Holiday Heroes by Crouch Janie & Black Regan

Author:Crouch, Janie & Black, Regan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Calamittie Jane Publishing
Published: 2023-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Will was struggling to keep himself in check and the dozens of questions to himself. This was hardly the time to grill her about anything, past or present. And yet he wanted to hear the whole story. He’d gladly listen to anything she wanted to share.

Why?

He couldn’t pinpoint why he wanted to peel back every layer of this particular woman. But he did. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone other than Jeannie.

“You can’t let me sleep past three,” she said. “I should be up and awake by four. In case they need me to help at the bar.”

He had no intention of letting her go back to work tonight. “You told them you wouldn’t be in.”

“I know.” She brushed at her hair. “Everything should be fine, but if there’s a problem, I’m the solver. My assistant manager took a long holiday with her fiancé. After last night I’m extra glad she did. If anyone had to stumble into that scene, better me than anyone else.”

“I get it,” he sympathized. He made every effort to spare others any pain if he could. The drivers who got speeding tickets might disagree, but that was a different issue.

Besides, it was impossible to protect everyone. As a parent, there were things he had to sit back and watch his boys learn on their own. Although it was challenging to stand by, it was better for everyone. His boys didn’t resent him for meddling, and any mistakes they made built character.

Even the big ones. “How did you come to own the bar?”

“You’re not going to toss the mob in my face again, are you?”

“Of course not,” he replied. “We’re not in Vegas.”

That earned him a little smirk. “I came by it honestly,” she said. “I worked many years as a bartender and manager for the original owner. Taking over a little more year by year. When he was ready to retire, we struck a deal and I bought him out.”

“Good for you.”

“It definitely was. Restaurant hours may not seem conducive to raising a kid, but it worked for me. Mainly because I had good people around me once I came here.”

He stiffened at another reference to trouble in her past. He couldn’t change anything for her and she’d just said she didn’t have regrets. It bothered him that she’d been hurt, that she’d been left to deal with serious, life-changing things by herself. He shouldn’t let it get under his skin, especially not when the issues were so long ago. Why did some people go out of their way to make things difficult for others?

“I’m glad to hear that,” he managed.

The navigation app guided him around to the front of her house. The neighborhood was tidy and well kept. It looked to him as if the grounds were maintained by a homeowners’ association. Another factor that would help a single woman with a thriving business.

“Let’s get you inside so you can rest.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She yawned. “Maybe I’ll even be charming again afterward.

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