SLOW PLAY (7-Stud Club #4) - Christie Ridgway Page 0,42
nothing to talk about.” One and done.
She opened her mouth, closed it. Then she turned toward the coffeepot to top off her mug. “Okay. So how about we get into a discussion about me then?”
“You?”
“Yeah. I didn’t have anyone leaving my place this morning and I didn’t leave anyone else’s either. My life needs something.”
“You could get a dog. That’s what I’m thinking about.” So he didn’t get in the habit of conversing with a fake one.
“I want something of the more humanoid variety.”
Tracy was a pediatric nurse, which meant she had skills, empathy, and a very busy schedule. He couldn’t remember the last time she had someone special—well, yeah, he could remember it, and to think she was finally ready for a new relationship upped his mood. “That’s great, Trace. Do you have anyone in mind? Make Mom happy and tell me it’s a doctor.”
Her eyes rolled. “As if I’d date a doctor. They give it all at work and rumor is they come home and dive into journals as if their patients’ lives depend upon it.”
He blinked. “Might their patients’ lives depend upon it? Being up on the latest medical info seems like a good thing.”
Tracy waved that away. “I was wondering about Raf.”
“Raf?”
“Your friend Rafael, of course. Sure, I’m four years older than him, but now that he’s not twelve, I noticed he’s turned out very handsome and it wouldn’t be illegal or immoral.”
“Where’d you see Raf?”
“I ran into him leaving the hospital. He was on his way in to check on one of his workers who’d cut his hand on the job.”
“Ah.” Work and poker night were probably the only times Raf wasn’t looking at women, looking for women, schmoozing a woman. Sometimes his half brother and best friend’s woman. “Look. Raf’s—”
“Incredibly handsome. That smile, the glossy black hair, the physique…how does he keep himself so muscle-y?”
He eyed his sister. “I don’t think he’s much interested in settling down.”
“I’m not either!” Tracy said. “I want to have fun. Date a lot. Date around. And I have to start somewhere. Will you give him a call?”
“I don’t want to date him.”
“I mean to feel him out on the subject. Maybe he draws the line at an older woman.”
“Raf draws no line,” he muttered.
“Great.” She set down her mug. “Where do you keep your car-washing rags?”
“I really don’t think Raf is a good option for you. Neither is this notion of dating a lot and dating around.” He folded his arms over his chest. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“We’ve got to lighten up, little bro.”
“We? Why are you bringing me into this?”
“I saw the expression on your face when I mentioned your night companion.”
He frowned. “I told you I don’t want to talk about Harper.”
“There it is.” She pointed at him. “That’s the expression I’m talking about.”
Disgusted, he turned away from her. “For God’s sake.”
“Well, you should look happy after enjoying time with a night companion,” she said, following him as he stalked toward the door to the garage. “Not like someone stole Teddy Bear Brown.”
He shot her a glance over his shoulder. “That’s low, Trace, to bring up Teddy Bear Brown. I never got over his untimely death when Dad ran over him in the driveway. I cried myself to sleep every night from the ages of four to five.”
“You never got over Harper Hill.”
The sound of the garage door opening fortunately covered his growl.
“I’m just saying that you shouldn’t fritter away this second chance with her,” Tracy continued. “You two were perfect together.”
“Right.” He dug out a bucket and passed her a handful of rags. “So perfect, she left town and it took another six years for her to talk to me again.”
“And less than six days for her to sleep with you,” Tracy pointed out.
“It’s not going to happen again.” One and done.
“But Mad—”
“I’m trying to recall why I like you. Or if I’ve ever liked you. Or how to wash a car,” he warned.
“All this time, you’ve been traumatized by her leaving.”
“Traumatized? No.” He moved out of the garage to uncoil the hose.
“Before she left, did you ever tell her how you felt?”
Mad stared at his sister. “Are you expecting me to answer that?”
“You guys always seemed so happy together.”
“I think we were, okay? But it was first love, Trace, not a forever thing.”
“The L-word.” She danced closer to him. “I think that’s the only time I’ve heard you say it. The Kelly men are notoriously closemouthed about their feelings.”