“Take her home with you. She’ll be even better.” Lauren grins and continues making sandwiches. The other ladies laugh. Jack groans again.
“That could be arranged,” he whispers in my ear.
“Maybe,” I whisper back. Oh, it definitely can.
Darin straightens and lays his palm flat on the table between Lily and me.
Jack lifts his head. “Something wrong?”
“Ross is complaining about the soda cans being thrown out at the end of the drive.” He pauses. “And Grayson is here.”
Lauren leaves the sandwiches and comes to my other side. “Should we call Harrison?”
Jack sighs. “How drunk is he?”
“He’s not,” Darin replies. “He’s at his spot at the end of the bar with a beer, but he’s not drunk.”
Maci and Ember giggle and slightly push open the door behind the bar to get a peek at the famous musician.
“Hey.” Jack snaps his fingers at them. “The Dawson Boys are famous, but my friend doesn’t need my sister and her friend fan-girling over him.”
“We won’t, Jack.” Ember giggles again.
Maci holds up her hand. “Promise, big brother. We won’t fangirl over Grayson Westbrook.”
“Evan Johnson, maybe,” Ember teases.
Jack jabs his finger at her. “No. Not him either.”
The girls fall into each other, laughing. Ember is Jack’s best friend, Coty’s little sister. Naturally, he’s going to be overprotective of her, too.
Jack turns back to Darin. “Watch him tonight. If he gets drunk, I’ll talk to Jay.” His eyes soften when he looks between Lauren and me. “I promise, if we need to, we’ll call your nephew to come get his band member. Gray needs help. Harrison can’t help if he doesn’t know how badly his friend is drowning.”
“Good.” Lauren leaves it at that and goes back to making sandwiches.
The phone on the wall next to the bar's door rings.
Maci answers it. “Viking Den.” She gasps. Her eyes widen and lock with her mother’s. “Harley, where are you?” Jack and Nanny rush toward Maci. “What? No, Harley. That’s crazy. You belong here.” She’s quiet for a moment. “Don’t, Harley. Please don’t. Mom’s here. Talk to her. No!” Maci yells.
Nanny snatches the phone from her. “Harley? Harley?” Tears fill her eyes. “She’s gone. She hung up.” Maci and Jack throw their arms around their mother.
Darin rushes to the Den and comes back with Mack.
“What happened?” Mack pulls Nanny against his chest.
“Harley called.” Jack points to the phone. “She hung up before Mom could talk to her.” Lily slides under his arm and rubs his back for comfort.
“What did she say?” Ember puts an arm around Maci.
Maci wipes tears from her cheek. “She’s mad because we sent her to rehab. She said to tell you to call off the jerks you have following her.” She takes a deep breath. “She thinks she doesn’t fit in here, and nobody wants her around. She wants to live her life and roam around the country like Jack did.”
Mack’s eyes widen. He takes a breath so deep it straightens his spine. Darin clamps a hand down on Mack’s shoulder to keep him from exploding. He’s fighting to stay in control. Nanny sobs against his chest. The sound reaches through his anger. He changes instantly. His wife grounds him when no one else can. He tightens his hold on her and nods to Darin.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Maci leans forward and rests her forehead against her mom’s. She turns her head slightly to face her dad. “What do we do?”
“I’ll call Nick. See if he can get a trace on that call.” Jack pulls Lily with him to the corner by the back door.
“Speaking of Nick.” Darin’s eyes lock with Mack’s. “If she said to call off the guys following her, then Slone Security is on her trail. That’s a good sign, man. Nick’s brother isn’t as crazy as we thought.”
