Page 79 of Brage & Dinah

A burst of energy filled her. "We leave in the morning for Idaho."

"Bright and early." He kissed her and walked away to man the front door.

More than going and closing a door in her life and leaving her past behind, she wanted to spend two days alone with Brage. No interruptions from the club needing Brage's time. No work ahead of her. Long hours spent together on the road. She couldn't wait.

Peer double looked at her. "You've got that goofy smile again."

She slapped his arm as she moved past him behind the bar. "You're starting to give me a complex."

"I'm happy for Brage." Peer dried a glass. "Maybe you, too."

She scoffed. "Oh, well, thanks for that. The feels are strong from you, my friend."

Peer laughed. "I can't be spreading too much sunshine around this place. I got my own shit to concentrate on."

"Yeah?" She took her tips out of her pocket and stashed the wad in the cash register to pick up later. "What's going on?"

From what she'd witnessed, he'd jumped into fatherhood with both feet. Regardless if he had no choice or not, he was doing the best he could—which she thought was better than most mothers.

"I rented a house." His brows lowered. "I've always lived at the clubhouse, even in Seattle before moving down here."

"Are you regretting your decision?"

"I don't have time to have regrets. Tyr needs a home." He inhaled deeply. "Don't know how I'll handle my son on my own."

"You can always ask for help," she said.

He grunted stepped away to help a customer. She filled two drinks while she waited for Peer to return and finish the conversation he started. It must be scary to be responsible for a child. A child that was still an infant.

Monica passed her a drink order. She filled the glasses and handed them back to her on a tray.

A half hour passed before she remembered their conversation and looked for Peer, but he'd gone off on his lunch break, leaving her to deal with the drinks by herself.

"Yell if you need help." Lizzy stepped behind the cash register. "I'll handle the customers checking out."

They worked well together. All of them able to fill in where needed.

She glanced over at the front door. Brage talked with Roar. His mouth barely moving, only the occasion look passed between the men.

Norwegian men were the hardest guys to read going by facial expressions. They kept everything hidden. Zombies could walk into the bar, and they'd look the same as if the Girl Scouts came to sell cookies.

Brage lifted his gaze. She blew him a kiss, and he looked back at Roar, not acknowledging her.

Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. She'd have him all to herself.

Two hours later, the bar closed.

Brage walked into the breakroom of The Fire Ring with Roar and Elling. She smiled at him and slipped her sweatshirt over her uniform. The other women had come and left out the back door ahead of her.

Stepping around Elling, she went to Brage. Expecting him to walk out with her, she looked at him. He and the other men never moved.

The way they looked at her, she knew they'd come together because of her.

Afraid they'd changed their mind about letting Brage leave with her for Idaho in the morning, she leaned against Brage and whispered, "What's going on?"

"Sit down for a minute." Brage pulled out the chair in front of him.

She stayed standing, even when Brage sat at the table. "Something bad happened, didn't it?"

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