To her surprise, it was Zach who apologized to her the next morning. "Guess I'd forgotten that you grew up too kid." He handed her a steaming mug of coffee, picked up his own and leaned back against the counter. "You know, Annie ain't so bad, not at all what I remembered. She sure has grown up." Was Dani imagining things or had her big brother not stopped smiling since the other night and his reunion with Annie? She was tempted to ask if it was love or lust but she held her tongue.
"Everyone grows up Zach, even people in this family." She grabbed an orange from the bowl of fruit on the counter and sat at the table to peel it. "Where's the Bull?" The room seemed actually empty without him in it. Zach was a big man like the rest of her brothers, but nowhere close to his friend. She found herself wondering if he was still out in the shop, working on his ride. She had been surprised to see him home so early; Zach hadn't stumbled in until well after three this morning. Her mind also remembered the warm smile he had given her, like he had been glad to see her.
"Dad took him to the parts house so he could get some parts for his ride. He said it wasn't sounding right when he got back last night. I didn't hear anything wrong when he left the bar to take Sue home, but he's like dad, fine tuned to his ride. Me, I just get on and go, which is probably why I've spent more down time in this family than anyone else." He grinned. "Hell, I broke down twice just on the run home this time."
That was true. The rest of the clan treated their motorcycles like they were made of gold. Zach had never been as concerned. If he went down, he just picked it up and rolled on. Her dad had told her about the times he had rolled his ride home over ten miles just to make sure he didn't do any more damage. Even her mom was that way. Dani often suspected her parents cared more about their motorcycles than they did their children at times. Not that her folks would have ever admitted a thing like that.
Almost on cue, the back door opened and the two men in question came in. Her dad gave her a grin, scuffed her hair and then headed for the coffee pot, "Morning brat, in a better mood from what it was last night?"
"My mood is just fine, thank you very much; it would just be a whole better if I had been born into a normal family and not this zoo."
Her father laughed as he leaned back against the counter, standing next to his son their resemblance was remarkable. Except for her dad's gray hair, they could have been brothers instead of father and son. "Hey, we may not be normal, but we have fun. And as far as men being scared to come around you for fear of death or dismemberment, well if they think we got a reason to do, they're not for you anyway." His smile turned to a look of concern. "Uh, Jess and Nick are coming over today. Are you going to hide away all day as usual?"
Dani groaned, just what she hadn't needed to hear first thing in the morning, "Now that I know, yeah." She hated Nick Jensen. He was one of the worst of her dad's friends, and to make it even worse, he had been after her for six months to go out with him. His brother Jessie was little better. "Can't you just tell him to leave me alone and get it over with?" It had gotten to the point that she hated being within ten miles of the two men. Nick was constantly watching her, and licking his lips in the most obscene way she had ever seen. Jessie wasn't quite so bad but she knew he would go where his brother led him. "I can't stand it when he does that thing with his tongue; he makes me feel like a mouse that is being stalked by the cat."
Her dad gave her an understanding look, and it was clear he didn't like it much either. "I have honey, more than once, but you know Nick, he gets an idea in that head of his and he can't let it go. And right now, he has the idea that you and he would make a good pair." Her dad frowned. "Maybe it is better if you stay upstairs while they're here, and make sure your door is locked."
Dani had known what her dad would say, but she was startled by Zach's reaction. "Nick Jensen is coming on to you?" He didn't bother to hide his dislike or disgust when he spoke.
"He's been coming on to me for six months every since December, when Shelia and the kids left." Not that she blamed Sheila Jensen for leaving him. Dani had seen enough of his handy work to know that she was better off back home with her kids in Dallas, Texas. Nick was a firm believer in black and blue being the colors of love.
Zach didn't bother to hide his own dislike of the man. "He's older than dad, and I wouldn't let a dog near him. How Shelia lasted all these years is beyond me. Hey Bull and I are going to the lake with Annie and Sue, you come along." He made the offer with little thought. It was clear he didn't like the idea that a man like Nick anywhere around his little sister.
Dani shook her head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather hide in my room than play fifth wheel with you four." The lock on her door would stand up to anything but being kicked in and she knew her dad would never let it come to that.
For the first time since he had walked in Bull spoke up. "Sue isn't coming. So you can ride with me soon as I replace this part." He went out the back door, and Dani looked at her brother.
"What was all that about?" There was no disguising the surprise she felt, it had been clear that he had not been looking forward to their date, and Sue had seemed less than enthused, but still...it wasn't like Sue to give up so easy. From the way Bull had talked yesterday morning, she also got the idea that he could be just as persistent.
Zach looked at the door, looking just as surprised, but then shrugged. "Don't ask me. Bull doesn't talk much, but when he does, most people tend to listen."
Spending the day with Bull and Zach at the lake wasn't her idea of a good time, even knowing that Annie would be there, but it beat hiding from Nick. At least she wouldn't have to worry about him coming in her room and trying to kiss her like he had one time. Her dad had put the lock on with no hesitation when she told him about it.
Going upstairs after the decision had been made; Dani took a quick shower and dressed in the coolest clothes she owned. Now that she was done with school, she was going to have to start thinking about updating her wardrobe. She would need some nice clothes to go looking for work in, of course that was if she ever decided what she wanted to be when she grew up. Not to mention the idea of going to visit her grandmother. Somehow she doubted Grandma Lazarus and Aunt Jessie would much appreciate her going around in blue jeans and shirts made more for bumming around the house in all the time she was there. There were times she wished she had been able to see the two old ladies more as she grew up, but they called every Christmas and birthday, and sent wonderful presents. They had even sent her a huge check for Graduation and a few years back they had come to visit for a week, her dad had hid out in the shed most of the time, but it had been fun seeing them.
