Chapter Two
Halligan checked his customers sitting at the glossy wood bar.
No one needed their drinks topped off. Glancing around the room, he forced himself to release the tension in his shoulders.
Despite not helping at the bar very often, he’d fallen back into the habits he learned after high school.
Though the dance floor, stage, and tables had gotten an update after an incident a couple years ago, the bar still held the same vibe it always had—a small-town bar where anyone was welcome.
People came to try the amazing food by his cousin Crewe or to play pool or darts.
Sometimes they just wanted to relax at a table and drink.
Halligan placed some drinks on a tray and picked them up.
Normally, he wouldn’t be delivering drinks, but the bar was slammed tonight.
One of their waitresses had also called in sick.
Besides fixing drinks, he was helping out when he could.
He’d rather have a root canal than deliver the drinks to these customers and that table.
If he could go back and kick his own high school butt, he would. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with one of his former high school girlfriends who thought he’d appreciate her touch.
She’d already run her hand over his ass when he dropped off their food earlier. He’d firmly told her that he did not want her hands on his body again. He was setting the stage for throwing her out later because he wasn’t going to be made to feel like this in his own bar.
Her perfume was so strong, and it smelled off—nothing like he remembered his night in Vegas smelling. He might be working toward getting a divorce, but the clean, fresh, flowery scent still came back to him at the most inopportune times.
Well, it wasn’t going to get any easier. He lifted the tray and walked across the floor, weaving between the tables, smiling at the regulars. The din of the room wasn’t too bad considering the number of people. They’d installed sound-dampening tiles and wall coverings when they’d remodeled.
He steeled himself and plastered a smile on his face, though he really wanted to glare at her.
“Ladies, I have your drinks,” he said, delivering drinks to the four women sitting at the booth.
They all smiled, but Judy moved closer. Her hand slid under the table. A quick brush on his thigh and her fingers slid across his crotch before he could move. He jerked, but when he started to move back, her cohort Laura across the table pressed her hand on his ass, shoving him into Judy’s hand.
“Oh, Halligan, I’d be happy to make this big boy stand up,” she said.
“Well, I thought a small town would have nicer people. How about you get your hands off my man,” the voice he’d heard in his dreams said.
He turned, and there she was—his wife. Her black hair was shining in the lights of the bar. He stepped back because Laura had dropped her hand. Now, Judy was still trying to rub her hand on his crotch.
“Your man? Get real. Halligan and I have always been meant to be together. Get gone,” Judy said.
His wife chuckled, but the glee in her eyes had him a little worried. He didn’t really know her, but if she’d take care of his problem, he’d be happy to do any cleanup she needed.
She sauntered closer.
“It’s good to know you don’t respect the bonds of marriage. I saw a sign as I walked in about how many days it’s been since they’ve booted an asshole from the bar. It’s about to go back to zero,” she said, grasping Judy’s hand.
In seconds, Judy’s arm was twisted behind her, and his wife had a huge handful of Judy’s brown hair.
“Let me clue you in, sweetie pie… I don’t share, and I don’t give second chances.
I’m kicking your ass out of this bar, and before you even think of trying to come back, you’ll be giving me your apology on your fucking knees.
We clear?” his wife said, and damned if he wasn’t as hard as steel seeing her teach Judy a lesson.
Seeing her right in front of him, her eyes ablaze, her thick black hair brushing her shoulders as she swung around, had some of their night in Vegas coming back to him.
Not the wedding, but everything they’d done and how her body had felt flashed in front of his eyes.
Her full breasts with their dark nipples.
Her soft skin and her thick thighs gripping his hips as he had her time and time again during the night.
Halligan followed as she walked Judy toward the door, trying to think through what the next step was, but fuck it, he was going to enjoy this and worry about tomorrow some other time.
He planned on opening the door for her, but his brother Dillon had shown up and beat him to it.
Dillon, with his shit-stirring grin, was holding the door open, his eyes dancing with the crap he could tease Halligan about now.
Well, the cat was out of the bag, and he didn’t need to pay the private detective any more money to find his wife. Now, he had to figure out what she was doing here and deal with the fact she’d just outed him to the town. He wondered how fast it would be before his dad and uncles heard.
His phone beeped. He glanced down and rolled his eyes when it beeped eight more times in succession. Looks like the family knew and wanted to know what the heck was going on.
He’d love to actually talk to his wife before his family descended. He didn’t have much hope that would happen. He followed his wife outside as she walked Judy out into the parking lot.
“Do you understand your choices?” his wife asked.
“Listen. You’re not from around here. I’m a big deal. I’m leaving here and reporting you to the police for assault,” Judy whined.
His wife walked Judy close to a car. Halligan wondered what the heck she was doing. She maneuvered Judy around, then leaned close to her ear. Halligan would give anything to hear what she was telling Judy because Judy’s eyes went from mad to scared in seconds.
His wife stepped back. “I’ll ask again. Do you understand your choices?” she asked.
Judy nodded.
“No, I need a verbal answer,” his wife said, her voice ringing with authority.
“Yes, I understand my choices,” Judy said.
“Then Halligan and I will both be waiting on your apology if you decide you want to come back to the bar,” she said.
Loni waited until the woman and her friend had pulled out of the parking lot. She could feel all the eyes drilling holes into her back.
She hadn’t planned on being so obvious about her and Halligan’s relationship immediately.
She’d clocked that woman’s hand on Halligan’s body and seen red.
She was a tad surprised at how angry it had made her, but then she remembered that growing up, she hadn’t been one to share her special things with anyone.
It was time to face the music. The wind was also picking up, the chill cutting right through her black blouse and slacks. She’d been traveling, but she’d dressed to give herself confidence.
Before she could turn around and face Halligan, she felt him at her back.
“Well, that was interesting. Why don’t we go inside where it’s warmer, and I’ll pour you a drink. We can discuss why you’re here,” he said.
She fought to keep him from seeing how much his voice affected her. She nodded and turned.
“I could use a drink,” she said.
He smirked and cocked his head toward the door. That smile had been one of the many reasons she’d chosen him.
“The nosy onlookers are my brothers Dillon and Quinton.”
She stared at him. He must have missed the crowd that had appeared.
“Who are the rest of them?” she asked, pointing behind him.
He turned to glance where she was pointing.
“Well, since it seems like you’ll be meeting everyone, let’s definitely go inside,” Halligan said.
“I’d like that, but is there some place safe I could leave Dottie?” she asked.
“Who’s Dottie?” Quinton asked, walking closer. Halligan was glad one of them could concentrate.
“Dottie, my 1966 Dodge Challenger,” Loni said, waving her hand toward a car that had Halligan and all the men in his family walking toward it.
“Oh, sweet baby, it’s got the back fold-down seats,” Dillon said.
“Engine?” Halligan asked.
“A 426 Hemi, of course,” his wife scoffed.
“Um, there’s a separate enclosed garage at our apartment building. I’m happy to drive it there for you. You and Halligan can catch up,” Quinton suggested with a grin.
Loni shook her head. They had to be mental to think she’d allow that.
“I get you’re his family, but I don’t let just anyone drive Dottie,” she said.
“Quinton, cover the bar for me. We’ll go together and park her car,” Halligan said.
“Son, you and she get the car settled and then be back for a family meeting in an hour. It seems like you’ve been keeping a secret,” the man who had to be his dad, based on their resemblance, said.
“Thanks, Dad,” Halligan said. Halligan was in his forties, but his voice gave away how much he respected his dad. Loni appreciated that because family meant everything to her—at least it used to.