“Umm, you do remember the Empty Contest, right?”

Her giggle made him laugh. “Let’s not discuss that ridiculous contest, Mr. Marcus. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

He’d been tossing the idea around for a couple of weeks, working on the logistics of it. But he couldn’t make it work, not even in his mind, without Julie’s input. He needed her even in his imaginary whatifs. “How would you feel about inviting them to be partners in the bar? All of them. We obviously don’t need their money to rebuild, but Danny’s on Main has been a family-run business since the day Max showed up. Since they are our kids, I was wondering how you’d feel about making it family owned and operated?”

The way her eyes glowed in the soft light from the nightstand lamp was striking, but not nearly as magnificent as her smile. “It’s an amazing idea. I love it.”

“You do?”

“I do! And I love you.”

“Thank God for that.”

***

ON CHRISTMAS EVE, with everyone except Kyle, who was still hospitalized, sitting around the tree, bellies full, and drinks in hand, Julie and Danny gave out small wrapped boxes. Julie began to explain how much each of them meant to her and Danny, but her throat tightened with emotion.

Danny took the reins and finished her thoughts. “Julie and I are going to start rebuilding Danny’s on Main, but well… we’d like it if you all were part of the process.”

Butterflies flapped in her stomach as each couple and Lyla unwrapped their gifts. In each box was a white tag attached to a long, ornate, iron key.

In your home,

you are always loved.

Welcome home.

Danny’s on Main ~

“Look at me,” Danny said, his tone not offering an argument. “This is a no-pressure deal. If you want it, we want you. If you don’t, we still want you in the same way you’ve been with us up to this point. If you want in, but money’s tight, we’ll come up with something. The only thing we’re asking for is honesty. So no answers tonight or tomorrow. Think about it and get back to us. But know we love you all like family, and the new Danny’s will be about our family.”

The noise was deafening as everyone spoke at once. Squeals of excitement and grunts of appreciation carried through the room.

“Think it’s safe to say they like their gifts.” Danny chuckled.

“Yeah, well, you’ve always been a very generous giver,” Julie said.

“I got something large to give you the minute they all leave.” His brows lifted with his sexual innuendo, making her face flush and her body heat.

“Okay,” she called to the group, “the later it gets, the worse the roads get with drunk drivers and such. So you should all get going.”

Danny’s chuckle turned to a laugh.

“Why don’t you just admit you want us to leave so you guys can fool around?” Max challenged.

Danny picked up the challenge and ran with it, leaving Julie’s mouth gaping. “We want you to leave so I can make my woman come till she can’t see straight. That what you wanna hear, DeLucca?”

“Yep.” Max popped the p and ducked when Janie punched his arm.

“Yeah, so that isn’t at all awkward for my date here,” Lyla deadpanned as she pushed her date, Rick, out the front door, then spoke over her shoulder. “Lord, I was hoping he’d think I was a sweet, virginal kind of girl.” She giggled and hugged Danny.

“The dude has met you, right?” Ryan jabbed. “Hell, the shit that came out of your mouth tonight alone would cause lesser men to rock in a corner.”

“Whatever.” Lyla waved off the comment. “He’ll be gone by the end of the night anyway. It’s just fun.” Lyla hugged Julie and left.

Ashley giggled. “Love that woman. And we’re out of here too. Night, guys.”

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Julie shouted and closed the front door behind them just before Danny lifted her over his shoulder and carried her to their bedroom.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Woman Still Blushes

MONTHS PASSED, AND construction progressed on the bar. With everyone, including Kyle, on board as partners, Danny’s on Main was shaping up to be better than ever. Maybe Danny had been correct. Maybe the bar’s destruction was indeed a way of making something great into something fantastic.

Seeing the happiness on Ashley and Ryan’s faces and the sparkly magic on her left ring finger made Julie giddy with excitement. His proposal on Christmas morning had been a surprise to Ashley but not to Julie or Danny. Receiving the call from a tearful and blissed out Ashley was a Christmas gift Julie would never forget. The two of them weren’t looking to set a wedding date yet, but they were elated to finally be official.

As for Kyle, while his body was mending, he was emotionally stagnant. It didn’t seem to matter what she, Danny, or anyone else did or said. No one could get through to him…until Cate Lockton, the mysterious woman who saved him the night of his car accident, showed up when Danny’s on Main reopened its doors. Kyle referred to the woman as an angel, and Julie and Danny—while watching Kyle transition from lost to found, broken to breathing, pieces to whole—had to agree.

Danny grinned over lunch one afternoon. “The woman belongs here. I say this with nothing but respect, but she’s got that look, Jules. You know, the one that we all started with, the one that screams, ‘Love me or leave me, but if you love me, please don’t leave me.’”

“I know the look.” Julie arched her brow. “And in case you missed it, Kyle isn’t going anywhere. That boy is holding on to her for dear life.”

She was proud. Kyle had found love. She saw it in every move he made, and he was going the distance to make sure his woman knew he was all in. Knowing Cate, it may not be easy for him, but Julie believed his strength and stubborn nature would finally work to his benefit.

Cate and her business partner, Elliot, owned a party-planning business, and they were hired to organize a grand reopening bash for Danny’s on Main. Live entertainment, catered food—the whole nine yards—all to thank the crowd who had supported the bar and come back the minute the doors reopened.

Two weeks after reopening, Julie and Danny had a working lunch in one of the two new back offices. She looked at the computer screen, then at Danny, who sat off to her left. “Here I thought it would take months for word to spread and our customers to return, but looking at these numbers, after two weeks, our Thursday nights are nearly back to where they were before.”

“Of course they are.” Confidence oozed from the grin that overtook Danny’s mouth. “Baby, when are you gonna believe that we’re destined for greatness?”

“Maybe you should show me some of your greatness.” Her bottom lip met her teeth, and Danny’s eyes flared.

“No, Jules, I think you’re gonna show me a little of your greatness. I’ll lock the door; you get on your knees.”

No wonder every time I walk into an office supply store, I get aroused. Then she got on her knees and only thought about the delicious task in front of her.

***

DANNY FELT A certain kind of peace watching how each of the kids found happiness with their significant others. Kyle was still struggling with Cate, but he had no doubt that in the end, Kyle would get his girl. Which left Lyla.

Lyla, after more than a year, still managed to confound him. Sometimes Danny thought he saw light struggling to escape the cracks in her veneer, but for the most part, the woman was locked up tight. Free to laugh, open to play, but sealed up when it came to her past or her emotions. She hooked up with random men, had her fun, and moved on. She never dated, and she treated the guys like…like Kyle had treated women before Cate. And like with Kyle, Lyla’s actions worried Danny.