Page 20 of Second Chance Dragon Chief

CHAPTER7

“Istill can’t believe he just walked right in at that exact moment.”

“The man has timing, I’ll give him that,” Mack said, as the two of them and Wendy tidied up the bar room.

She was still reeling from Dax’s sudden and unannounced visit. And as shocking as his appearance had been, even more shocking had been her reaction. As soon as he had walked in, she had felt that familiar jolt. It was like her whole body had been connected to a live wire. And the accompanying heat had spread right down to her core. Her pussy was still pulsing from it.

Damn it.She had thought he was firmly in her past. Romantically at least. Everything around her father had ripped her life apart. That was bad enough, but to feel she was the only one trying to seek justice. That was even worse. And seeing him just always brought that home. Except that wasn’t all it brought home. She hated Wendy for being right. Why did he have such an effect on her?

“And then the shit with Marius,” she sputtered.

Yeah, he’s a safer topic.“I can just see him saying that, ‘I’ll take this to the Fae Council.’ What the hell has gotten into that guy anyhow?” Sometimes I don’t know how I stay sane.”

“I know, kiddo. We all want justice for your father. But you have to try and just let them do their job,” he said, seemingly trying to calm her.

She wanted to argue, but just didn’t have the energy at the moment. Or the heart. But that wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

Mack continued, “I agree with Dax on Marius. I’ll say that much. Something is off. I sort of convinced myself I hadn’t seen what I’d seen, I guess, but did you see how he moved?” Mack was saying. “I might just be a dumb human, but that was not normal at all.”

“Ash handled him just fine, I think. I just can’t get past Dax’s nerve, coming here. Did he think I’d be happy to see him?”

Neither Mack nor Wendy responded.

“Um,” Wendy intoned. “Probably wasn’t super easy for him to show up here either.”

“Pfft!” Bloom practically spat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, you know. Just that, like what Mack is saying. Maybe give him the benefit of the doubt a bit. But I can see how that might not be so easy. I can only imagine how hard the last few years have been for you.” Wendy put down the glass she was cleaning. Bloom saw her give Mack a look.

“Look, you want some straight talk?”

“Oh, great. Is this an intervention?” she said, feeling the full weight she had been carrying.

“Far from it,” Mack replied. “But I think you are jumping the gun on Dax a bit. I get it, though. But remember, he worked tirelessly on your father’s case that whole first year. By all accounts. And yeah maybe things slowed down, leads dried up, I don’t know. And that business with car accident and his own pack member. I know you think he stopped caring about your dad, and about you after that. But he is human too.” Mack paused, “Well, you know what I mean. He has been carrying a lot on his shoulders these last few years too. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I am just maxed out, okay, Mack? Gosh, can’t a girl just have a good old fashioned meltdown? But I hear what you’re saying. I do,” Bloom said, the bright fire of anger in her belly suddenly dampened.

“Mack, with the wisdom,” Wendy said as she pointed at him. “But look, Bloom, all things considered, you are doing great in my book. Like I said, I can only imagine. Come here,” she said, giving her a hug. “We just want the best for you.”

“I know you do.”

Wendy gave her another little hug before grabbing a pile of menus to wipe down.

The place was just beginning to fill up. It was not yet busy, but it would be very busy in an hour.

“I am going to go for a quick run. Clear my head.”God, doI need it.Or maybe she should just start drinking now.I’m a ball of nerves. And hormones. Ugh. I’m hopeless.

“Okay, kiddo, but don’t leave us hanging too late. It is Friday night after all.”

“Well, I need a run,” she said.

“No argument here. Go. Go,” Mack said as he headed to check on the latest drink order for the service bar.

* * *

Dax Carlyle.She had thought she had pushed him firmly out of her consciousness, which was pretty impressive, considering he was the alpha of the local Fae Crossing Pack, and the Chief of the Tribunal.

She had taken to checking in with his lieutenants as far as any new developments on her father’s case. And thankfully The Tree wasn’t the only social hub in town. He and his pack had the Grizzly Den to go to.

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