Chapter 10
You Can’t Keep Him Down for Long
A few weeks later
Maverick
Cali had becomeone of the best bartenders Mountain Breath had ever had. My dad was even impressed, and that said a hell of a lot.
Finally, my old man was discharged from the hospital, and we figured an open mic welcome home party was just what the doctor should have ordered.
I spent most of the day running around, making sure everything was perfect for the surprise we had been planning for the return of the great Marty Steele, and before I knew it, I was picking him up to drive him over to the party where everyone was waiting.
“Ready for your first shift back behind the bar, old man?” I asked as my father buckled his seat belt.
“I can’t wait to finally get back into the swing of things.” He looked like a kid on Christmas.
“Just remember to take it easy tonight.” I was still worried it was too soon, even if he wasn’t actually going to be working a shift; that was just the lie I’d told him so he wouldn’t suspect us.
As we drove past the fully packed bar, my dad’s eyes got wide. “There’s one hell of a crowd for open mic night tonight. I guess those fans of yours caught wind that you boys have been around more than normal lately.”
“Something like that.”
I parked around back and helped my dad out of his seat. “I got it. I got it.” He shooed me away.
Holding up my hands, I backed off. “Sorry. Just trying to be a good son.”
“You already are, but stop treating me like I am geriatric.”
“Whatever you say, Pop.”
Right as we walked in through the back door, the entire bar erupted in cheers of, “Welcome home, Marty!”
Turning to me, my dad shot me a knowing grin. “You really know how to keep a secret.”
I leaned down so he could hear me over the loud crowd. “I knew you wouldn’t want a big fuss, but everyone has been worried, and they deserve to celebrate with you.”
All of my dad’s regulars were there, shaking his hand and clapping him on the back, and the band was all set up to play for his homecoming, too. The whole family was there.
Cali bobbed around behind the bar, slinging drinks. I stood back for a minute to watch her in her element. The shit-eating smile, the laughter that escaped as she joked with her customers, the twinkle in her eye—it was stunning. Passion of any kind was sexy as hell, and all I wanted to do right then was drag Cali into the back room and take complete advantage of her.
“Marty, what’ll it be?” Cali sang out, putting a coaster in front of the stool my dad was climbing onto.
“Jamison and ginger,” he responded.
“Make it a single tall,” I mouthed at her, and she nodded. “And I’ll have one too,” I said louder.
Rodney came up next to me. “We’re going on in ten.”
“I get a show, too?” Marty’s eyed grew ten times with excitement.
“Only the best for Papa Steele,” Dane added in as he hugged my dad. “It’s good to see you back here.”
“It’s definitely good to be back.”
As we all stood with my father, a tall man walked up to us. My dad immediately shook his hand.
“Son, I want you to meet Aaron. He was one of the EMTs that responded when I had my episode.”
