Page 29 of For the Love of the Broken Man

Dan felt his heart beat a little harder in his chest, so he threw all caution to the wind. He needed Jase. “Can you… Are you able to get away? Can you come?” Dan tried to hide the tears in his voice as they poured down his face. He wasn’t used to needing someone, but hearing Jase’s voice, he couldn’t help himself.

“Babe, I’ll be here as soon as I can.” Jase’s voice was comforting.

Dan’s clenched fingers relax. “Stay with me and Kayley, please? I appreciate everybody comin’ to support me, but can you stay at the house?” Dan hoped Jase could hear how much he needed him without having to say too much because Tim was staring at him.

“You bet I can. I’ll get Mick and Jon to drop me off as soon as we get to town. You need anything?”

Dan sniffed, unable to hold back any longer. “Just you.”

After the two of them hung up, Dan turned to look at Tim, a little nervous, knowing his boss had heard the conversation. “You got anything to say?” The challenge was in his voice. If Tim made a negative comment, Dan was ready to physically toss him out on his bony ass.

Tim grinned and met Danny’s glare. “Danny, Jason is a great guy. He needs someone to be a supportive influence in his life, based on what Savannah told Matt. I… uh... Matt and I have been in a bit of a quandary since Jason came to Holloway because he looks a lot like my husband, though a younger version of him. Matt lost his mind about it, and we’re still working on it.

“I won’t let Matt’s idiotic behavior have any bearing on your relationship with Jason, Dan. Just be careful. He’s young, though he seems very mature.” Tim reached out and held Danny’s hand.

Dan met Tim’s eyes and grinned. “He’s a great guy, Tim. I can understand why Matt would be jealous because Jase is hot as hell, but I know you’d never give another guy a second glance. If Matt doesn’t know it, send him to the barn to sleep with the horses for a few nights.” It was Dan’s attempt to lighten the mood.

The two of them were laughing as Dan heard Miss Katie park on the street. Dan went to the front door to see the kind woman motion for him to come help her.

Miss Katie was carrying bags from an outlet mall store nearby. Danny hoped she hadn’t spent more money than he could afford to repay. Before he could move off the porch, Tim ducked around him and walked up to his aunt, kissing her on the cheek.

They spoke quietly for a moment, and Miss Katie nodded as she headed toward the house. Dan hurried off the porch to help her.

“Miss Katie, you did too much. I can already tell.” Dan took the bags from her while Tim helped Kayley out of the truck.

Danny followed Miss Katie into the house and down the hall to Kayley’s room. “Daniel, did you call Zachary as you promised?” Her question had Dan lowering his eyes. After a moment. He shook his head. No, he hadn’t called his brother.

“Go call him while Kayley and I hang up these things. Timothy, we stopped at the house and picked up a pan of lasagna I had in the freezer. Can you go get it and turn on the oven? Three seventy-five, please,” she ordered. Dan admired the fact she operated like a general going into battle. He damn sure wasn’t going to challenge her.

As he followed Tim down the hallway, he heard another vehicle pull into his driveway. It was a large, pearl-white SUV, and he smiled, knowing it was exactly who he needed. He watched Mickey go to the back of the vehicle and open the door, moving out of the shadow with Megan on his hip. Jase went to the back and came around the side with his duffle and a garment bag.

“I’ll be back,” Dan told Tim as he hurried down the front steps in his bare feet, walking over to Jase.

“Thank you for comin’,” Dan whispered as he took the young man’s duffle.

Jase wrapped an arm around Dan’s shoulders and hugged him before he released him. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Danny. How’s Kayley?”

“I haven’t exactly got up the nerve to tell her the truth, but maybe if you’d sit with me? I need to call my brother as well because when I called him this mornin’ he was an ass. You’ll stay, right?” Dan held his breath for an answer.

“Let’s send Meg, Mickey, and Jon to the Katydid with Tim and Miss Katie. I can get dinner together, and you can talk to Kayley in private.” Tim was right—Jase was more mature than his years.

“You sure?” Dan was uncertain of where the two of them stood.

“Definitely.” Jase’s gentle smile was reassuring.

Jase went upstairs in search of Kayley as Dan went to the kitchen. “Y’all, I appreciate it you’re here. I need to talk to Kayley, so maybe you wouldn’t mind givin’ us a little privacy? I’ll be at the farm in the mornin’ to be sure the boys have everything under control. Jase can stay here and look after Kayley, okay?”

Katie stepped forward first with a small smile. “Honey, I’ll be over tomorrow to coordinate the food that’ll be dropped off, okay? I’ll help Jase with Kayley if he needs it. I’m not tryin’ to crowd ya, but she might need a woman to talk to, okay?”

Dan hugged her. “Thank you, Miss Katie. I don’t know what I’d do without ya,” he whispered before he released her. She kissed his cheek before she took her purse to leave, dragging Tim with her. He waved at Danny before they left.

Dan turned to Mick and Jon, having a last-minute change of heart. “Stay for dinner, please? Miss Katie brought a lasagna. I think Kayley would like to have Megan around after I explain things to her.” He glanced into the living room to see Megan napping on the couch.

“If you’re sure, we’ll get things set for dinner, okay? You take your time, Danny.” Mickey hugged him before he went to work.

He turned to Jon. “You have a chance to get the papers together?”

“My associate, Riley Manning, will file them first thing on Monday morning, Dan. It’s going to be alright.” Jon’s calm voice offered an assurance Dan hadn’t realized he needed.

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