by Sue Brown
Back at the bar, Bradley raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to let her get away with speaking to you like that?”
Dan shrugged. “I do tend bar. It’s water off a duck’s back.” He’d had years of people disparaging him because he poured drinks. “She’s unhappy. I don’t know what’s wrong, but she’ll tell me sooner or later.”
“She’s a brat.” Bradley stumbled over the last word, and Dan was pretty sure he’d been about to use a completely different B word but stopped himself just in time. Dan made it clear in the bar that everyone should be respectful to Ariel, even when she was being a complete bitch.
“Hopefully, they’ll mind their manners now, and I can leave Gideon in bed.” Dan’s mind went to a whole different image of Gideon in bed, rather than the snot-dripping individual who was shivering his way through a nasty cold.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go and see if he’s all right?” Bradley teased.
Dan ignored him. Bradley had cottoned on to Dan’s unrequited crush a long time back and, to his credit, never said a word to anyone else. But it didn’t mean that, out of earshot, Dan wasn’t fair game for relentless teasing.
The evening settled down for a while. Ariel’s suitors continued to woo her, and every time Broad or Tall came over to purchase a drink, they smirked at Dan as though they had gotten one over on him. Dan ignored that too, but closing time couldn’t come soon enough.
“We might get through the entire night without anything being broken,” Dan said.
Bradley made a hushing noise. “You can’t say that. You’ll jinx it.”
“What are you? Twelve?”
“Everyone knows when you say something’s not going to happen, it always does.”
Dan snorted. “Definitely twelve.”
Bradley flipped him off and served the next customer, who was leaning at an odd angle against the bar. “Are you all right, man?”
The guy’s slurred answer was enough for Dan to say, “It’s time you went home.”
“You’re not my father. Give me a drink. I got money.” He waved a note in Dan’s face and almost punched him.
“Save your money and go home.” Dan had had many years of dealing with drunks. He really hoped the guy would take his advice.
“I wanna drink!” The drunk’s voice rose, and the level of chatter in the bar diminished. Again the tension became palpable.
Dan looked around the room. “If anyone here wants to cause trouble, I’m calling the cops. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you’re drunk or who you are related to.” He said that with long look at Ariel, who gave him another toss of the head. “No one gets away with it tonight. Do you understand?”
The customers looked at him and then away, and the conversation started again. Dan breathed a sigh of relief, and then he focused his attention on the drunk dude. “Go home now, and I won’t ban you for good.”
“You can’t do that. You’re not the owner.”
“No, but I am the manager, and this is your last chance.”
Finally, it seemed to penetrate the alcoholic haze in the guy’s head that Dan was serious, and with a lot of grumbling, he headed for the door. He tripped on the way and landed on his knees, but two burly guys hauled him up and escorted him out.
“You did good,” Gideon said.
Dan jumped. He wasn’t even aware Gideon was behind him. “What are you doing down here?”
“I needed a drink. I forgot to restock the soda in my fridge.” Gideon held up a couple of bottles of Coca-Cola. He looked exhausted, his face fever-flushed, and his hair was flattened as though he’d just gotten out of bed. He was dressed in a faded Giants long-sleeve T-shirt and sweats, rather than his usual Wranglers and button-down shirt. Dan could have eaten him up, but instead he said, “You look a lot less like hammered shit than you did yesterday.”
Gideon grimaced. “It’s totally fake. The makeup I’m wearing is really good.”
“You still feel bad?”
“Maybe less head monster and more Kathleen Turner.”
Dan considered that. Gideon always had a deep drawl, but it was more husky than usual. “What’s up with Ariel?”
“I don’t know.” Gideon looked over at his daughter with a frown between his eyes. She was laughing at something one of the men had said and hadn’t acknowledged her father at all. Dan was pretty sure she knew Gideon was in the bar. “Do you want me to find out?”
“No. She can hold court tonight if she wants. You go back to bed.”
