“I could take care of things for a while,” she said, ignoring Dan. “Till you got on your feet. You could find a construction job in the city. I can pay for stuff. ”
“You think that’s what I care about? Whether I have enough stuff? Have you not been listening to a word I’ve said? Haven’t you gotten who I am?”
“He’s right. What would a mountain dude do in the city?” Dan laughed to himself, shaking his head, muttering, “Lola sowing her oats with the locals. Classic. ”
Eddie spun on him. “How about you shut your mouth before I shut it for you?”
“Forget him. ” Laura reached for his hand. “Listen to me. You have to admit you’ve been struggling, but there’s work in the city. Jack could run Jessup Brothers on his own. ”
He pulled away. “The only thing I’m struggling with right now is you, Laura. ”
Dan chuckled to himself. “She’s a spitfire, all right. ”
“I’m warning you,” Eddie told him through gritted teeth. He would not be held responsible for mopping the floor with this guy.
Dan smirked. “Nice. ”
“I need to think of my finances,” Laura continued. “Our finances. ”
“What’s so wrong with our finances? We’ve got food, family, a roof over our heads. Hell, several roofs. ”
“But what if I need more? People will pay me a lot to use my business sense. It’s how I’ve survived. ”
“We survive because this is our home. We’ve got family here. I’ve got family, and I’m not leaving them. ” He did a quick scan of the bar. Bear was in the corner, playing cards with his buddies. Sorrow was in the back. Helen worked the floor, while Edith was at the lodge caring for her kid. “We’re a community, Laura. But we’re not good enough for you, are we? We never were. ”
“That’s not fair. ”
“You know what’s not fair? Jerking me around like this. What, you just wanted to see what it was like with a townie? Is that all I am? But how big of you, you’re not done with me yet, so you’ll find the country bumpkin a job in the big city. ”
“That’s not it at all. I didn’t think I’d consider leaving until just now. ”
“And you didn’t for a moment think your leaving was something I might like to have a say in?”
She shot back, “Since when do you have a say in my professional life?”
He got quiet. “It’s like you need to control every aspect of your life. You can’t let it go for one minute, can you?”
“That’s not true. ”
“I should’ve known. Whenever the going gets too scary, Laura Bailey cuts and runs. ” He felt so stupid. Stupid, and embarrassed. “And I can’t believe you told this guy about it before me. You could’ve at least told me your old boss was calling. We have had some time together lately. I trusted you. I thought I was finally making headway with you. I told you stuff, Laura. And then you turn around and tell your news to this prick. ”
Dan pulled his shoulders back, trying to look tough. “Don’t be getting up in my grill. Lola, I can’t believe you’re letting mountain man here talk to you like that. He’s out of your system, now you should get him out of your bar. ”
Eddie took a step closer. He had half a mind to show this guy the meaning of mountain man. “You’re on thin ice, pretty boy. ”
“Just come with me to the city,” Laura pleaded. “I can take care of things for a while, until we figure it out. ”
“Don’t sweat Teddie here,” Dan told her. “If he doesn’t want you, you can be my sugar mama, any day of the week. ”
That was it. Eddie grabbed a fistful of that gelled, spiked hair, pulled the guy from his stool, and punched him in the face.
Dan grabbed his head with a sharp yelp and skittered backward. “What the hell?”
“Stop it,” Laura shrieked. The bar had fallen silent. “What are you doing?”
He flexed his fist, shaking it out. “Just being a country boy. ”
Dan grabbed his asinine black glasses from where they’d flown to the floor and settled them back on his face. “Don’t mess with me. ” He blew out a breath, rolling his shoulders like he might actually try something, but Eddie had about five inches and forty pounds on the guy that said he wouldn’t.