Page 47 of My Casanova

“Babe,” Yarder called. “Go easy on him. He’s still trying to figure shit out with her.”

“Well, I can tell you there won’t be any shit if he keeps hiding her.” Poppy reached up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’m going to see if Adalee and Fallon are ready.”

Yarder nodded.

Poppy turned on her heel and headed back down the hallway.

“You sure you don’t want to come with?” Yarder asked me. “We can wander down to the wine shop if you want to see Dani. No pressure from any of us.”

It was tempting as hell. I hadn’t talked to Dani since Monday when I told her to just hang back for two weeks. I could tell that she was disappointed she wasn’t going to see me for a while, but it would be fine. I shook my head. “I’m good here.” I nodded to Dice. “Pretty sure we’re gonna play pool for best of five.”

Dice groaned. “God, no. Let’s play cards or something. Fucking Yahtzee will be better than pool.”

“Fine,” Yarder said. “I’ll take Pirate with me.”

“Fucking hell,” Pirate grumbled. “Aren’t Fade and Compass going with you?”

Yarder nodded. “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure Mac is going to get some riding shots on the way over, so the more of us riding, the better.”

Pirate shook his head but got off his stool. “I can’t freaking wait until this shit is over.”

Dice looked at me. “We are not playing fucking pool.”

I chuckled and rounded the bar. “Then cards it is, fucker. Deal ‘em.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Dani

“Did you order more of the Kalamata olives?” Stan’s voice broke through my daze.

I nodded and didn’t look up from the book I was reading. “Yeah. They should be here tomorrow.”

He exhaled in relief. “Good, because we’ve only got two jars left, and I planned on sampling them on Friday.”

I nodded absently again, but my thoughts were far away. My attention was only half on the conversation.

“Dani.”

I looked up at Stan. “Yeah?”

“What did I just say?” He raised an eyebrow and leaned against the counter like he was waiting for something.

I furrowed my brow. “Uh, you asked if I ordered Kalamatas. I did.”

Stan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “And then what did I say after that?”

Something. I know he said something, but it slipped through the cracks. “Uh... well...” I stared at him and tried to piece it together.

I had no clue.

My mind had been elsewhere for the past few days. I had been trying to read my book all morning, but just kept reading the same page over and over.

“Dani,” Stan said in a firm tone. I could tell he wasn’t letting it go.

I blinked at him and then sighed in defeat. “I don’t know, Stan. I’m... I’m off today.”

Stan pushed off the counter, and his face softened. “Hey, you’re okay. But something’s up with you, isn’t it?”

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