Free A Chance at Love (A Ferry Creek Novel): (a billionaire romance novel) by Karolyn James Page B

Yeah.
You sure know how to show that. ”
    “ It ’ s just not a good day today for
me. ”
    “ So
ruin it for everyone else, ” Bobby said. He felt like he was talking to his son, Billy. “ What are you trying to prove,
acting like this? ”
    “ Just
looking for a date with my girl, ” Darryl said. “ Is that a
crime? ”
    “ No,
and neither is acting like an ass, ” Bobby said. “ But here, in
my diner, it doesn ’ t
happen. ”
    “ Your
diner, huh? ”
    “ My
diner, ” Bobby said. “ Not sure what my father had
arranged for you. Seems he had things in order for a lot of people in town.
That ’ s fine by me, but I
won ’ t tolerate someone
acting like you just did. ”
    “ Your
father ’ s a good man, ” Darryl said.
    He looked at Bobby with his head
back enough that Bobby noticed a big scar under Darryl ’ s chin. It was visible through the scruff on his
face because the hair didn ’ t
grow there.
    “ I
never said my father wasn ’ t, ” Bobby said.
    “ No.
He ’ s a damn good man.
Honest. Hardworking. Nice, too. Really nice. I hate to see him like this, you
know? I feel like, I don ’ t
know, like I ’ m losing my
father or something. ”
    The words took Bobby back for a
second. He knew his father was a good man and took care of a lot of people. He hadn ’ t really had the time to sit and
reflect on everything his father had done. His father had been healthy one day
and then dying the next. Bobby had been thrust into taking over the diner and
now waited for a phone call to find out if he had a brother.
    “ Well,
I ’ m glad my father had that
kind of impact around here, ” Bobby said.
    Darryl pointed at Bobby. His face
turned mean again. “ You don ’ t get it, man. You left. You
went and did your own thing. ”
    “ You
didn ’ t? ” Bobby asked. “ Big bad biker, right? ”
    “ I
came back. ”
    “ I
heard you only stayed because you got hurt. ”
    “ Because
of your father, ” Darryl
said.
    He started to stand from the stool.
His hands were flat on the counter.
    “ You
look pissed off, ” Bobby
said, knowing he was taunting Darryl just a little. “ What else do you have to say? ”
    “ You
have no idea, ” Darryl said. “ You have no idea, Bobby.
What I ’ ve seen. What I ’ ve went through. What your
father did. What he means. And you couldn ’ t
even keep your wife happy, could you? ”
    Bobby jumped at Darryl. He had a
handful of Darryl ’ s shirt
and the coffee mug tipped over. Eyes were on them from everyone in the diner.
Peggie came rushing to Bobby ’ s
side and grabbed his arm. Her dagger like nails sunk into his skin.
    “ Bobby, ” she said. “ Don ’ t. ”
    “ Don ’ t do it, ” Darryl whispered.
    Bobby saw Tyler come through the
front door of the diner. He saw the scene at the counter and rushed to throw
his hands into the mix of it all.
    “ Enough
of this, ” Tyler said.
    He grabbed Darryl ’ s arm and pulled it behind his
back. Bobby let go of Darryl and stepped back as Peggie stood in front of him.
    “ Quit
acting like kids, ” Peggie
said.
    “ I ’ ve got it under control, ” Tyler said.
    Darryl twisted and turned, escaping
Tyler ’ s hold. He stood nose
to nose with Tyler. That ’ s
when Bobby realized just how big Tyler actually was. The man was so nice and calm
all the time, his size never really showed through.
    “ If
I wanted to restrain you, I would, ” Tyler said.
    “ Tough
guy, ” Darryl said.
    Bobby stepped forward and Peggie
threw an elbow to his gut, stopping him.
    “ Knock
if off, ” she demanded.
    “ Why ’ s he talking to a cop like that? ” Bobby asked.
    “ You
don ’ t get it, ” Peggie said.
    “ I ’ m not a tough guy, ” Tyler said. “ Not like you, right? ”
    “ What
an ass, ” Darryl said.
    “ Don ’ t think I don ’ t know what today is, Darryl, ” Tyler said. “ I ’ m
giving you one chance right now. Get on your damn bike and go for a ride. Clear
your mind and go visit her grave.