Page 40 of Forbidden Secrets
Jen moved down the bar to greet a trio of middle-aged guys in matching beer league shirts.Gage took a quiet breath and scanned for Keeley.No sign.Thank god.If she got wind of why he’d called the men together, she’d bust their asses, then she’d tell Delaney and Cam and they’d bust their asses too.
Owen finished lining up a shot tray and handed it off to a server.He turned to Gage.“What’ll you have?”
“The Cider Mill Hard you’ve got on tap.And since I called the meeting, I’ll take a platter of hot wings with another of onion rings.”
“You got it, brother.”Owen passed the food order to the kitchen and pulled Gage a glass of amber cider.He said something to Jen and, after filling a glass with soda water, came around the bar.“Jen’ll bring out the order.Let’s grab a seat on the restaurant side where it’s quiet.”
Easy Money had become a gathering point for the men Delaney called her dudes.It still surprised him to find himself part of that group.Delaney, Cam, Emery—they’d banded together to strong arm him—always with a smile—into becoming a member of what was essentially extended family.
They slid into a booth.Owen leaned back, resting his head on the cushion, eyes closed.
“Late nights behind the bar wearing you out, old man?”
Owen cracked one eye open and smirked.“Old man, my ass.It’s not the bar that’s occupying my nights.”
“You work late, then spend the rest of the night doing the deed with your little ray of sunshine?”
Owen grinned.“What can I say?She’s insatiable.”
“Asshole.”The expletive lacked heat.
“You’re jealous.”
Sawyer dropped into the booth next to Gage.“Why is Owen an asshole this time?”
“I’m not an asshole.Our boy’s jealous I’m getting laid regular.He needs a woman.”
“I thought we’re here because of his woman.”Owen moved over so Walker could sit.
Gage was grateful Jen arrived with the hot wings when she did.It spared him the guaranteed round of shit the guys would’ve thrown his way.She passed out plates, set down a stack of napkins, and turned her grin on Walker and Sawyer.
“What are the McGrath brothers drinking today?”
“Cider Mill Hard,” Walker said.No surprise there since he’d developed the label and produced it at the farm.Sawyer echoed the order.
Jen shot Gage a wink before heading back to the bar.
Sawyer dunked an onion ring in creamy dip and ate it whole.After swallowing, he pointed at Owen.“Enjoy the alone time while you can.Once that baby is born, you’ll have to get creative about getting time with your woman.”
“See,” Gage muttered.“I’m not the only one not getting laid.”
“Didn’t say I wasn’t getting laid,” Sawyer said, lips twitching.“We just have to get…strategic.Our kid has crazy internal radar.Wakes up wailing at the wrong moment.Every single time.He must not want any siblings.I swear he’s doing it on purpose.”
His phone buzzed and he glanced down, then grinned as he showed them a photo.“I wouldn’t change a damn thing.Cam and JT?They’re everything.”
Gage stared at the picture longer than he meant to.Cam, glowing.The baby all chubby cheeks and bright eyes.The ache that hit him was quiet, but real.A year ago, that kind of life would’ve been the last thing he wanted.Now… He wasn’t so sure.
“Speaking of kids,” Walker said, licking sauce off his thumb, “I’ve got an hour max before I need to be back.Clara’s with Harper while she naps, but I need to be there when she wakes up.”He nodded to Gage.“What’s going on?”
Gage scanned the faces around the table.These men weren’t just backup—they were steady.They showed up.Every damn time.Exactly what he needed.
“Melanie Brennan,” he said.“My new neighbor.She and her daughter moved in about a week or so ago.”
“I told Walker what happened with her yesterday,” Sawyer added.“You need to bring Owen up to speed.”
Gage did that, walking through the break-in, the texts, the suspects.He paused as Jen returned, sliding glasses of cider in front of Walker and Sawyer.They waited in silence until she left again.“Now Sawyer can fill us in on what they’ve dug up on those two assholes.”
“We confirmed their IDs,” Sawyer said.“The guy Gage tied up inside is Darrel Franklin.The other one, the Tundra driver, is Keith Boner.”
