Page 43 of Veiled Amor

“You didn’t make it?”

Another string of cursing, Arson fished into his jeans pocket to bring out his phone. Danny could see a long row of missed calls. “I guess not. Sorry for turning up here, holy man. Don’t even remember it.”

“I told you already, you’re welcome. Do you want to come in to get cleaned up and have some breakfast?”

Sitting in the front seat of his SUV, looking off into the distance, Arson was mentally miles away.

“Do you know Tag has two kids now?”

Danny did.

“They call me Uncle Jase.” He cracked a sad half-smile.

The world being so small, plus fate had a hand in their lives. His Aoife had come across the pond to nanny another child, ended up running away with that kid to save her life. Now Danny and Aoife were Misha’s parents. Never did he think two of Misha’s half-siblings would live in the same city, being raised by a biker Danny knew. Recently, the four adults got together to discuss it. Now the kids had regular playdates.

“Why didn’t you go to Tag’s?”

Arson swung his head around. He didn’t answer, but the guilt was in his eyes. He rubbed his face. “I should get going.”

“Sure? There’s hot food inside, and I can give you a ride home.”

Arson smirked. “I’m betting your Mrs is sick of seeing my face.”

Danny chuckled. “My Aoife is a spitfire and always speaks her mind. If she were, you’d already know it.”

“Why are you helping me? I’m no one.”

“You’re always someone, Arson. But my word doesn’t matter. It’s what you think about yourself that counts.”

Arson flashed a half-grin. “Don’t waste your time on me, Holy man. There’s much better out there to help. I’m good, I promise.”

Danny knew Arson believed his lies. He’d swallowed his own once upon a time before someone stepped in and helped.

“Breakfast?”

“Sure. I never pass up free grub. Any of those muffins she made before?”

Danny chuckled as Arson stepped out of the truck, looking slightly better than he did five minutes ago. “There might be. She was baking last night.”

Thank God for his wife’s beautiful heart.

She always understood when Danny was moved to help. It wasn’t the only part of his job. It wouldn’t be the first morning she came down to breakfast to see an unfamiliar face at their table. He got Arson set up with a shower, and Danny put a pot on for the tea and tossed sausages into a pan. A good hearty Irish breakfast was called for today. A few minutes later, he heard. “Dada!” he turned to see a grinning Misha in Arson’s arms. “Hope you don’t mind, holy man. She was attempting to climb over the gate at the top of the stairs.”

Chuckling, Danny took his daughter's outstretched arms, and she curled into his neck, warm from her sleep. “This one looks like an angel, but don’t let the sweet face deceive you, Arson. Little rascal, just like her mum. Haven’t we talked about this, Misha Murphy? We don’t climb over the gate.”

Being his daughter, and exactly like the love of his life, Misha didn’t take a bit of notice. Instead, knowing she had Danny around her little finger, she flashed him a wide gummy grin with her two teeth in the front. He kissed her mutiny of messy tufts of hair and plonked her butt in a high chair.

Speaking of the devil.

“What’s all this? You’re having a party and didn’t invite me? Shame on your house, Daniel Murphy.” Chuckling, Danny waited for his mouthy wife to come to him as she always did. They pecked lips. He couldn’t linger, but wanted to. “Love, it’s your house too.”

“Oh. Aye, so it is. I take it back then. Now, who’s to be having tea? Arson, do you want to give Earl Grey a try today?”

Danny smiled to himself as she fussed over Arson, not giving him any choice in the matter when she herded him like a sheep to sit at the table.

“And you’ll be testing out the brownies I made last night.”

“Brownies?” Arson asked, interested.