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Butch crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll find something!”
“I’ll help you, Lara,” Mia told her. “Come on, let’s go into town right now.”
“I don’t think so, kitten,” Alec warned.
Mia huffed. “I do think so. Seb will wake up from his nap soon. I’ll text you when we get to town. Let’s go, Lara.”
“Wait . . . what?” Butch gave her an alarmed look. “I don’t want you going off on your own.”
Mia softened. “We’ll be safe. I promise. We’ll go to Haven and we’ll keep in contact. Now, bye!”
Alec reached out to grab Butch’s arm. “Let them go.”
“It might not be safe.”
“I have an idea. Don’t worry.”
She frowned as Mia led her out of the house and over to one of the trucks.
“That was way too easy,” she said as they climbed in.
“Wait for it,” Mia said.
“Wait for what?”
“The catch.”
“What?” she asked, confused.
“There’s no way they’re letting us go off to town on our own. Not even with our promise to stay in Haven. And here he comes.”
She watched as Tanner raced toward them and jumped into the backseat.
“Got the short straw, huh?” Mia asked, starting the truck.
“What you talking about, darlin’?” Tanner asked.
“You have to escort us into town.”
“Maybe I offered.”
Mia snorted. “Sure.”
“Fine. Alec called and said I’m to escort you into town and watch over you both like a hawk. And if anything happens to either of you, my life is forfeit. Well, not in those words, but that was the gist of it.”
“Your punishment for the fountain bath?” Mia asked.
“Yep,” he said sadly. “So, where are we going? Quick trip to the grocery store? Library? Are we getting ice cream? I like ice cream.”
“Nope,” Mia said with some satisfaction. “We’re going to go drinking and talk about how men can be idiots.”
Tanner groaned. “Shit. Things are going to get messy, huh?”
She had no idea what he was talking about.
31
“Men can be such idiots!” She swallowed the shot that the really nice bartender had brought her. They were at some bar called Dirty Delights. Great name. Awesome bar.
“They really are.” Mia nodded. “But they can also be super sweet.”
“So super sweet. Butch is the best. I really love him. I miss him.”
“Then let’s go home and see him,” Tanner said.
“No, because he was a big jerk. Bossing me around. You know, I like it most of the time. Especially in the bedroom.”
“I hear ya. I hear ya.” Mia nodded.
“Don’t even mind it out of the bedroom most of the time. I think too much and Butch just kind of takes over, you know?”
“I know. I know.” Mia waved to the bartender for another drink. He came over with a grin.
“But he has to learn there’s a line. And he can’t tell me what I can do! You understand?”
“T-totally, girlfriend.”
Tanner groaned. “Worst punishment ever.”
“Another round, ladies?” the bartender asked, wincing as someone screeched from up on the stage.
It was karaoke night. And some of the people up there were really terrible singers.
“Yep!” Mia said. “Keep ’em coming!”
“Well, I think this might be your last round,” he said.
“Boo!” Lara cried.
“I don’t need the Malone men coming down on me,” he explained. “But I’ll make you some virgin cocktails if you want.”
“Virgin cocks,” she said with a giggle. Mia joined in.
Tanner banged his forehead against the bar.
“Hey, why don’t you do some singing?” Mia asked her.
“What?”
“It’s karaoke night. Get up and sing!”
Did she want to do that? She was surprised to find that she did.
“Well, why not?” She climbed off her barstool.
“Why not?” Tanner repeated. “How about because we need to get home? Alec and Butch have texted me five times each in the last fifteen minutes.”
“Here you are, ladies,” the bartender said, placing two shots down in front of them. “Last drinks.”
“What’s your name?” she asked the handsome man.
“I’m Devon.” He grinned.
“She’s taken,” Tanner growled. “She belongs to Butch.”
“I’m surprised he let you leave his eyesight,” Devon told her.
“He didn’t want me to go. I miss him. We should go home.”
“Finally!” Tanner said.
“One song. Go on,” Mia begged.
“Okay. One song.” She wobbled her way up to the stage and chose one of her favorite songs from the list. She could sing this blind drunk and half-conscious.
Oh, like she was right now.
No one looked at her as she got on the stage. At least not until she belted out the first note. The music rushed over her, filling her. It consumed her.
She’d needed this, she realized. To reconnect with the music. As the last note died, she realized the whole bar was silent.
And then the applause started.
She bowed and nearly fell. Suddenly, Tanner was there, grabbing her and supporting her. Mia took her other side.
“Wow, Lara, that was amazing,” Mia told her.
“It sure was,” Tanner added. “Darlin’, you can sing.”
“I know. I’m great. Dumb Axel, he might have got someone younger and thinner, but I’m a way better singer than she is.”
