Page 82 of Steel

“Oh, so this was some big plan,” Violet said, laughing as she did. It was good to hear the sound again.

“Just a little welcome to the neighborhood event,” Shannon corrected. “I hope this means you brought that adorable little boy of yours.”

Violet’s face lit up. No matter how aggravating the kid could be, it was obvious how much his mother adored him. “He wouldn’t have allowed me to come without him. He’s around here somewhere with a guy named Rock?”

Kenzie acted like she was shocked, playing the entire part with her eyes opened like a terrified doe and her hand slapped across her mouth. “Oh, no. Rock will eat your little boy alive.”

Instead of asking Kenzie how, Violet looked to me, frowning as she did.

“Don’t look at me,” I insisted. “I’m not his caretaker.”

“Uh-huh. Do all of you go by some crazy name?”

Shannon laughed. “Girl, you have no idea. There’s Raptor. Firestarter. Stinger. The list goes on and on. I think it’s to make up for their lack of manhood.”

“Shannon!” Axe gritted out.

“I can’t attest to that,” Kenzie defended while wrapping one arm around her husband.

While both Violet and I watched closely, the way Violet’s body hummed watching their interaction had my cock aching all over again.

“Don’t worry,” Shannon added. “Rock is a huge teddy bear. I can’t believe some woman hasn’t scooped him up yet. Damon is safe as a bug in a rug in this bar. Everyone in this crowd already thinks of him as family. You too.”

“My kid can be very sweet as well, when he’s not being a hellion on Earth. Plus, I should warn you that his affinity for cheeseburgers is world class. He’s very picky.”

Shannon pulled away, her face highlighting full concentration. But I knew the woman far too well. She had something up her sleeve. “Then I will handle making his double decker ultimate cheeseburger myself.”

“With bacon,” I added.

“With a double helping of bacon.”

“You’re not helping anything,” Violet chided. In turn I shrugged and was rewarded with an elbow in my gut.

“Now, what would you like to drink?” Shannon leaned over once again, asking the question of our guest. Not me. I was just a dude who came into the bar every once in a while. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to Ziggy’s. Sure, after the tragedy and also after the big rodeo. But had I been since then?

I couldn’t remember.

But being here with Violet seemed… right.

There I went again, acting like there was some kind of future between us. Nope. We’d both shut it down.

“Merlot coming right up. I have the perfect bottle for tonight I’ll open just because.” Shannon glanced at me. “I already know what you drink. You do everything exactly the same and have since you were a kid.”

Hanging and shaking my head, I was surprised how relaxed I felt.

Violet was already swaying to the music while keeping a close eye on her son. She seemed content, although I sensed lingering tension. I’d justified my lack of trusting ability and all I could think about was wishing she could place her trust in me long enough to tell me what she was terrified of.

“Ziggy’s is amazing,” she said almost wistfully.

“It’s been around a long time. There are stories in every picture on the wall. See that one over there? That’s Shannon’s husband, Landen. He served as a firefighter in New York when the Twin Towers fell.”

“I can’t imagine what he went through.”

“That one over there,” Axe pointed out, “is the day the smoke-jumping team Landen was on saved the entire town from being swept up by a horrific fire. Started by an arsonist. That guy right there is Stoker Hansen, currently with the forestry service and a Ziggy’s regular.”

“And husband to Jessica Dunn,” Shannon added as she pushed drinks across the bar.

“Oh, my God. She’s like my favorite artist in the world.” Violet was more excited than I’d seen her. Ever.