Page 4 of My Casanova

“Uh, Dani. I’m Dani Marie.” It felt strange to say my name out loud. I hadn’t used my last name in years—too many bad memories tied to it. After my divorce, I’d simply dropped it altogether and just used my first and middle name.

“Thanks for your help, Dani Marie.” Yarder gave a curt nod before the three of them started toward the cops and firefighters. Firefighters were already working on assessing the building, while four cops looked like they were trying to figure out where to start first.

I stayed back and watched them go. Smoke glanced over his shoulder at me, and his eyes met mine for a fleeting moment. He didn’t say anything, but the look he gave me was... well, I don’t know exactly what it was, but it was something. A thank you, maybe, but it was more than that.

I folded my arms over my chest and gave him a small nod in return. Seemed like a safe thing to do.

The morning had started off boring as hell, but now? Now, it had been explosive, and I still had no idea what had happened.

Chapter Two

Smoke

God damn, I was going to be sore as hell tomorrow.

Every part of me felt like it had been put through a meat grinder and then set on fire for good measure. I leaned heavily on the bar and let my weight sink into the stool beneath me. It wasn’t much relief, but it beat standing.

“I think you need one of these or twenty.” Pirate set a beer in front of me with a grin.

I glanced at it and grunted, “Something stronger.”

Pirate chuckled and shook his head as he grabbed a shot glass. “That bad?” He filled the glass with whiskey and slid it over.

I grabbed the shot and tossed it back. The liquor burned a clean trail down my throat. “Right now? Not bad, but I know it’s going to get a hell of a lot worse.” I tapped the empty glass. “I plan on passing out before that happens.”

Pirate smirked and poured another shot. Before I could down it, Yarder dropped onto the stool next to me, his movements stiff but not nearly as wrecked as mine.

“How ya doing?” he asked, his voice heavy with shared misery.

I shrugged and tossed back the second shot. The burn didn’t feel as sharp this time, but it was a welcome distraction from the deep aches spreading through my body. “Been better.”

Yarder chuckled darkly and shook his head as he motioned for Pirate to bring him something. “Yeah, I hear that. You never forget what it’s like being blown up.”

Pirate slid a beer to him, and the cap had already popped. “So, I’m the bartender tonight?” he asked and raised an eyebrow at the two of us.

“Seems to be,” Yarder replied with a shrug and glanced around the room. “Though I think you’ll have it pretty easy. Just amaretto sours and popping beer tops. Not like we’re having some rager.”

“Did you say amaretto sour?” Sloane’s voice rang out from the corner, loud enough to catch everyone’s attention.

“Jesus,” Pirate muttered under his breath. “Now I’m never going to get out from behind this bar with the girls wanting drinks.”

“Oh!” Olive called, her voice sweet but insistent. “Can you stone mine?”

“What’s stone? Just amaretto on the rocks?” Fallon asked, lounging on the couch with Compass’ arm draped over her shoulders.

“Add orange juice!” Sloane and Dove shouted in unison from across the room, both of them looking far too entertained.

Pirate sighed and leaned against the counter. “All I’m doing is amaretto, sour, and ice. If you want something more than that, then you can get your asses back here and make it yourself.”

Yarder smirked and tipped his head to the side like he was considering something. “What ifIwant something more in an amaretto sour?”

Pirate shot him a look. “You’re kidding me, right? The only thing I’ve ever seen you drink is whiskey and beer. You’re telling me you suddenly have a taste for some sweet, weak-ass drink?”

“Oh boy,” Poppy giggled from her spot near the jukebox. “Seems like you might have poked the bear, Pirate.”

“Well,” Pirate said to Yarder, “you want a fancy drink, or are you gonna stick to your usual?”

Yarder chuckled and held up the beer Pirate had given him. “I’ll stick to this. No point messing with perfection. But you can get one of those Amaretto Stone Sours for each of the girls.”

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