“What are you doing here?” Quinn demanded, the big Australian shepherd winning the tug of war and gaining ground. The boy’s flip-flops snapped on the pavement as Goose dragged them both closer, a bushy tail whipping side to side, that massive tongue waving with each loud pant.
Dan closed the space and knelt down to rub the dog’s neck. “I stopped by to see your mom.”
“She doesn’t want to see you.” He yanked the leash, as if to say don’t touch my dog.
Slowly, Dan stood. “Why’s that?”
“Beats me.” He brushed his hand over his hair in a gesture so familiar, Dan almost laughed. In a few years, when the kid had a beard, he knew exactly how he’d rub that, too.
And, shit, he kind of wanted to be around to see it.
“She didn’t tell you?” Dan prodded.
Quinn managed to inch the dog back. “I don’t know. It’s, like, not my business, and I don’t really get her all the time, but whatever you did to her the other night . . .”
“I didn’t do anything to her,” Dan said quietly. “What happened?”
“She cried all night, that’s what. I hate that.”
So did he. “Then I really better talk to her.”
“No, you really better leave her alone.” His gaze flickered to the car for a second, and regret darkened his face. “Just . . . leave us alone.”
He fought the leash one more time and started off.
“Where are you going?” Dan’s question was natural, and came out without thinking.
Damn. He cared. Already.
“None of your fucking business.” Despite the tough guy talk, maybe because of it, he suddenly sounded very young, and vulnerable.
“Quinn, don’t talk like that.”
He shrugged. “Whatev. You’re not the boss of me.”
And that, son, is where you are wrong. But Dan said nothing as Quinn jogged away, trying to keep up with Goose, who’d moved on to the next interesting scent.
He headed in, rethinking his plan for a late night meeting. There might not be time for that. Or the opportunity.
The bar was empty except for one older man at the far end, watching ESPN on the flat screen, the vague smell of stale beer and conch fritters in the air.
Brandy looked up from a magazine and gave him a wide, friendly smile. “Well look what the hundred thousand dollar Porsche dragged in.”
At least she didn’t think he ought to leave them alone. “It’s a rental.”
“So I’ve heard. And it tells me a lot about a man who rents a car like that as opposed to, say, a Taurus.”
Dan smiled as he leaned on the bar, resisting the urge to look around for Maggie. “What’s it tell you?”
“That you’re rich.”
“Only that I have expensive tastes.” He tapped the bar and glanced around. “She here?”
Brandy cocked her shiny blond hair toward the door next to the back bar. “In the office. Want me to get her?”
The office. Perfect. “Can I go see her?”
She frowned, considering. “She hasn’t talked much about you the past few days. I thought maybe the crush got crushed.” Then she pointed a finger at him. “My godson, on the other hand, hasn’t talked about anything else. That’s how I know what your rental cost.” She looked hard at him. “You evidently made quite an impression on both of them.”
He nodded and took a few steps toward the office. “Is it unlocked?”
“Yeah. Go ahead. She’ll wished she had worn a little make up, but go on. Make her day.”
“That’s my plan.” He turned the knob without knocking and stepped right in, peeking around the door just as she looked up from a metal desk covered in papers and forms.
“Oh,” she whispered, her whole being stilled by the sight of him.
Her face was pale except for faint shadows under her eyes. She obviously hadn’t slept much. And he was about to make it all so much worse.
“Hey.” He didn’t wait for an invitation, but slipped in and closed the door, twisting the latch position as he faced her. “You should keep this door locked if you’re back here with any appreciable amount of money.”
“Not appreciable. But thanks.”
There was one chair with a little hole in the cane seat. A reject from the bar, no doubt. It wasn’t offered.
“How are you?” he asked.
She lifted a shoulder. “Fine.”
He waited, but she didn’t say anything. “I’m fine, too,” he finally said, taking the chair that wasn’t offered.
“Thanks for asking.” He winked to make it playful, but she just sucked her bottom lip in a little and watched