Page 100 of Falling for Her

“Looks like a good turnout,” I state, looking around. “I’m going to go and get something to drink.”

“I’ll come with you,” Hudson says, jumping out of his seat. “You two need anything?”

Captain and Scooter shake their heads.

I follow Hudson to the bar, where he finds a spot at the side next to a group of four ladies sitting on stools and talking, each with a flight of whiskey in front of them.

“Hey,” Brady says, coming over to us, “what can I get you two?”

“Since when do you work weeknights?” Hudson asks him.

“Since my bartender got sick and I had no fucking choice.” He puts his hands on the bar. “Forgot how much I hated it until tonight.”

I put my arm on the bar and turn to Hudson. “What are you having?” I ask him as he mimics my stance with his own arm on the bar.

“I’ll have a shot of whiskey,” he answers.

“I’ll have the same.” Brady nods as he walks over to fill the order.

“How you been?” He gives me a chin-up. “You’ve been fucking quiet.”

“Yeah,” I huff out, “just working through things.”

“Those things include your nanny?” He tilts his head. “You can try to deny it, but⁠—”

“Things got a bit carried away,” I admit. The tightness comes again as I think of her.

“When I shook her hand at the barbecue, I thought you were going to rip off my arm.”

“I wasn’t that bad,” I counter. “So, you going to take over for Scooter?”

“I’m hoping,” he replies, and then his head swings to the door. He shifts away from the bar. “Is that . . .” He shakes his head. “Is that McKenna?” I follow his gaze to a girl with brown hair that goes down to her waist, her bangs almost in her eyes.

“It is,” I confirm with him. “Did you know she was coming to town?”

All he can do is stare at her as she makes her way through the crowd to a table in the corner. Theo sits there with his arm around Collins’s chair, his other hand on her stomach.

“She hasn’t been back in what? Ten years?” I ask.

“Twelve.” His eyes are taking her in.

“I wonder what she’s doing home.”

“Her mother is sick. Breast cancer.”

“Fuck.” I shake my head. “Is she going to be okay?”

“She says it’s just a nuisance.” I chuckle. “She’s trying to hold on to her job at the library, but she’s had to miss a couple of shifts.”

I’m about to say something when he motions with his head, looking over my shoulder. “Someone has been checking you out for the last five minutes,” he says in a low voice. This time, he’s the one changing the subject.

I shake my head. “Not interested.” Brady put the two glasses on the bar. “Thanks.” I pick up my glass as Theo comes over.

“Didn’t see you walk in.” He slaps my shoulder and then squeezes.

“I’ll be back,” Hudson says as he moves around Theo and heads to the table where McKenna is sitting with Collins.

“You look rough,” Theo observes. I chuckle and take a drink of the whiskey in front of me. Everything in me wants to ask about her. Everything.