Page 98 of Challenged by the Single Dad

Dom’s belly rumbled.

“Yeah, he’s staying,” Wyatt said with a smirk as he finished his beer. “His stomach just answered for him.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Afterhefinisheddinnerat Wyatt’s, Dom bid his son goodnight, then headed home.

But the empty house just fed his curiosity and need to see Chloe again.

He was pathetic.

He also didn’t care.

At ten fifteen, he headed down to the pub. He didn’t need a reason to stop into his own bar. He could do what he wanted. He was the boss after all. Something Chloe felt the need to remind him of whenever possible. At least, she reminded him with her eyes—and her distance.

The parking lot was pretty full. Most of the vehicles Dom recognized. The Sewing Circle ladies were gone though. He exhaled in relief. The last thing he needed was to give those biddies any more fuel for their gossip train.

He took a seat at the bar, snagging Logan’s eyes just as he sat down. Logan finished up with a customer, then made his way down the bar to Dom. “Hey, cuz. What can I get you?”

“I’d like to know why the big boss man is wasting his night off here,” Renée asked with a cheeky eyebrow lift as she sidled up beside Dom to the POS, punching in an order.

“Because it’s his bar and he can do as he wants,” Logan replied, earning a stuck-out tongue from Renée.

“I’ll have two ounces of the Pecker Rye on ice,” Dom said, jerking his chin in the direction of the Hardwood Distillery spirit on the middle shelf.

Logan simply nodded and got to work fixing the drink.

Hardwood Distillery was owned by four single fathers whose daughters all played soccer together. They bonded over their love of spirits, and ultimately decided to quit their jobs and open up their own distillery while also all moving to the island. Along with the tongue-in-cheek name “Hardwood,” they named all their spirits something equally cheeky. Pecker Rye had a picture of a woodpecker on it. Then there was Boner Dry Gin, Thick Shaft Bourbon, Iron Bar Whiskey, and one of Dom’s favorites, Big Cock Vodka—which, of course, had a picture of a rooster on it. They were also working on—but it wasn’t ready for market yet—the five-year-old, single malt Impressive Manhood Scotch. The distillery was very popular and the guys made a killing within their first year of production, quickly outgrowing their warehouse. Which was why they were after Bonn Remmen’s land.

Logan slid the double-shot across the bar to Dom. “Everything okay?”

Dom took a sip of the whiskey and let it slowly slide down his throat. There was no burn from the smooth spirit. Just lovely notes of caramel and apples. It was subtle, but addictive. He set down the glass. “Where’s Chloe?”

“She went home. Things slowed down enough and she was exhausted.” Logan’s eyes turned wary. “That’s okay, right? I mean, she mentioned it to me in front of you earlier. We took that as you being okay with it.”

Dom swallowed and shoved down his disappointment at her not being there. “Yeah, it’s fine. How’s the night been?”

Logan nodded. “Good. I mean, last night was bumping, but tonight has been steady.”

Dom tossed back the rest of his whiskey and was about to stand up and head out when the door opened. Laughter accompanied by what had to be around a dozen guys, all poured into the bar.

Shock and terror filled Logan’s face. They weren’t staffed for rowdy men who had to already be into their cups.

“Hey!” one of the guys shouted. “We missed our ferry. Any chance we can get a round of drinks?”

The rest of the group, still laughing, started pushing tables together and pulling out chairs.

Dom sucked in a deep breath through his nose and stood up. “Sure thing,” he said to the guy that appeared to be the ringleader. “But I’ve gotta ask, where were you before here?”

“Hardwood,” the man replied. “We meant to get here sooner, but we had to sober up before we could drive.” Then he put one guy who was already sitting down in a headlock. “We’re celebrating this guy getting married next weekend.”

Ah. A bachelor party.

They didn’t get many of those into the pub. It was usually bachelorette parties that came to the island, but some bachelor parties came to hit up the distillery, brewery, and either go hiking or mountain biking. These guys struck Dom as avid mountain bikers. He just had an eye for such things.

“Where are you guys staying?” Dom asked.

The guy released the groom-to-be and shrugged. “Dunno. We didn’t expect to be stuck here.”

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