Broken Daddy (Montana Daddies #17)

Chapter 1

H e had the saddest eyes.

Devi wondered why.

A man like him didn’t have such tragic eyes without it being something truly awful.

And that made her heart ache. She wanted to fix him. But then, Devi was a fixer. She liked to take care of everyone’s problems.

And she was pretty good at it. If she did say so herself.

Too bad she wasn’t as good at taking care of her own issues.

“Good afternoon,” she said cheerfully to Sondra and Mr. Tragic Eyes.

Even though he’d been in every day for the last week with Sondra, who was a regular at the café, Devi had yet to figure out his name.

Would it be rude to ask? How else would she find out?

“Hello, Demi,” Sondra said.

Devi held her tongue against correcting her. The customer was always right. And Sondra was one of their best customers. Aaron would have her head if she was rude to her.

Not that she would be. Devi liked to think that everyone had some good in them. Well, almost everyone.

There were a few exceptions.

And she didn’t think that Sondra was a bad person, she was just a bit . . . forgetful.

“Spiced chai with oat milk?” she asked Sondra. She got the same drink every morning in a to-go cup, even though she would sit in the café and drink most of it.

If anyone ever wanted to kidnap Sondra it would be easy since she stuck to the same routine every day that the café was open.

Devi wondered if Mr. Tragic Eyes was guarding her. He definitely looked like a bodyguard. He was strong and muscular. Constantly on alert.

Yep. He was a bodyguard.

Maybe one of his charges was killed while he was guarding them and that’s why he had those sad eyes.

Although he didn’t look like the sort of man to ever make a mistake.

“It’s Devi.”

Shock brought her back into the present and she stared up at him in surprise. Because he was the one who’d spoken, right? It had to be him. There was no one else that could have such a deep voice.

It was the first time she’d heard him speak, although that wasn’t why she was stunned.

No, it was because he’d said her name.

Her. Name.

Devi.

“What?” Sondra asked, turning to glance up at him. “What’s a Devi?”

He didn’t reply and she figured she would have to explain.

“Um, me. I’m Devi.” She waved at Sondra.

“Oh, yes, right. Wasn’t that what I said?” Sondra asked.

“Close enough.” Devi smiled at her.

“Not close enough,” he rumbled. “It’s not her name. You said Demi not Devi.”

“Um, right, yes,” Sondra said, looking extremely confused.

“Spiced Chai with oat milk?” Devi repeated.

“Yes. Thank you,” Sondra said with a stiff smile. “Devi is an unusual name. Is it short for something?”

“No, that’s just my name.” She shrugged. “My dad’s name is Derick and my mom was Violet. It’s a mix of their two names.”

“Really? How interesting. I’ll take my coffee in a to-go cup,” Sondra said before wandering off.

Devi didn’t bother to tell her that she knew that’s how she took her coffee since it was what she’d been ordering for the last three months.

Which was how long Devi had worked here.

“And you? Would you like a coffee?” she asked him.

He never said yes. But she always asked.

It was her job. Plus, she just felt the need to do something for him, to try and make him less sad.

When he didn’t reply, some sort of devil took hold of her. “Or a tea? I know, how about a green tea? Maybe chamomile. We have a nice ginger tea that’s good for digestion. You look like you might enjoy ginger tea. To help with any . . . you know . . . tummy pains.” She rubbed her stomach.

He raised an eyebrow, his face as stoic as ever.

Uh-oh.

Darn it, Devi. Why do you always push things a step too far?

Story of her life.

Her mom used to say that she had more courage than she did sense and she wasn’t wrong.

“To aid my digestion?” He glanced at Sondra and then around the room, as though searching for something before his gaze landed on her again. “Do I look like I need something to aid my digestion?”

Eek.

“Maybe? You kind of look like you . . . might be . . . blocked . . . um . . . I’m going to stop talking now.” She should have stopped a long time ago.

Sometimes, she just couldn’t help herself.

Mr. Tragic Eyes eyed her for a long moment. “Americano. No sugar.”

Right. Yep. He looked like a guy who liked things simple.

So he definitely wouldn’t like you, then.

Not that she was looking at him like that. Nope. She was not looking at him and those sad eyes and that gorgeous body and stern face and wondering how she could make him smile.

Nope. Nuh-uh. Not her. Because she had some self-preservation left.

What are you talking about? You have none.

Zero.

And she proved that with her next question. “Sugar?”

He crossed his arms over his chest and did that weird thing where he looked everywhere but at her.

He was definitely a bodyguard. That was interesting.

