Dani said, “I’m okay, you know. If that’s what this is all about, about the storm. I’ll probably join my aunt for a nightcap and crash at her place.”
Jonah just laughed as the machine beeped it was done. He lifted up the doors and pulled out another rack of clean dishes. “You think this is all about you? Maybe this has nothing to do with you. Ever thought about that, Miss Natural Disaster?” He winked. “Maybe I’m the one using you. Maybe it has nothing to do with making sure you’re okay.”
“You’re using me?”
“It can happen. People use people all the time. Why do you think I’m any different? Like,” he paused. His eyes rolled upwards, thinking. “Ah!” He snapped his fingers at her. “Take this one: why do you think I rode with you? Huh? Hung out at the bar with you, and why I’m here right now? Maybe I’m avoiding my sister. You know, she’s always after me, wanting to set me up with a good girl. But if I’m hanging out with you, someone who probably doesn’t want to deal with any of that love stuff, then what can she say?” He whispered behind his hand. “She can’t say shit because she doesn’t know the truth about us.”
“The truth?”
“Yeah.” He went back to piling up plates before carrying them to their spot. He said, coming back, “We’re friends. No one needs to know the specifics.”
Dani didn’t feel a flutter in her chest when he winked at her.
She wasn’t noticing how sexy he looked when he was waiting for the machine to finish. He didn’t look lean or gorgeous when he crossed his arms over his chest, or when his dimple only half-showed she found herself wanting to make him laugh so she could see the whole dimple.
No.
Nothing like that was happening.
And she certainly didn’t drop a few glasses when she was trying to put them in the tray. Nothing like that at all, but Dani heaved a silent sigh of relief when Kate came to the doorway and hollered they were all leaving. Her gaze lingered on the two of them. Dani ignored Kate, and her relief was short-lived. Jonah waved Kate off, and ten minutes later the two of them walked out to find the entire bar empty except for Mae.
“Is my sister here?”
“They all took off, said you had a ride.” Mae jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Do me a favor? Shut the door tight after you go? Everything’s locked up.” She nodded toward the back. “I got some things to take care of, so I’m heading to the office. Have a good night, you two.” She kissed Dani on the cheek before repeating her good nights and disappearing to the back.
Jonah groaned as the two walked outside. “I thought Aid would come and ask me. Hell, my sister probably did this on purpose. She probably thinks that I’ll go home with you…” His eyes lit up, and he flashed her a smile. “What do you think?”
“No. I’ll just give you a ride home.”
“It’s not worth it. It’s 3:30 in the morning. I have to be on the river early. I live thirty minutes away. Come on,” he persuaded. “Loon Lake has a channel to the river. I can crash on your couch. You won’t even know I’m there. I’ll just have one of the guys shoot a boat down to pick me up in the morning. I’ve got a change of clothes at the station in my locker.”
“Falls River runs into Loon Lake?”
“Yeah. The channel is gorgeous. I’ll take you on a boat ride sometime. Better yet, you should just canoe through it.”
Why was she entertaining this? No, she knew why. Someone else would be there. That meant no nightmare. Maybe. They weren’t as bad when Boone was with her. Then again, he was in bed with her. Still…maybe it was worth it?
She heard herself saying, “Fine.”
Jonah grinned and nudged her hip with his. “Thanks, Dani. Who knew we’d have such a great friendship?”
Friendship. She fought against rolling her eyes, but couldn’t stop her own grin.
When they got to the cabin, Dani crossed to the patio and flipped on the lamp in the corner. She didn’t want all the lights on. If the whole place was lit up like a Christmas tree, that wouldn’t help her fall asleep. One light cast a nice relaxing glow through the room.
“Drink?”
“What do you have?”
“Knowing Aunt Mae—probably everything.”
“Beer then. Nothing fancy.”
Dani pulled out two bottles and walked outside to the screened-in patio.
Jonah glanced around the place as he sat down. “This is nice.”
“It’s Aunt Mae’s, but if you ask her, she’ll say it’s mine.” Dani uncapped both bottles and slid one over to him. It ended right in front of him.
“Nice.”
Dani grinned and took a sip. “Bartending is like breathing to me. I helped out in Mae’s bar for years.” Then she heard herself saying, “Boone never knew that about me.” As soon as the words were out, she faltered. She wished she could take them back, but she couldn’t.
No, that wasn’t true either.
She didn’t want to take them back. In fact, she wanted to say more.
“Boone? That’s his name?”
“That’s his nickname.” She frowned. “And I have no idea why he was called that. He never told me.”
Jonah stretched his legs out, getting comfortable. But he was looking at her, and she was feeling him, and she knew she shouldn’t have been. Then he murmured, almost too quietly for her to hear, “I’m guessing he didn’t know where you’re from.”