Rowdy(85)

Rome snorted. “I have a baby girl, and while she is sweet and soft she is also ornery and demanding.”

I smirked at him. “Just like her mama.”

“No kidding, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He told Rule, “You’ll be fine. If he is like you then you know what you need to do to keep him in line and remind him that it’s okay to be difficult and to make your own way in this world, but that he also has to let the people that love him in.”

The brothers shared an intense look that spoke to battles won and lost and I had to agree with Rome’s assessment. In order to lighten up the mood a little, I told Rule, “And at least it isn’t twins. I don’t think Denver would remain standing if there were two more of you unleashed on the Mile High.”

The quip had the desired effect and some of the tension unleashed from Rule’s shoulders. “True. Cora pouted for a full hour when Rome told her it was just one baby and not twins.”

“I bet she did.”

Rome looked up and nodded over my head as someone came in the door. I turned to see who it was and looked past Asa as he walked in to the young woman that followed him in the front door. She was short, about Cora’s height, but curved more like Salem, she had hot-pink hair and a snarl on her pretty mouth. She looked mad at the world and not happy to be at the Bar at all. The little thing practically breathed out bad attitude and discontentment. She walked past all of us without acknowledging our existence in any way, shape, or form. She literally emanated anger and displeasure like a thick, black cloud in her wake.

Rome grunted at her thunderous arrival and quipped, “Speaking of Cora, that little lady right there can give her a run for her money in the attitude department.” The older Archer sounded disgruntled about that fact.

“Who is she?” This came from Rule as he pointed in the direction the pink-haired sprite had gone.

“Brite’s daughter, Avett. He asked me and Asa to find a way to keep her out of trouble for a few months. She got kicked out of college and fell in with a pretty bad crowd. She’s shit with the customers, so we tossed her in the kitchen to help Darcy out, but considering they’re mother and daughter, it isn’t going well. One of them is bound to walk out in the middle of a rush sooner or later.” He chuckled drily. “I think Brite is hoping Asa might be a good influence on her, as crazy as that sounds.”

Brite Walker was the guy that had sold the Rome the Bar for a song. He was also the ex-soldier’s mentor and really the all-around voice of reason when it came to burly, stubborn men making dumb choices. I knew there was nothing Rome or Asa wouldn’t do for Brite, including giving his unpleasant offspring a job and looking out for her.

I lifted up my eyebrow. “She seems like a real delight.”

Rome just grunted a nonanswer and told us, “I have plans with Cora tonight, so I need to work on getting out of here. Joe is babysitting and I’m taking her out.” Joe was Cora’s dad and so in love with his new baby granddaughter that he had packed up his entire life in Brooklyn and moved to Denver to be closer to his girls. He was a huge part of Rome and Cora’s life.

“What’s the occasion?” Rule’s question was simple, but the way Rome stiffened and the way his eyes blazed neon blue made me think there was something more to his plans than just a date night.

“No occasion. I have a gorgeous woman that gave me a beautiful daughter and she always deserves to know that she is the most important thing in the world to me.” Oh yeah, Rome wasn’t a major talker and that kind of sentiment was far more flowery than he usually expressed. Rule and I shared a knowing look. Something was definitely up.

“Gonna go get Asa ready for the night shift and then bounce.” He lifted his chin at Rule and told him, “You’re going to be a great dad, Rule. Just like you’re a great husband, a great brother, a great friend, and a rock-solid business partner. You and Shaw were meant to do this.”

Rule nodded his head and I saw him swallow hard. “Thanks.”

I turned around so I could see the door. I didn’t want to miss Sayer when she showed up and I admittedly didn’t want to miss her reaction when she saw the Bar. Sure, Rome had cleaned the place up, every surface was restored or new, but it was still a dive bar and there was no way to mask that.

“What do you think is up with him and Cora?” I went to take a drink from the beer and then remembered Rule sticking his tongue all over it and just handed it to him with a scowl.

“I dunno. He’s been bugging her to move. He wants to buy a house, but who knows. Those two fight fire with gasoline and I think they both get off on watching it burn.”