on forever. My cock reminded me that it couldn’t. If I didn’t stop this kiss, I knew where it would head. To a place I’d been before, a place where I wanted more than anything to stay forever….
Still, I didn’t stop the kiss.
I physically could not.
I didn’t have to. Marjorie pushed hard at my chest, causing the suction of our mouths to break.
Her face was red and swollen with tears, the whites of her beautiful eyes bloodshot, her salty lips swollen from the kiss I’d given her.
She’d never looked more beautiful.
I sat like a zombie, no words coming to me. All I wanted in the world was to finish the kiss, to take it to its ultimate conclusion.
“You’re not playing fair,” she said solemnly.
What could I say? She was right.
“I’m going home.” She turned away.
My hand automatically reached out to stop her.
She looked over her shoulder. “Don’t.”
I dropped my arms to my side. Then I watched her walk away from me, loathing myself for hurting her again.
After dinner, I drove to Grand Junction to meet Joe at the dive bar. He hadn’t arrived yet, and I was sorry to see that Heidi—who I’d nearly had a one-nighter with—was working.
“Hey, Bob,” she said.
I waved and took a seat at the bar to avoid her.
The elderly man named Mike sat at the other end of the bar. I waved to him as well. I didn’t think it was an invitation to get off his stool and come talk to me, but apparently he disagreed.
“Good to see you. Bryce, is it?”
“Yeah. I’m just waiting for Joe.”
“I don’t mean to get too personal on you, Bryce, but you kind of look like you just lost your best friend.”
“Not unless Joe doesn’t show up. He’s been my best friend for pretty much my whole life.”
“Woman trouble, then?”
If you only knew. I didn’t say anything.
“Heidi there seems to know you. Bob.”
“Nothing happened between Heidi and me.”
“Did I say it did?”
Joe had described Mike to me as a kind of guardian angel to the Steel brothers. Frankly, I didn’t see it. In fact, he was being a pain in my ass. But Joe liked him, so I wouldn’t be rude.
“She calls me Bob because—”
“I didn’t ask for any explanation.”
“No, you didn’t. Let me get your drink.” I signaled the bartender. “I’ll have a bourbon, and get my friend here whatever he’s having.”
“Obliged,” Mike said. “Sorry if I got a little personal there.”
“It’s okay.”
“None of my business, but something is definitely bothering you.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
What a damned, damned lie. I couldn’t handle anything. I couldn’t handle what my father had been. What I might become because of him. And I sure as hell couldn’t handle Marjorie Steel.
Joe walked in then, and not for the first time, I thought about what my best friend would do to me if he knew what had happened between his baby sister and me.
“Bryce,” he said. “And Mike. Good to see you.”
“Your friend here just got me a drink,” Mike said. “I’ll drink it at the other end of the bar. I get the feeling he needs to talk. I think it’s a woman thing.”
After Mike moved away, Joe said, “A woman thing?”
Damn. Yeah, partially. Nothing I could tell the older brother of the woman, though.
“Nah. He’s wrong. I’m just a mess about all this shit.”
Joe looked at me, his eyes serious. “What did you tell him?”
“Nothing. Why would you think I’d divulge anything we talked about?”
“Sorry, man. You know I trust you implicitly. I’m just so fucking on edge.”
“I hear you. Did you contact the Spider?”
He nodded. “Now we wait.”
“How long?”
“He didn’t say.”
“We’re kind of in a hurry here, Joe.”
“You think I don’t know that? I can’t sleep. I’ve got a pregnant wife at home who I can’t share this with for many reasons. It’s killing me.”
“I know. Sorry.”
“We’ve got to keep cool,” he said. “We can’t start fighting with each other, Bryce.”
I nodded. He was right.
Joe ordered a drink, and we sat, silent, for a few moments. I nursed the rotgut bourbon slowly. It was every bit as harsh as I recalled. I was pretty sure it was leaving a trail of ashes down my esophagus.
“Hey, Bob.” Heidi walked to the bar and laid her hand on my shoulder. “Len, I need two raspberry margaritas and an amaretto sour.”
“What the—”
Heidi laughed raucously. “Len, you know I’m joshing you. A rye and two Scotches.”
Len poured the drinks, and Heidi ambled away.
“Bob?” Joe said to me.
“Don’t ask.”
“You and her?”
“No. Well…almost. But no.”
“I’ve