Chapter 19

Dan Duke walked into the Rollaway in uniform, and the room of women erupted into cheers and wolf whistles. Unlike some of his brothers, he didn't mind the attention and grinned.

June and Leah were singing "Stand By Your Man" on the karaoke machine, and Betsy Regal and Zoe Duke were now dancing on the bar to whatever was playing. Red was pouring drinks around them.

"That boy just gets better to look at with age," Dee said from her position behind the bar.

"I agree," Red said. He then slapped his wife on the ass and wandered away to collect more glasses.

"I think my head will be sore tomorrow," Cill said. She was drinking black coffee now.

"Odds are that's going to be the case," Nina said, throwing back another shot.

Phoebe had to admit things were a bit fuzzy since she'd swapped the unicorn drink for shots, but it had steadied her nerves. She also had an ice pack pressed to her cheek, which was throbbing .

She reminded herself again she was safe here and not about to end up in the hospital. In fact, she was tough and had fought the woman to save her bag. I'm not a victim.

"Ladies," Dan said. "I hear you've had some trouble."

"Men in uniform, ladies. Am I right?" Nina said, sending the deputy a smoldering look.

"Nina, we've tried that, you and me, and it's just plain wrong because we're like brother and sister," Dan said, unfazed by her look.

"I know." Nina sighed. "But we'd make great babies."

"The best. Now sit that fine ass of yours down, and let me talk to Phoebe and Dee about what happened."

Nina climbed onto her stool with a little help from Dan.

"You okay, Phoebe? Let me look at that face."

"She's going to have a bruise tomorrow," Dee added. "Keep the ice on it, Phoebe." She leaned over the bar, nearly falling out of her pink bra as she talked.

Dan attempted to look everywhere but at the display of cleavage as he took the ice pack off and studied the cheek. "Ouchie."

"Dr. Hannah said it was okay," Nina said. "But it will be sore and bruise."

"I'm okay because I'm really strong now. I don't let people push me around anymore." Phoebe flexed her muscles, and Dan dutifully squeezed them.

"Nice, and you tell me who pushed you around, and I'll hurt them."

"Awww." She kissed his cheek. "You're a nice guy like your brothers… well, two of them, anyway."

"Brody's a good guy. He was just young and stupid back then. He's all grown up now. Now tell me what happened to get that ouchie cheek, Phoebe? "

She told him as best as she could with a fuzzy head. Dee added in the bits she didn't remember.

"And you say three other bags are missing?"

"Dr. Hannah's, June Matilda's, and Linda's," Dee added.

"And she was wearing a hat pulled low, and all her hair was tucked up inside?"

Phoebe nodded.

"Right, that's all I need for now," Dan said, pocketing his notepad. "Sorry this had to happen with you only just returning too, Phoebe."

"Not your fault," she said, slamming the now-empty shot of tequila down on the bar that Dee had held out to her.

"Now how the hell will we know if she's seeing double because of the tequila or the cheek?" Dan asked.

"It's a great painkiller," Dee said.

"True that," Nina said, throwing back hers.

Everything had a really nice fuzzy haze to it inside Phoebe's head. She thought it would be quite nice to live her life like this.

"Do you know whash… what I've observed, Dan?"

"What's that, Pheebs?" He was busy texting while he talked to her.

"That there are assholes everywhere."

"Girl," Dee said, raising her glass. "Amen to that."

"But plenty of good too," Dan said, righting Nina again as she lurched sideways.

"Dan!"

"Hey, Cill. Is Jed coming to pick you up?"

She lunged at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. The deputy handled it with ease.

"I can't be lured into all this kissing and hugging while I'm in uniform," he said loud enough for everyone close to hear.

"I can hug you anytime I like!"

"Hey, Mom. You shit-faced too?" Dan gently settled Cill against Nina and hugged his mother.

"Me? Sh-shit-faced?" Robyn Duke asked. "Never."

"Now I know you're lying because you never swear."

"Don't you think he's handsome in uniform?" Robyn Duke said to the circle of women now forming around them.

"Soooo handsome," SJ said, looking predatory.

"And discerning," Robyn Duke added.

