Coming Home(56)

But instead he slunk out of the chair, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her against him. She brought her hands up to his biceps to brace herself, and he buried his face in her hair as he inhaled deeply. “You’re here,” he said again, and this time it sounded like a prayer.

Leah stood frozen for a moment before she closed her eyes.

He’s drunk. He has no idea what he’s doing. He doesn’t even remember calling you. Just get him home.

“Okay, come on,” she said, using her hands on his biceps to push him away gently. He held her firmly for another second before he relented, releasing his hold on her and taking a step backward. Leah slid her hand down his arm before timidly wrapping her hand around his wrist to keep him next to her while she leaned over the bar.

“Excuse me?” she said, and the bartender looked up. “Can I have his keys?”

The bartender shook his head, his expression never changing as he went back to drying glasses and stacking them. “I don’t have his keys.”

“Okay, well is Joe still working?”

The bartender chuckled as he slung the rag over his shoulder. “Sweetheart, either you’ve had a little too much to drink, or you’re at the wrong bar. There’s no Joe that works here.”

Leah stared blankly at him before she turned to Danny. “Where’s Joe? Where’s the guy who has your keys?”

He dropped his head, resting his forehead on her shoulder as he fisted the side of her sweatshirt. “The other bar,” he mumbled, and Leah closed her eyes, sighing heavily.

At least now she knew why he’d been served. This wasn’t the place that had cut him off. The only good news was that she knew he hadn’t driven to McGillicuddy’s, so the other bar had to be within drunken walking distance.

“Excuse me?” Leah said, leaning over the bar again, and the guy glanced up, a condescending expression on his face. “Is there another bar near here?”

“Across the street,” he said, as he turned to lift a bin of glasses from the floor.

“Thanks,” she said before she turned her attention back to Danny, sliding her fingers under his chin and lifting his head. He opened his eyes, smiling softly as he focused on her face.

“Come on. I need you to walk with me,” she said, wrapping her arm around his waist. She had no idea how she was going to hold him if he couldn’t walk, but as she took a step, thankfully he followed.

“Get home safe,” the bartender said as they passed, and she held her hand up behind her in acknowledgement. As they exited the bar, Leah’s eyes scanned the opposite street until she located a tiny pub called The Alley.

“There?” she asked, and Danny shrugged.

“Sure.”

Leah shook her head. “No, I’m not asking if you want to go there…ugh, just forget it. Let’s go,” she said, pulling him across the street.

As they entered the bar, the guy standing behind the tap turned to look at them. “You here for his keys?” he asked, and Leah nodded.

“Yeah, sorry about this,” she said.

“Don’t you apologize,” Danny murmured into her hair. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” He pressed his lips to the crown of her head, and Leah squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach that the intimate gesture invoked.

He’s drunk. He’s drunk. He’s completely oblivious and drunk.

The bartender fished under the bar and came up with Danny’s keys, handing them to Leah.

“Thanks for looking out for him,” she said as she turned them toward the exit, and the guy nodded, giving her a flimsy salute.