Draven walks through the bar doorway into the games room, carrying a pint in his inked hand. “Poppy said you needed this.” He slides it along the ledge. “You look like someone ran over your dog.”
I lift the pint and take a gulp, needing something to take the edge off. All the shot did was give me a serious case of acid reflux, or is that the guilt gnawing away at me? “I don’t have a dog.”
“It’s a good job, or he’d be bloody miserable having to live with you. What’s going on?” He pulls up a stool and sits his arse down. With his tall frame, he doesn’t need to climb onto it.
“Colin kicked him out for shacking up with his daughter,” Dan says.
Draven flinches his head back with wide eyes. “Well, fuck me. I never thought you had the balls to do it.” He shakes his head with a chuckle. “You’ve been mooning over the lass since she was old enough to date. I’ve seen how protective you are of her.”
I nurse my pint, staring into the amber liquid as if it holds all the answers to my problems. “It seems I have the balls, but nowhere to live.”
“The spare room’s yours, mate.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Colin’ll come around. You should be fucking celebrating instead of moping. You just bagged yourself a girl… how old is she?” Draven looks around at the guys for an answer when I stay silent.
“I dunno how old she is, but Sawyer’s definitely punching above his weight. She’s too sweet for you,” Dan says.
I knock back another drink and slam the glass on the table. “Why do I come here?”
“Because you’re too tight to pay for a hotel.” Draven pushes off the stool and pats my shoulder with a laugh.
The back door swings open, letting in the cold. The voice of an angel says, “Is Sawyer here?”
I look up from my stupor. “Angelica?”
22
SAWYER
The stool slides back against the wooden floor as I stand and rush to my girl, weaving through the lads. “What happened? Are you all right?” I take her face in my hands, my heart pounding against my ribs, waiting for answers.
She beams up at me, her eyes bright like the Christmas star. “Dad told me to come and bring you home. He’s in the Range Rover waiting for us.”
“You mean he’s okay with us?” The pulse throbs in my neck, unable to believe my luck.
She nods, her smile confirming everything she says.
“Let’s get him in here for a drink. It’s Christmas,” Dan says, and is out the door before I can respond.
I leave him to it as I gaze into my angel’s eyes, my heart full of hope, and for the first time, I can see myself settling down. She was right when she said I gave none of the other women a chance because I was afraid of commitment, but the truth is that none of them were her.
“Looks like you got your Christmas wish this year, baby girl.” I tuck the loose strands of hair behind her ears so I can gaze upon her beautiful face.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“What you asked Santa for—a boyfriend.” I press my lips to hers. The lads make whistling noises, reminding me we have an audience, but I don’t care. All I see is her.
“I just need a job now.”
“I’m sure Draven will set you up with a part-time cleaning gig.” A chuckle bursts from my lips.
She rolls her eyes at me. “Enough with the cleaning jokes. You’re as bad as Dad.”
“How did you get him to calm down?” I stroke her face, in awe of this amazing woman who’s just saved my bacon and a lifelong friendship with her dad.
She shrugs a shoulder. “I don’t know. He just sort of started laughing when I told him about my cleaning job. Maybe it was the brandy Lorraine gave him.” She giggles. “Maybe she slipped him a Valium or something. Whatever it is, I’m grateful we have his blessing.”
The cold from outside blows in along with Dan, Colin and Lorraine. The lads all greet him first, Dom weaving through the crowd. “What a legend.” He shakes Colin’s hand. “You’re probably the only man to land a blow on bulldozer here and live to tell the tale.”
Colin silently chuckles as his gaze floats around the room, then he locks eyes with me. Pushing past the lads, he reaches out a hand. “I was a little hasty back there.”