Sondra looked like she had money. But a bodyguard had to cost a fortune. And it was only billionaires and movie stars that could afford one, right?

“Do I look like someone who has sugar?” he asked.

Eek.

Don’t. Do not. Just nod and put through the order.

But Devi once again proved that she was an idiot.

“It might sweeten you up.”

He just stared at her again.

Death. That was what was coming her way. She was going to die. It was in his eyes.

But at least they didn’t look so sad anymore.

Murderous, yes.

Sad, not so much.

Devi was going to count that as a win. At least her impending death wouldn’t be in vain.

Then he reached behind him and she stiffened.

Holy moly. What if he had a gun? Was he going to shoot her?

At least it will be over quick. You won’t suffer.

Really, it might be a relief.

Only . . . he pulled out his wallet.

Jeez, Devi, you’ve been watching way too many mafia movies. Of course he’s not going to shoot you. Why would he do that?

He gave her a curious look, his eyebrow rising. “You all right?”

Lord. How could his voice be so sexy? Slightly raspy and deep, it sent a shiver down her spine. She wondered what it would be like if he gave her orders in the bedroom with that voice?

Too much. She’d likely melt into a pile of goo.

Or she’d push him with some sass. That could be fun too. He looked like a guy who wouldn’t hesitate to establish his dominance.

She just hoped he wasn’t one of those assholes who put himself and his needs first. There were true Doms and then there were dickhead Doms.

Please don’t be a dickhead Dom.

That would totally ruin the fantasy.

Not that she’d ever find out. She barely knew him but he didn’t really invite people to get close. Before today, she hadn’t even been aware that he had a clue who she was.

The fact that he knew her name was mind-blowing.

Don’t read anything into it.

She wouldn’t. But that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t feature in her fantasies the next time she pulled out her vibrator.

Hmm. She hadn’t used it in a while. She didn’t have a lot of privacy in the double-wide trailer she shared with her dad. Although he was a heavy sleeper.

Probably due to all the whiskey he drank.

Mr. Tragic Eyes knocked on the counter and she jumped, gaping at him.

“You okay?” he asked, his gaze narrowing.

Oops. He’d already asked her that and she hadn’t replied yet. She was going to pretend that look he was giving her was one of concern and not annoyance.

“I’m good. Are you paying for both of you?” She glanced over at Sondra who was on her phone.

He grunted and nodded.

“That will be seven seventy-five.”

He gave her a twenty-dollar bill.

“Let me get your change.”

“Keep it.” He turned away and headed toward the table where Sondra sat before Devi could protest that he’d given her too much.

Well, it wasn’t like she didn’t need the money. She took their order to the coffee machine where Aaron was.

He turned, giving her a grouchy look. Aaron was always grumpy, but he didn’t wear it as well as Mr. Tragic Eyes. Shoot, she should have asked him his name.

“You need to daydream less and work more,” Aaron snapped. “You’re not being paid to undress the customers.”

Dear Lord.

She could feel her face growing hot. “I wasn’t doing that.”

Aaron shot her a look of disbelief. “Sure, you weren’t. You were panting after him so much it’s a wonder that your tongue wasn’t hanging out and drool dripping from your mouth.”

Oh my God.

Had she been looking at him like that? Horror flooded her.

“And make sure you split that tip. I’m making the coffee, after all. The part that takes some skill.”

Devi imagined telling Aaron that he could take his job and shove it up his ass.

But she couldn’t do that. She needed this job more than he needed her. Although without her he’d probably have no customers since he was a rude asshole.

To be fair, he did make amazing coffees, and he could always hire someone else to work the counter. Although, before her, everyone he’d hired had quit after a few weeks.

Devi just had more staying power than most.

She was also more desperate.

So instead of saying anything that might get her fired, she turned away and served a customer who had just walked in.

One day, she wouldn’t have to work here. Maybe she’d open her own café, right across the road from this one. Really stick it to Aaron.

The ass.

Once the drinks were ready, she took them over to Sondra and Mr. Tragic Eyes.

“Have a nice day,” she said with a wide smile without looking at him.

Had he thought she was undressing him with her eyes? Or was Aaron just messing with her head?

Do not go bright red.

Do not.

“Thanks Devon,” Sondra said.

She sighed. Okay, now she was getting annoyed. How hard was it to remember her name?

“Devi,” Mr. Tragic Eyes said.

Sondra glanced up from her phone, looking between them. There was a small frown line between her eyebrows.

“Right. Devi. That’s what I said. I have to go to the beauty salon today. I’ve got an appointment. It will take a couple of hours. I’m sure you can safely leave me there and go do something else if you like.”