"Okay, I think it's time to break this party up, and here come the Uber drivers," Dan said.

Phoebe looked over her shoulder. "You have Uber here now?"

"Brody!" Robyn Duke said. "And Ryder. Two more of my beautiful sons!"

Phoebe turned away to look at Dan again. "Why is he here?" she whispered loudly.

"He's one of the drivers. Someone has to drive the Slatters' van on girls' night to drop the ones who have no pickup home."

"We can look after ourselves!"

"Sure you can, Mom," Dan said, patting her head, which was now resting on his shoulder.

"Someone call an Uber?" Ryder called.

The women giggled.

"He says this every time when he walks in," Dee said, rolling her eyes. "You'd think they'd be over it by now, but they still giggle."

"Women, what can you do?" Red said, placing a tray of glasses on the bar.

"I'll call my brusher," Phoebe said .

"Brother?" a deep voice said behind her left shoulder.

She nodded but didn't turn.

"No need. It's after midnight, and Caleb needs his beauty sleep. Let's go," Brody said.

Phoebe didn't move, but she heard the shuffle of feet and scrape of barstools.

"Move it, Phoebe," Cill slurred. "I nesh you to help me out."

"Nesh?" Dan questioned. Cill squinted at him and then reached out with a finger to tap his chin but jabbed him in the nose instead.

With Nina under one arm and Cill under the other, Phoebe kept her head down and walked by Brody, because she'd drunk too much, and he was dangerous enough when she was sober. Plus, there was that kiss she was working really hard to forget, and those amazing drawings.

"I'm a strong woman!"

"Damn straight," Nina said when Phoebe spoke the words out loud. "Why did we need to know you're a strong woman?"

They walked outside, more staggered actually. Women were now milling all over the street. She hadn't thought there were that many in the Rollaway, but the road seemed full of them… or that could be Phoebe's vision.

"Tripp, play the music!" Linda called out.

"Every goddamned time," Phoebe heard a deep voice mutter.

"Just play it, Brody. Your phone has the best sounds," she heard Dee say. "Or they'll stand here yelling until you do."

More muttering, and the music for the grapevine twist filled the air. It wasn't out of the speakers but a phone. Brody's phone, to be specific.

There were squeals of excitement from women she'd never heard squeal before, and suddenly they were dancing. The three Dukes, Bradford, and Red, she noted, were standing to one side, watching.

"Ishn't it against the law not to dance?" Phoebe asked.

"They have ima… imaunity on girls' night," Cill said as she rounded Dr. Hannah. She tripped and nearly barreled into Sybil Maynard, the police administrator. Dan rushed in to grab her.

Phoebe laughed as everyone missed steps and stumbled. Large hands steadied anyone who needed it.

"So, they're immunity 'cause they're making sure we don't kill eash other?"

"Zachly," Dr. Hannah answered Phoebe's question. "Good menfolk," she added.

"S-some of them are," Phoebe muttered.

When the music finished, they were rounded up and put into vans. Phoebe was dragged into one with Cill and Nina. They took the back seat.

Dammit! Brody was driving this van.

The singing began as they headed down the main street. Loud singing. She didn't know the words but could handle the chorus, so she joined in then. Her head still had that nice buzz, and she thought tomorrow could be a bit rough, but she'd deal with that when it happened.

"I had fun," she said to Nina and Cill. "I need more of that."

"We can do that," Nina said.

She then sat in the middle of her friends as they rested their heads on her shoulders, and she looked at the back of Brody's head. I've seen his drawings. Phoebe pressed her lips together. She was an excellent secret keeper. She wouldn't tell anyone about them.

Slowly women left the van until it was just Cill and Phoebe. Surely I'm not the last? She'd watched Brody get out of the van and deliver each woman safely to their front door before driving to the next.

"You okay?" Cill whispered loudly as they drove down her driveway. "I can get Jed to take you home if you want?"

"No, it's okay." She felt loved because Cill was saying those words. She knew how uncomfortable Phoebe felt around Brody. "He's just gonna drive me home."

When the van stopped, Brody got out and opened the door. Cill hugged Phoebe and jumped out, then stumbled. Jed wandered out of the house, and his wife fell into his arms.

