Page 21 of Daigo

“You’re just telling me that to make me appreciate this place even a little bit.”

Her smile came and dazzled him. “Is it working?” she asked archly.

“Nope.” Bending his head, he kissed her. “I’m here because I’m an idiot over you.”

“Never an idiot.”

“You two really should get a room,” Tammy shouted over the sound of the music as she waltzed by in the arms of an ebony-complexioned guy wearing nothing but a white T-shirt clinging to his muscled torso. His hairless head shone under the recessed lighting. “Guys, this is Benjamin. He’s a deejay.”

“’Sup?”

“He’s a man of very few words. My kinda guy.” With a wink, she allowed the muscular Benjamin to whirl her away.

“Should I be worried?” Shelby asked, looking after them.

“She’s a big girl. How long do we have to stay here?”

“They happen to serve the best spare ribs I’ve ever tasted. We have to stay for that.”

“Darling, you’re killing me,” he complained.

With a laugh, she took his hand when the music ended and drew him towards a table at the back of the smoky bar.

“I believe you’ve corrupted me.”

“I love doing that.” She laughed up at him as he attacked his ribs. “You never ate at a fast-food restaurant before I inveigled you to stop at a McDonald’s.”

“And a Burger King.” He shook his head and privately thought the ribs were very good, even if he was eating with his fingers. Christ, if his mother or his dead father could see him now, he thought ruefully.

“You changed me.”

“Is that good or bad?” she asked, lifting a brow.

“Still deciding.” He grinned as she kicked him under the table. “How are the ribs?”

“Pretty decent.” He looked around, catching sight of Tammy. “They look pretty cozy.”

Shelby glanced over at the couple, who were swaying together to the slow country song. “I think she’s trying to forget her troubles.” Her expression sobered. “She has her surgery in two weeks.”

Dropping the bones, Daigo wiped his hands with the napkins left on the table.

“She doesn’t look sick.”

“She looks normal.” Reaching for her water, Shelby took a big sip. “And she’s trying not to be depressed. I think I want to go home.”

“Darling--”

She shook her head. “I’m just feeling a little tired.” She looked around. “And I think I’ve outgrown places like these.”

“Thank goodness!”

With a laugh, she rose and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go and tell Tammy we’re ditching her.”

*****

She decorated the tree. It was huge and had taken four men to haul it in. A Douglas fir, no less. Last year, Daigo and his mother had insisted on them hiring professionals to decorate the tree and the outside of the loft, since she had been bent on the tradition, and she had buckled. But this year, she was doing things her way, especially since his mother was keeping to herself. And she had news to impart, astounding news or distressing news, depending on one’s point of view. Or even terrifying news.

Hauling out the big green-colored bulbs, she started stringing. She was going to have to leave the star and angels and some of the lights for her husband, as she was too short to reach the top, and she wasn’t going to chance using a stepladder in her condition.