Rome (Marked Men #3)(62)

Dale cleared his throat and rose to shake the younger man’s hand.

“Son, you are welcome here anytime you would like.”

Margot nodded her head, though she had remained quiet throughout the entire exchange.

Hugs and good-byes were exchanged until it was just Rome and me and Rome’s parents at the table.

His mom was staring at me and Dale was watching Rome. It could have been awkward, but instead it felt like a giant door had been slammed closed, leaving a ton of baggage stuck behind it.

“That was a bold move, young lady.” Margot’s tone wasn’t exactly appreciative, but she didn’t sound mad either.

“I’m a bold kind of person, Mrs. Archer.”

Dale thumped his fist on the table and threw back his head and laughed. “I used to think nothing would top Rule’s antics at brunch, but that … that definitely did the trick.”

Rome stood, then scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder. He thumped me on the ass with the flat of his hand and started to haul me toward the front door. I hollered at him to put me down, that this was an undignified way to exit his parents’ house after our first meeting, but he just laughed at me and tossed me over his other shoulder. “I can top it even more. Cora’s pregnant. We’re having a baby. Thanks for brunch. I’ll see you next week.”

I heard his mom scream and his dad swear and they both ordered him to bring me back, but he was already headed out the door. He put me on my feet next to the truck and then leaned into me until I had the warm metal pressed all along my back.

“You’re trouble.”

I put my arms around his neck and tugged him down until I could fit my mouth over his. His hair was longer than usual, so I tickled the dark strands that brushed across my fingers.

“But I’m totally worth it.”

He kissed me again, and I tried not to groan out loud when his tongue brushed across my own.

“Yes you are, Half-Pint. Yes you are.”

CHAPTER 12

Rome

I dusted my hands off on the back of my Carhartts and looked around the liquor room. The new shelving I had built looked awesome, the place was spotless and organized, and not a bottle or keg was out of place. It was the last task I had on the list Brite had given me all those months ago. The rest of the bar was done. Polished, primed, and looking entirely new and ready to be part of this generation. The regulars were still posted up at their favorite spots all day long, but there was a whole new crowd and influx of younger blood wandering in. I didn’t ask Brite about the change in revenue because he had been quiet and a lot harder to pin down lately. Ever since the robbery, he had been skipping out before it got busy at night, leaving me and Asa to run the show. I didn’t mind, but I thought it was weird that he didn’t seem more excited about all the improvements.

I was putting the tools away in the toolbox when the door opened. It wasn’t a huge storage space, so between my massiveness and Brite’s, there wasn’t a lot of room to maneuver. I frowned a little at him when he took a seat on the top of an empty Fat Tire keg and motioned for me to do the same thing.

“You all done?”

I pulled the bill of my ball cap lower over my forehead and nodded solemnly. I was proud of the work I had done. I felt like I brought the place back to life for him, but I was going to be bummed to move on and not just because I didn’t really have anywhere else to go.

“I think so.”

He nodded and clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. I tried not to grunt under the pressure.

“The place looks great, son. You did an amazing job. I would have been honored to follow someone like you into battle, Rome. I hope you know that.”

I just stared at him. That was a pretty serious compliment from one soldier to another.

“Thank you. I’m not real sure what would have happened to me if I hadn’t stumbled in here on the Fourth.”

He snorted and pulled back to stroke his beard. “You would’ve been fine, kiddo. A man like you … the universe looks out for the good ones, Rome.”

I didn’t know if I agreed with that, but I was grateful that he saw it in me. I was going to ask him what this little heart-to-heart was about, but he surprised me by asking me:

“Hey, you got a hundred bucks on you?”

I blinked at him and dug my wallet out of my back pocket.

“Yeah, why?”

He waited until I handed over the bill and then climbed to his feet. I followed suit since I was confused as to what was going on. There was a strange undercurrent flowing between us that I couldn’t put my finger on. My anxiety ratcheted up a notch when Brite stuck his hand out like he was saying good-bye.

“Rome, there are not enough good men in this world. Men that fight for what they believe in. Men that are more than willing to sacrifice for the greater good. I watched you this summer, saw how you handled the vets’ and your own demons that chased you back stateside. You faltered here and there, but you’re a rock-solid young man and there is no one else in the world that I would trust with my bar and my customers. You put your heart and your soul into this place this summer. You earned it.”

I just stared at him because I still wasn’t sure what he was saying. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him steadily. He held up the hundred-dollar bill and made a big production of folding it up and putting it in his own wallet. His steely gaze held me in place and his face was marked with unwavering determination.