"Thanks, Brody. Girls' night was another hit by the look of my wife."

"And then some. See you, Jed," Brody said. He then walked to the open van door and looked in at Phoebe. "You want the front seat?"

"No. I'm good here," she said in a slow, precise way to make sure the words came out right.

It was dark, but there was enough light from the van's interior for her to see he was giving her a steady look.

"I'm going to lie down," Phoebe added.

"Because it's such a long trip?"

"Can you just take me home, please, Brody?"

He shut the door and climbed back into the driver's seat. Starting the engine, Brody drove her home. Strange how even with two rows of seats between them, she could feel the tension inside the van now. Phoebe lay down on her side in the back seat so she didn't have to look at Brody's head. She then sat upright again as her head swam.

Looking out the window, she watched with relief as the McAllister mailbox came into sight .

"I can walk from here." Of course he ignored her and drove to the cottage. "I can let myself out."

Dammit. He got out and came around the van. Phoebe had just wrestled it open when he reached it.

"Happy that I didn't have to help you with that?"

"Static," she muttered.

"‘Ecstatic,' I believe, is the correct word."

"Fuck you."

His laugh was a low chuckle. Ignoring him, she stepped down, but it was a lot further than she realized. Pitching forward, she felt his hands grab her and put her back on her feet.

"Thank you," Phoebe muttered, grateful it was dark and he couldn't see the humiliation on her cheeks.

"Welcome."

"Don't you dare mock me."

"No mocking here." He raised both hands. "Just helping you to the cottage."

"I can manage. Jush… just go."

His fingers wrapped around her wrist, and he started walking. Phoebe tried to pull free, but he kept moving, taking her with him. The security light flashed on when they reached her front door.

"I've got this," she hissed.

"Open it."

"I plan to. Goodbye, and I promise not to tell anyone anything!"

"I know you can be trusted with my secret, Phoebe."

She dug around in her handbag for the keys, not trusting herself to say anything else, and then dug some more. Brody didn't move but watched her.

"Not there?" he asked politely.

"Clearly they are, but I just haven't found them yet. "

"I hate when I have too much crap in my handbag, which means I can find nothing," he drawled.

"I don't have too mush… much crap. My bag is organized."

"I can tell."

She pulled out the keys and waggled them before his face in triumph. He grabbed her hand. Then his other hand raised her chin.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"Walked into a door," Phoebe muttered, pulling free. She then attempted to find the lock. He let her for at least a minute.

"Okay, you need ice for that cheek, and I need to get home to get my kid off to school tomorrow. So, hand over the keys."

"OMG! Did you leave Ally home alone asleep?" She spun to face him.

"You think I'd leave my kid home alone?" He looked angry now.

"Yes… no," Phoebe added.

"Well, which is it?" he snapped.

Phoebe turned back to try the key in the lock again and, thankfully, found it. She pushed the door open in seconds, but he was on her heels as she stepped inside.

"Answer the question, Phoebe." She heard the anger in his voice. "Has your opinion of me dropped low enough to believe I'd leave a ten-year-old home without adult supervision?"

She stormed back to face him and jabbed him hard in the chest with a finger. That, if she was honest, hurt her way more than him. "I thought I knew you once, and it turned out I was wrong then. I certainly don't know you now," she said slowly, quite proud of the fact she'd got the words out without slurring a single one .

He just stood there a foot away from her, staring.

"Just go, Brody. I've had too mush… much to drink, and clearly that makes my tongue loose."

"Or honest," he muttered. "But now is not the time for this talk either, Phoebe."

"Never is the time," she said too loudly.

"There will be a time." His words sounded like a vow. "But not when you can't see straight. Before I go, I want to clear up something."

Phoebe clapped her hands over her ears. "Not listening."

He leaned in close and lifted her left hand. "I did not leave my kid home alone. Now drink a glass of water, and take some aspirin. Then sleep." He kissed her forehead and then walked away.

"I need to hate you, Brody," Phoebe said when he reached the door.

"But you don't." He turned to look back at her.

This time she was the one who turned away. The door shut on a soft click.