“I think I’m going to have to if I’m going to be well enough for the weekend.”
“It’s a quiet night. We’ll be fine closing up.”
Gideon smirked at him. “I’m sure you will, manager.”
“You heard that, huh?”
“I did. It looks good on you. Do it again.”
Dan looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Do you want me to stand on the bar and shout out that I’m the manager?”
“No need. You said you’re taking the job now. There’s no backsies.”
“No backsies? I swear I’m surrounded by kids.”
“I certainly hope not in my bar.”
“Our bar,” Dan corrected.
Gideon inclined his head. “Our bar indeed.”
A shout alerted Dan that something was wrong. He looked over and groaned. Broad and Tall were facing up to each other while Ariel sat back calmly and watched.
“I’m gonna kill her,” Dan muttered under his breath, but obviously not quietly enough, because Gideon nodded.
“I’m going to let you. What the hell does she think she’s playing at?”
Dan stormed over to the two men, who were glaring into each other’s eyes. Tall had about six inches on Broad, but Broad could make three of him. “What the hell is going on?”
“Stay out of it, faggot,” Broad snarled.
For a moment Dan was taken aback. His sexuality had never been an issue at Cowboys and Angels. He never talked about the fact that he was gay, and the customers never cared, as long as he was serving the drinks. This was the first time somebody had publicly demeaned him in his workplace, and it took his breath away. It was stupid. He’d been called faggot many times. But now, for some reason, it really hurt. He caught the shamefaced look on Ariel’s face and understood what the whole evening had been about. Ariel finally understood that her father was interested in someone else for the first time since her mother died. She might have known before and understood it in the abstract, but with the wedding coming up, she had the reality in her face. He wondered what the whole speed-dating evening had been about? She seemed so supportive. What had changed in the meantime?
But he didn’t have time for speculation. “It’s time you two went home.”
“We don’t take orders from queers.” That time it was Tall who was the asshole.
“Right. You’re both banned. Get out of here now.”
Tall laughed in his face. “Or what? You can call the cops or have your big boyfriend over there save your skinny hide.”
Dan faced him down. “I know who you are, and I know where you work. Your boss is a friend of mine. It wouldn’t take much to put in a call to him right now. So get out of here before you get arrested, and don’t bother coming back.”
“Just go, please?” Ariel begged the two men, seeming to understand that Dan’s patience had run out.
The two men snarled in Dan’s face again, but they stormed out without causing any more trouble. Dan watched them stalk out the door, and then he looked at Ariel. “I don’t know what your problem is, but you just crossed a line there, and I won’t forget it.”
Her bottom lip wobbled, and tears filled her eyes. “I’m really sorry, Dan. I never meant for them to hurt you.”
“They weren’t the ones who hurt me, Ariel. It was my friend, or the person I thought was my friend, who hurt me.”
He walked away without waiting to see Ariel’s reaction. Gideon looked at him when he got to the bar.
&
nbsp; “Are you all right?”
“I’m okay.” Dan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “What about you? You realize if she’s been talking, people are gonna know about us. The date?”
Gideon shrugged. “I don’t care. This is my bar. They don’t have to come here.”
“I told you this would happen.”
“You did, and my answer is still the same. I don’t care. They can call me what they like. At the end of the day, it was my decision—not yours, not theirs.”
“You know it was Ariel who talked?”
“I do now. I’ll talk to her, but right now I’m more concerned about you.”
It was Dan’s turn to shrug. “Those are all words I’ve heard before. I’m not going to fall apart because somebody calls me a faggot and a queer.” He smiled viciously. “’Course, if they keep calling me that, they might just end up with their teeth down their throat.”
Gideon smiled just as viciously in return. “That’s my boy.”
“Your boy?” Dan raised an eyebrow.
“Gonna argue?”
No. Dan would save that argument for another day.
“Dan?” Ariel stood on the other side of the bar. “Could we talk?”
“Not now,” Gideon said. “Dan’s got a job to do.”
