Julia hadn’t stayed at Mae’s Grill long. Dani didn’t really care. She had what she wanted. They drove in silence until Dani looked up. He drove them to the cabin. “No Mae’s Grill tonight?”
Jonah turned off the engine. “Figured you’d want to put that somewhere safe.”
Oh.
He added, “Didn’t know if you were up to the crowd anyway.”
Boone.
She’d forgotten about him. Then again, that’d been the reason for their burglary mission, but there’d be questions if they didn’t go. Hell, there’d be questions if they did go. Dani had a sudden wish to hear Kate’s laugh and Aiden’s shriek as they mercilessly teased Robbie or Stilts. Dani wanted to hear Kate rate the sleaziness of the girls who propositioned Jonah. Which reminded her…
“Do you really just have to stand in a bar and get hit on? I mean, I’ve seen it, but really? Like you stand there and here come the pick-ups?”
A sheepish look came over him. He cleared his throat, tugging at his shirt’s collar. “Uh, well…yeah, I guess. I mean…I don’t sleep around, and I don’t take those girls home. I’m not a manwhore, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You really don’t even have to work for it?”
He laughed. “Trust me. There are some girls I have to put in overtime.” His gaze fell to her lips, staying there. “Where did these questions come from?”
“That girl was grinding her entire body on you.”
His eyes flicked to hers. A cocky grin appeared. “You noticed, huh?”
Her eyebrows rose. “Was I supposed to?”
He shrugged, his grin widening. “Nice to know you noticed, but I’ve found it’s easier to let the girls do their thing and think they’ll get what they want. Hawk or Carl would’ve hit on her eventually, and she’d get tired of me, and start liking the attention from them. She was one of those girls who gets more aggressive if you put ‘em off, you know?”
“Right.” She mocked in disbelief. “That was her not being aggressive.”
“I don’t think I want to have this conversation anymore.”
“Why?” Her voice was mocking.
“Because.” He gripped the back of his neck. “Not with you.”
She’d never seen the infamous Jonah Bannon uncomfortable and self-conscious. It was a sight to behold. She was grinning so hard now.
“What? Why? Unless it’s not true. Are the girls actually hitting on you? Maybe they’re a show?” He was squirming, and she was loving it. “I bet you don’t sleep with any of them, do you? Just like that one girl you had Hawk take home and you were hiding from.”
“I’m not a whore.”
She pretended to gasp, opening her eyes wide. “What if it’s the opposite, and you don’t sleep with any of them?”
“Dani.” He groaned. “Look. I’m healthy, I’ll just say that.”
“I bet you don’t even like sex, and you bake! With flour!”
“I don’t—” He broke off and shook his head. “I like sex.”
“Do you do kinky stuff with flour?”
“Where in the hell did this come from?” He scowled, getting out of the car. Dani followed, and she led the way inside. When the lights turned on, the words died in his throat.
Dani frowned, confused at the sudden speechless look on his face.
A slow smile spread across his face. “You look happy.”
She was. Dani frowned. How could she be happy? She turned away sharply.
“Don’t.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Don’t shut down because you’re experiencing a moment of happiness. You got your mom’s picture.”
Dani looked down to her mother. It was like the world righted itself, just for that moment. “She died when I was nine. I just have these little bits of memories of her. I think we were happy. Her, me, Julia, and Erica. The four of us.”
“I bet you’re just like her.”
“No.” Dani shook her head. “Erica was like her. Everyone loved my mother. She had this warmth about her.” That was what Dani remembered. She’d been the dreamer, but she inspired everyone else to dream. Erica had the same charm. “I think I’m like my father, whoever he was.”
She placed the photograph on her dresser. She’d hide it the next day, but she wanted to see it before she slept and when she woke. She wanted to see her mother bathed in the morning’s sunshine, no matter how cheesy that sounded.
Jonah was waiting in the doorway.
Why was he different than Boone? Why did she allow him to see her when she shut out everyone else?
Caught in a spell, Dani stood there and held his eyes. Slowly, his eyes moved back to her lips. Dani caught her breath. Neither moved.
And his phone rang.
She jumped while Jonah cursed. “Yeah?” He turned and moved back into the living room.
Dani sat on her bed and exhaled. Lying down, she closed her eyes and listened to Jonah’s one-sided conversation. Aiden wanted to know where he was and if he was going to Mae’s Grill. Jonah didn’t know. Why not?
Dani grinned as she heard Jonah successfully block that trail of questions when he asked if Robbie was bringing Lori or Brooke. Even from the bedroom, she could hear Aiden go off, ranting about both of them.
Jonah moved to the doorway and watched her back. That phone was pressed to his ear, but his eyes were on her. Hers were on him, and for a moment, Dani knew what she wanted. She sat up, still holding his gaze, and he murmured, “No, Aiden. I don’t know. I’m working tomorrow.”