Well, the cat was out of the bag, and he didn’t need to pay the private detective any more money to find his wife. Now, he had to figure out what she was doing here and deal with the fact she’d just outed him to the town. He wondered how fast it would be before his dad and uncles heard.
His phone beeped. He glanced down and rolled his eyes when it beeped eight more times in succession. Looks like the family knew and wanted to know what the heck was going on.
He’d love to actually talk to his wife before his family descended. He didn’t have much hope that would happen. He followed his wife outside as she walked Judy out into the parking lot.
“Do you understand your choices?” his wife asked.
“Listen. You’re not from around here. I’m a big deal. I’m leaving here and reporting you to the police for assault,” Judy whined.
His wife walked Judy close to a car. Halligan wondered what the heck she was doing. She maneuvered Judy around, then leaned close to her ear. Halligan would give anything to hear what she was telling Judy because Judy’s eyes went from mad to scared in seconds.
His wife stepped back. “I’ll ask again. Do you understand your choices?” she asked.
Judy nodded.
“No, I need a verbal answer,” his wife said, her voice ringing with authority.
“Yes, I understand my choices,” Judy said.
“Then Halligan and I will both be waiting on your apology if you decide you want to come back to the bar,” she said.
Loni waited until the woman and her friend had pulled out of the parking lot. She could feel all the eyes drilling holes into her back.
She hadn’t planned on being so obvious about her and Halligan’s relationship immediately. She’d clocked that woman’s hand on Halligan’s body and seen red. She was a tad surprised at how angry it had made her, but then she remembered that growing up, she hadn’t been one to share her special things with anyone.
It was time to face the music. The wind was also picking up, the chill cutting right through her black blouse and slacks. She’d been traveling, but she’d dressed to give herself confidence.
Before she could turn around and face Halligan, she felt him at her back.
“Well, that was interesting. Why don’t we go inside where it’s warmer, and I’ll pour you a drink. We can discuss why you’re here,” he said.
She fought to keep him from seeing how much his voice affected her. She nodded and turned.
“I could use a drink,” she said.
He smirked and cocked his head toward the door. That smile had been one of the many reasons she’d chosen him.
“The nosy onlookers are my brothers Dillon and Quinton.”
She stared at him. He must have missed the crowd that had appeared.
“Who are the rest of them?” she asked, pointing behind him.
He turned to glance where she was pointing.
“Well, since it seems like you’ll be meeting everyone, let’s definitely go inside,” Halligan said.
“I’d like that, but is there some place safe I could leave Dottie?” she asked.
“Who’s Dottie?” Quinton asked, walking closer. Halligan was glad one of them could concentrate.
“Dottie, my 1966 Dodge Challenger,” Loni said, waving her hand toward a car that had Halligan and all the men in his family walking toward it.
“Oh, sweet baby, it’s got the back fold-down seats,” Dillon said.
“Engine?” Halligan asked.
“A 426 Hemi, of course,” his wife scoffed.