“I want to apologize.”
“You should have thought of that sooner,” Gideon said flatly.
It was the first time Dan had heard Gideon take that tone with his daughter. “It’s okay, Gideon.”
Gideon shook his head. “It’s not okay. It’s very far from okay. I can’t believe you would put Dan in danger like that.”
Ariel’s face crumpled. “I didn’t think.”
“No, you didn’t. Go home, Ariel. I don’t want you here right now.”
Clearly aghast, she looked at her father. But Gideon just stared back, and Ariel fled. The second she was out of sight, Gideon’s legs wobbled, and Dan guided him to a chair as he started to cough. Bradley brought over a glass of water, and Gideon sipped it until the wracking cough died. Dan stayed by his side, not willing to leave him in such a vulnerable state.
Finally Gideon put the glass down and took a cautious breath. “Damn, that hurts.”
“Is there anything I can get you?”
Gideon shook his head. “I’m gonna go back to bed. Are you okay to close up?”
“Sure.” Dan wanted to rest his hand on Gideon’s shoulder, but he was conscious of the curious glances being sent their way. He collected the forgotten soda bottles and handed them to Gideon.
Gideon didn’t move, and eventually he said, “I’m sorry, Dan. About Ariel. I never thought she’d react this way.”
“I don’t think she meant any harm. She’s just acting out.”
“But she was the one who planned your speed-dating event.”
“It’s not about me, Gideon. Don’t you see? This is all about you. The speed-dating event was fun. She loved that. But now the reality’s hit home. You’re showing interest in someone else other than her. She’d be the same if you were going out with a woman.”
“She’s worried she’s lost my attention?” Gideon sounded bewildered. “She’s twenty-one, not five. She needs to grow up.”
There were so many things Dan could say to that, but it wasn’t the time.
Gideon was struggling as it was. “Give her time. She’s been daddy’s girl for a long time.”
Gideon sighed and scrubbed his hand through his hair, which left it sticking up all over the place. Dan itched to smooth it down. “I don’t have the energy for this.”
“Go back upstairs. It’s a quiet night. We’re fine here.”
“Thanks.” Gideon smiled wearily and vanished up the stairs.
Dan joined Bradley behind the bar. “Sorry for leaving you to hold down the fort. Everything okay?”
“We’re fine. Is the boss okay?”
“He will be.”
Bradley nodded. “He’s facing some home truths, huh?”
“Something like that.”
“No one likes to think their kid is a bigot.”
“I don’t think Ariel is a bigot.” Dan found it ironic that he was the one to defend Ariel to Gideon and Bradley. “Not really. She’s just struggling with the idea that she might not be the sole focus of her daddy’s attention.”
Bradley gave a derisive snort, but he left it there, and Dan was thankful. He was worn out and just wanted the night to be finished.
Cashing up and closing the bar added another hour to Dan’s shift. He knew Gideon would pay him for the time, but he was shattered by the time he left and thankful he didn’t have the early shift. Otherwise he might well sleep at Cowboys and Angels.
Dan left by the back entrance, locked the door, and started down the street toward his apartment. He’d just reached the intersection when there were running footsteps behind him. On instinct Dan turned, and someone punched his cheek. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
Chapter 17
“HEY, YOU’RE awake.”
Dan blinked and tried to focus on Gideon’s worried face. “Wha’ happened?” He struggled to get the words out, his mouth was so dry.
Gideon handed him some ice chips, which helped to moisten his mouth a little. “You were found unconscious near the bar. Do you remember what happened?”
Dan shook his head and wished he hadn’t. “My head hurts.”
“Two guys attacked you.”
Dan gingerly moved his jaw and winced. “They did a good job.”
“You’re lucky. They didn’t get a chance to do any real damage. A man saw it happen and scared them off. He called the cops and paramedics.”
“Do they know who hit me?”
Gideon gave him a tight smile. “The witness described one man as very tall and the other as stocky. Sound familiar?”
