Rarely, his cougar opened one eye as he spoke.
“Thanks for the opportunity.” Axel emptied the glasses from the box and headed back out of the bar. “I really appreciate it. There weren’t many job offers coming my way before you gave me a chance. My reputation seems to cast a shadow over me even now.”
“We all deserve second chances.” O’Malley looked up as the door to the bar opened. For a moment he envisioned Hannah walking into the bar just as she had the night they met. Instead, it was Kelos and Amber.
We would have sensed Hannah long before she opened the door, his cougar told him bluntly.
“Hey, this all looks good.” Amber came around the bar and kissed O’Malley on the cheek. “And so do you.”
“Hey, eyes over here,” Kelos said lightly as he slid onto a barstool. “Is there anything you need us to do?”
“Nope, opening night seems to be well under control.” O’Malley slid the glass of beer toward Kelos without spilling a drop. “You can drink this. I was just double-checking that the pump worked.”
“I like helping out at O’Malley’s.” Kelos grinned as he took a sip.
“I love the decorations.” Amber walked slowly around the bar. “It’s all really come together.”
“I want to thank you both for your help while I was...away.” O’Malley held out his hand, indicating the array of drinks on offer. “What can I get for you, Amber?”
“Oh, just a soda, please.” She placed her hand on her baby bump.
“Why not be daring and add a hint of lime?” O’Malley grabbed a glass and began preparing the soda, adding ice, lime juice, and a wedge of freshly cut lime before he handed it to Amber.
“Oh, that is lovely.” She climbed onto a barstool next to Kelos and took a grateful sip. Her eyes flickered up to O’Malley’s for an instant, but she didn’t ask the question. Perhaps because she could read the answer in his face.
O’Malley turned away and busied himself cleaning up the beer and making sure everything was just right. This night was important to him.
If Hannah didn’t come back. Or answer his calls. He shook his head. There was a reason she didn’t pick up when he called, he was sure.
But if this was his life now. If his future was one of living without his mate, then this bar would receive all the attention he would have...should have...given Hannah.
O’Malley looked up, his forehead creased as he sensed something...someone. He turned around slowly, his eyes out of focus as he tried to pinpoint...
“So.” Amber’s hand slapped down on the bar.
His attention snapped to it, his nerves on edge. His time in the Army had left him acutely alert to any sign of danger and his heart rate increased, pumping adrenaline around his body.
“I have something for you.” Kelos reached into his pocket. “Not that one.” Kelos made a big show of not being able to find whatever it was he was looking for.
“Dragons, huh, forgetful beasts.” Amber glanced nervously at O’Malley before taking hold of Kelos’s jacket. She plunged her hand into the first pocket Kelos had tried and drew out a small box. Her eyes locked with her mate’s for a moment and she arched a questioning eyebrow at him. Kelos nodded in response.
The whole episode had passed by so quickly most people would have missed it, but O’Malley was trained to look for the smallest of details.
“What is going on?” He shook his head as if he’d gotten water in his ear. There was something off, something... A lot of something.
“I wanted to give you this.” Kelos took the box from Amber and placed it down on the counter. His eyes were hypnotic as he stared at O’Malley.
“Is there someone outside?” He swept around the bar and went to the front door that led out onto the street. Yanking the door open, he was faced with a small crowd of his friends, both old and new.
“Surprise!” they shouted and crowded forward.
O’Malley successfully hid the disappointment from his face as he grinned widely. This was not the surprise he’d sensed, but it was a good surprise all the same.
“I’m glad you all could come.” He stepped forward and his friends surrounded him.
“We wouldn’t miss it.” Jake shook his hand and patted his back before O’Malley was enveloped by Joanna and Jane, who was held in Shawn’s arms.
“Ah, it’s good to see you, Jane.” He kissed her cheek and she flung her arms around his neck.
“I’m only allowed to stay for half an hour,” she whispered in his ear.
“I’ll make a special mocktail for you,” O’Malley promised.
“Hey, I never gave you my gift.” Kelos and Amber stood outside of the bar.
“Dragons, always wanting the attention,” Shawn said lightly.
O’Malley chuckled and stumbled forward, his senses filled by the scents and sounds of his friends. “She’s here.” He murmured the words as a hush fell over his gathered friends. O’Malley turned to face them. “You knew.”
“Duh.” Joanna grinned. “That was the surprise.”
“We figured if we were all here together, it might block your senses enough to sneak Hannah in.” Shawn laughed. “We were right.”
O’Malley choked back tears as he hurried toward the bar. “Thanks. I don’t know what you all did but thank you.”
“Here, you might need this.” Kelos placed the small box in his hand as he staggered forward.
“Thanks.” O’Malley didn’t stop to take a peek at the contents of the box. There was only one thing, one person he wanted to see, and she was inside his bar.
“There you are,” Hannah said as he walked inside. “I was waiting to order a drink. You are open, aren’t you?”
He didn’t answer as he ran forward and flung his arms around her. Holding her close, he lowered his head and captured her lips in a searing kiss filled with longing. Hannah slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him so tightly O’Malley was left in no doubt of why she was here.
I told you, his cougar said happily.
“You’re here to
