this explains why you almost laughed at the meeting this week.” Darren smirked around the neck of his beer bottle as he stood. “She seems like something.”
“She is. Mine.” I slapped his back but couldn’t help the smile rushing across my mouth. “Enjoy your night.”
He chuckled and nodded. “You too, Sarge.”
“Here you go,” Claudia sang and slid two filled beer glasses toward me.
I dropped a twenty on the counter and pushed it toward her.
