Page 11 of Gwen's Delta
“We need to go with you next time,” Woof added.
“No way in hell,” Duff grumbled.
“As long as you don’t start any shit. I don’t want you fucking with Gwen or her grandparents.” Damn. What was going on in his head? There had been absolutely no reason to bring up Gwen or her grandparents. Was it a subconscious need to talk to the guys? He never reacted to a woman like this, and he’d be lying if he didn’t acknowledge that scared him.
“Wait. Who’s Gwen? And grandparents? Oh, this is good. You need to tell us everything,” Woof said. “This just got a lot more interesting.”
“Yeah, but let’s grab some brews at the Ugly Mug,” Zip added.
“There’s nothing to tell, so don’t get your hopes up.” Merlin groaned. He knew how to keep his mouth shut. He was as good at it as Duff but without the ornery part. So why the hell had he brought up Gwen?
“Whatever,” Beau “Jangles” Talbot said as they headed for their vehicles. He was the pretty boy on their team. Every team had one.
But Jangles and Merlin had stayed single along with Duff. The three bachelors needed to stick together.
Chapter 4
Merlin had trouble finding a spot to park in the crowded lot. After Lefty, one of the Delta Team 2 operators, had told them about the Ugly Mug, it became their go-to hangout. They’d fit right into the relaxed atmosphere. Even better, it was next door to BF’s Shooting Range. For Merlin, it was like coming home, since it reminded him of the bar he’d hang out in with his friends back in Omaha.
The bar was crowded for a late Saturday afternoon. The team had fast become regulars and were greeted by a lot of the others. The patrons were mostly vets who liked to shoot first and drink later. BF, aka Baby Face, a double amputee who wielded his wheelchair like a NASCAR driver, owned the firing range and the bar.
BF had introduced himself the first time they hit the range. He looked like Rip Van Winkle with a laugh like the Jolly Green Giant. His greeting had gone a long way to making them feel welcome in their new home.
Even though BF owned the Ugly Mug, Hope ran the bar with the help of Jake and Brian. Merlin hadn’t gotten to know them yet, though he’d seen signs of a hard life when he’d looked into Hope’s eyes. There was a story there, but he’d leave that to Jangles to figure out. His teammate thought he was hiding it, but Merlin had seen him watching Hope while she tended bar.
As Merlin and the team navigated their way to a table at the back of the room, Jangles stopped at the bar and ordered a pitcher of beer and snacks. It hadn’t taken them long to figure out that everything on the simple menu was excellent.
Jangles had emptied the pitcher by the time he’d filled all the mugs, but they’d wait to order a refill when the food came. As soon as Merlin’s butt hit the chair, the interrogation would start.
“Tell us about Gwen and the bookstore,” Woof said as he leaned back in his chair.
Merlin took a swig of beer and tried to figure out what to tell them. It wasn’t like there was a lot to say. He’d only spent a few hours with her. So why did it feel like he’d known her his entire life?
“No holding back,” Zip prodded with a grin.
“I found the store online and figured I’d check it out since I had a day off. Gwen and her family own the store, and that’s about it.”
“No way. There’s got to be more to it, or you wouldn’t give a shit how we act if we went there,” Zip said.
Busted. “Whatever. Gwen’s grandmother is quite the character, and she twisted Gwen’s arm to go for coffee with me.”
“Wait. Her grandmother set you up on a date, and you agreed? No way. The mighty has fallen,” Woof said, his eyes full of disbelief.
“Actually, the quote is, ‘how are the mighty fallen.’ But I haven’t fallen anywhere. I had a cup of coffee and bought a book. That’s all.”Liar.There was more, but only time would tell how far or where it went.
“I can’t believe she went along with the idea,” Woof said. “I mean, you’re okay in the looks department but…”
“Screw you.” Merlin grinned. “She didn’t want to go. Her grandmother wasn’t letting up, and I felt bad for her. I figured the worst that would happen would be a quick cup of coffee with a pretty girl, and I could get out of there. But we ended up hanging out longer than I expected.”
“Ahh, so you like her. When are you going to ask her out again?” Zip asked.
“I had coffee with a woman; it’s not the date of the century. I don’t remember giving you guys a tough time when you started dating.” Merlin finished off his beer.
“He’s right. He didn’t give you guys any shit,” Duff added.
Jake came over with an order of chicken wings and a plate of nachos. “You need anything else?”
“Could we get another pitcher?” Jangles asked. It was the first thing he’d said since sitting down.