Too familiar. He really didn’t think they’d go that far. “They waited until the end of my shift to beat me up?”
“Sounds like it. I’ve given the cops the video footage from the club.”
Dan tried to sit up, and Gideon was there to help him rest against the pillows. “Why are you here?”
“Someone must have recognized you. The cops knocked on my door about twenty minutes after it happened.
“I’m sorry, Gideon.”
Gideon took his hand and threaded their fingers together. “Don’t be ridiculous. I know Marty’s your emergency contact, but he’s still out of town. He’s spoken to the hospital, and they allowed me in here because I’m your employer.”
“When can I go home? I don’t want to be racking up hospital bills.”
“You’ve got insurance,” Gideon pointed out. “You’re going nowhere until the doctor’s checked you for concussion. They were waiting for you to wake up.”
“What time is it?”
Gideon checked the clock. “Nearly six.”
A nurse poked her head around the door. “Oh good. You’re awake.”
“Awake and ready to go home.”
She frowned at him as she entered the room. “You’re not going to give me any trouble, are you?”
Dan ignored Gideon’s snicker and shook his head, but he winced as pain shot through his head.
“I bet you wish you hadn’t done that, don’t you?” She smiled brightly, and Gideon’s snicker turned into a chuckle. “Hang tight, and I’ll get the doctor to look at you. We’ll have you out of here as soon as possible.”
“As soon as possible” turned into several hours, and Dan spent most of it asleep, knocked out by the pain medication and the long night. He was vaguely aware of nurses checking on him a few times and Gideon as a silent presence by his side. Eventually he stayed awake long enough to discover Gideon asleep in the chair, although he woke as soon as Dan tried to get out of bed.
Gideon yawned, and got to his feet, rolling his shoulders. “Are you running away?”
“I need a leak.”
“I’ll help you.” Thankfully Gideon didn’t offer a bo
ttle.
Dan wobbled to his feet. “I can manage.”
“Sure you can, darlin’,” Gideon said far too cheerfully, “but I’m still gonna help you.”
He was by Dan’s shoulder as Dan shuffled to the bathroom, not holding him, but not more than a few inches away. He waited outside the door as Dan did his business and then escorted him back to bed. Dan sat down and sighed. Just that short walk had knocked the energy out of him. But he still wanted to go home, and he said so to Gideon.
“Let’s find out when you can escape.”
Gideon went off to speak to whoever would spring him from this joint. Finally, after they agreed he wasn’t suffering from a concussion and his cheek was bruised, not cracked, they agreed to let him go. The paperwork took longer, but eventually he was a free man and settled in Gideon’s car.
Gideon slid in behind the steering wheel. “Home?”
“Yeah.” Dan yawned, winced, and yawned again.
He woke up outside his apartment block. “You must have knockout drops in here. I’m always sleeping in your car.”
“I work you too hard.”
“I’m not gonna deny that, but you weren’t the one who assaulted me.” At Gideon’s silence, he said, “This is not your fault, Gideon.”
“I can’t help feeling responsible.”
Dan patted Gideon’s thigh. “I don’t hold you responsible. Okay. I’m gonna go home and sleep before the shift.”
Gideon shook his head. “I’ve got Juan to cover your shift today.”
Juan was another senior barman. Dan rarely saw him because they covered different shifts.
“I can’t take time off, Gideon. I need the money.”
“You’ll get full pay, and if you need to take tomorrow off, that’s covered too. I mean it, Dan. Don’t argue with me.”
Dan recognized the implacable expression on Gideon’s face, and he conceded, but he couldn’t resist saying, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Gideon huffed at him as he got out of car.
“You don’t need to come with me. I’m awake this time.” Just. He would be asleep as soon as he fed the cat.
“Dan, just for once, shut up. I’m feeding your cat and seeing you into bed.” Gideon sounded exhausted, and that, more than anything, kept Dan quiet.