Page 32 of Hideaway Heart

I put my phone away. “I’ve been busy with the bar, and with my family—my dad had some health issues this summer.”

“I hope he’s okay,” she said seriously.

“He’s fine. I also spend a lot of time with my niece and nephew.”

“That’s right. You’re an uncle.” She tipped up her beer again. “Tell me about them.”

“My niece is Adelaide—the one I told you about—and she has a twin brother, Owen. They’re a lot of fun.”

The waitress came by—a twenty-something blonde with flushed cheeks and a tired smile from all the running around she was doing tonight. But she welcomed us warmly and took our orders, apologizing that our burgers might take longer than usual. Her eyes lingered so long on Kelly, I thought for sure she was going to ask if she was Pixie Hart.

When we were alone again, I said, “Listen, if you don’t want to be recognized tonight, keep your head down. And if someone does ask, my advice is to say you’re not her, but you hear that a lot.”

She studied me. “You’re very serious about this security thing, huh?”

“You should be glad about that.”

“Do you have a gun?”

“Not on me.”

“But what if something happens?” she persisted with a grin. “What if some kind of bar fight breaks out?”

“If something happens, my job is to get you out of here as quickly as possible. If I have to pull a gun or throw punches, I have not done my job.”

Her expression turned coy. “But would you take a bullet for me?”

“Yes. If that’s what I had to do to protect you.”

“Seriously?” She seemed genuinely shocked. “You don’t even like me. And you’re not even being paid for this gig.”

“How I feel about you is irrelevant. And this isn’t about money for me. I gave your brother my word I’d keep you safe, and I will.” I paused, my beer halfway to my mouth. “I never said I didn’t like you.”

Her cheeks grew slightly pink. “Tell me about your little sister.”

“She’s twenty-three and crazy smart. She’s in grad school at William and Mary.”

“And you said your brother Austin is the oldest?”

I nodded. “He’s thirty-two. One year older than me. Then comes Devlin, he’s twenty-eight and works in Boston, but he’s got a birthday coming up. He’ll actually be home for a visit next week. And Dash is twenty-six. He’s an actor.”

“Like in Hollywood?”

“Yeah. Ever seen that show Malibu Splash?”

Her eyes went wide. “I binged all three seasons while I was on tour! He’s on that show?”

“Yeah. He plays a lifeguard named Bulge.”

She flapped her hands. “Oh my god—Dashiel Buckleyis yourbrother?”

“That’s him.”

“You guys don’t look alike at all! I never would have put it together.”

“He looks like our mom. I look like my dad.”

“Ever go out to Hollywood to visit him?”