Wingman Wednesday - Tarnished Hero

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​This 'lovers from the opposite sides of the tracks' story has an added complication. Can Dani accept what can't be changed and love this Tarnished Hero?

Unsettled and in the mood to vent on someone, Hero decided to drop by the Sea Sprite. Brady should be awake by now. He’d always been an early riser, though who knew what his habits were now that Kate was living with him. For all Hero knew, they were still tangled together in their bed.

He was relieved to see Kate sitting out on the deck. She was soaking up the early sun, a mug of coffee balanced on her stomach. He leaped lightly onto the boat.

She shaded her eyes and smiled up at him. “Morning, Hero. Brady’s inside.”

“Morning, Kate. Thanks.”

The smell of chorizo and onions perfumed the cabin.

Brady looked over from his frying pan and grinned. “Hey. Making breakfast burritos. You want one?”

Hero fell back against the counter with a grunt. “Not sure. I’m a little pissed at you right now.”

Ignoring his scowl, Brady repeated the question. “Do you want a burrito or don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Brady nodded at the carton of eggs and small mixing bowl sitting on the counter. “Then crack a few more of those in there.”

Hero whisked the eggs, working hard to keep his irritation focused but it wasn’t easy when his stomach was rumbling and his mouth watering like mad. Sliding the bowl toward the cook, he resumed his brooding position against the counter.

Brady glanced over while turning the sausage and onions in the pan. “So what did I do?”

“You neglected to tell me Margarite has a daughter when you threw me to the barracuda.”

“Danica’s back?”

Hero gave him a slow serious nod. “Her name is Danica?”

“Mm hmm.” Hot oil spattered Brady’s hand and he jerked back. “Son of a bitch.” Lifting the pan, he turned down the heat then brought the burn to his mouth. “Nice girl.”

“She’s not a girl. She’s—” Hero trailed off when her image returned to him in exquisite detail.

“Beautiful.” Even he caught the hopeless reverence in his tone.

Brady’s eyebrow hitched upwards. “Oh yeah?”

Hero shook himself, feeling a little dazed and depressed all over again. “I’m screwed, man. I saw her and it was like a shot to the heart. Pow. You know what I’m saying?”

Brady snorted and nodded. “Oh yeah.” He cleared a space in the middle of the pan and poured the eggs into it, pushing and turning them frequently to cook them through. “I see your dilemma.”

Hero heaved a sorrowful sigh. “It’s worse than you think.”

“How so?”

“She busted me using Margarite’s private shower this morning.”

“And Margarite was—?” Brady left the question hanging there.

“Meeting a friend for breakfast.”

“Ah.”

“So her daughter—” Hero went on.

“Dani,” Brady supplied helpfully.

“Dani was stretched out on the unmade bed when I came out of the bathroom wearing a towel.”

Brady grimaced. “Ooo.”

“Tell me about it.” A pained expression on his face, Hero asked, “Ever see a conniption?”

Brady threw his head back and laughed. “I can only imagine.”

“If I’d known Margarite had a daughter like that, I never would have touched the woman.”

“Sorry, man. It didn’t even occur to me. When I think of Dani, I still see this cute little teeny-bopper running around the docks and down the beach, always underfoot, trying to score beer to impress her surfer friends.”

Hero chuckled at the thought. “I can’t even picture it.” Getting himself a cup of coffee from the pot, he sobered. “So how old would you say she is?”

Brady sprinkled cheese over the concoction in the pan, his brow furrowed as he considered the question. “She must be what…twenty-three? I know she finished college.”

Hero dropped his chin to his chest and squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. “College graduate.” He sighed in resignation. “It just gets better and better.”

“Wish I knew what to tell ya. Sorry to say, I don’t see this happening.”

“Me neither.” More than a little bummed, he reached into a cabinet for three plates. “How about that last meal?”

Brady’s eyebrows shot up. “Gallows humor? Not exactly your style.”

“It feels pretty over to me.”

“That’s the spirit.”

*Enjoy this rich girl-poor boy forbidden love story today.

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