And again he was barking up the wrong tree. Max had opened the door for his mother and sister and he burst into laughter when he caught Mick’s eyes. Then he slung an arm around my shoulders and guided me out the door.
As we neared the outer door, not taking his arm from around me, Max leaned down to put his mouth to my ear.
“Just in case I didn’t mention it, Duchess, not so sure about the truth comin’ out, what I am sure of is that I can trust you to take care of my sister.” I pulled my head back as I twisted my neck to look at him but I had no chance to speak because he stopped me and he finished with, “Thank you, baby.”
Then again before I could respond, he kissed me deep, with some tongue action but, although deep, the kiss was not long.
“Max!” Kami snapped when his head came up. “I need a drink.”
I looked in their direction to see Linda’s eyes were on me. “I think pasta bake is out. Can I treat you and your folks to a buffalo burger at The Mark?”
I glanced at Max then back to Linda.
Then I said, “They’d love that.”
* * * * *
I sat at on a stool at a high, round table at The Dog with a drunken Mom, Linda, Kami, Arlene and Jenna. Becca was our waitress.
At Arlene’s edict with Mom and Linda backing her up, Max had been quarantined across the room in what had been decreed (again, by Arlene) as the Guys’ Night Out Section of The Dog. He was playing pool with Brody and Steve and he was not to approach under threat of Arlene’s wrath.
Regardless of my roller coaster day and my current enforced separation from Max, seeing as I, too, was slightly inebriated; I’d been adventurous at The Mark, demanded to see a menu and ordered the chicken fried steak which was made with an actual steak and therefore was amazing; I followed that with a Mile Hi Mud Pie which was five layers of chocolate cake, separated by dreamy chocolate mousse and covered with chocolate ganache; Becca had reported that not only had Mindy seen the rape center’s counselor yesterday, she’d gone down there to visit her again that day, asking Bitsy to go with her (and Bitsy did, even with the funeral, she’d carved out time); and I was finding out that Kami was a lot more fun when she was fed a buffalo burger and was also drunk, therefore, I was feeling quite happy.
“You. Cannot. Be. Serious!” Arlene shouted and I looked at her, having been thinking about my evening, I hadn’t been paying attention and I didn’t know what she was shouting about. Then again Arlene, Mom and Linda had been shouting everything they said for about half an hour, mostly while Kami, Jenna and I giggled, unable to get a word in edgewise, so it wasn’t the first time I lost track.
“I. Am. Not!” Mom shouted back and I felt something, something warm and sweet and instinctively I looked to the pool tables and saw Max, Brody and Steve all looking at us.
Seeing Max looking so handsome standing across the room from me, holding a pool cue, its handle to the ground, I had an overwhelming urge and I didn’t try to fight it.
“Be back,” I muttered to Linda who was sitting beside me, I slipped off my stool and weaved my way through the bar to Max.
When I got to him, I wrapped both my arms around his middle, pressed my front to his side and tipped my head back to look at him as his arm slid around my shoulders.
“Hi,” I said softly.
He grinned down at me and remarked, “Babe, you’re breaking the invisible boundary between girls’ night out and guys’ night out.”
“I think Mom, Arlene and Linda are beyond enforcing the rules.”
I looked across the room to see Mom hanging by her fingers from the table, her torso and head thrown back, laughing. Arlene was slapping the table with the palm of her hand, laughing. Linda was leaned all the way over, her forehead to the table, laughing. And Kami and Jenna were staring at each other, also laughing.
I looked back at Max and pointed out the obvious, “I don’t think they even know I’m gone.”
Max glanced at the girls then his eyes came to me. “Doesn’t look like it.”
“You play pool?” Brody asked, coming up on my side and I looked at him without letting Max go.
“No,” I answered.
“Wanna learn?” Brody enquired on a smile.
“I’m beyond retaining new skills,” I told him and Max’s arm around my shoulders gave me a squeeze so I looked back to him.
“You smashed?”
“No,” and it wasn’t a lie therefore I explained while pressing closer, “just having a good night.”
“You’re up, Brody,” Steve called then his eyes came to me. “Since the seal’s been broken, gonna check on Nellie, make certain she doesn’t fall off her stool.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I advised and heard Max chuckle as I saw Steve smile and move away.
“You wanna get us another round?” Brody suggested, eyeing the pool table to line up his next shot.
“Yeah,” Max answered and then moved.
I was forced to drop an arm to move with him and we walked with our arms around each other to the heaving bar. Max pushed in, taking me with him then lifted his chin to the bartender and it was then I saw Harry sitting alone at the opposite end of the bar looking more than a little unhappy and staring into an amber beverage that appeared to have been poured neat.
“Harry drinks bourbon when he’s nursin’ a bad mood,” Max muttered, likely reading my expression.
The bartender came to us and Max ordered four beers.
I studied Harry then turned into Max’s body and wrapped my other arm around him too. “I’ll go and keep him company.”
Max looked down at me. “I thought you were keepin’ me company.”
“You have company,” I tipped my head to Brody at the pool table, “Harry doesn’t.”
Max bent his neck so his face was closer to mine before he told me, “Brody’s been my best friend for a long time, honey, and it’s good havin’ him home. Still, prefer your company.”
This made me feel nice, very nice and, again, I pressed closer but I pointed out, “I can’t do locker room talk.”
“Not that I ever do locker room talk but if I did, I wouldn’t do it with your Stepdad.”
I nodded my indication that I thought this was wise. “Then it’s probably not good that I’m around, seeing as you won’t be able to complain about my foibles and neither can Steve about Mom’s.”
“Foibles?”
“Faults, bad habits.”
“Tellin’ you a man secret, babe, but men aren’t like women. We get together, we don’t bitch. We just drink and, if we talk at all, we talk about the game.” I smiled at him and he went on, “We did bitch though, again, not sure I’d share my thoughts on your faults with Steve.”
My happy mood evaporated, my body got tense and my eyes narrowed. “So you think I have them?”
He grinned. “Baby, you set yourself up for that one.”
“Okay, what are they then?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Your ass looks too good in those cords.”
I blinked for this was not what I expected as a response.
My “attitude”, yes. My habit of trying to stop a discussion when I was losing an argument, definitely. My inability to say no to dessert, probably.
My bottom in my cords, no.
So I asked, “Sorry?”
“You walked across the room and practically every guy you passed looked at your ass. Hell, you’re standin’ here pressed up to me and still every guy who passes is lookin’ at your ass.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see if this claim was true. Max’s body started shaking with laughter then he pulled slightly away to get out his wallet.
“You’re lying,” I accused.
“Nope,” he said, flipping his wallet open and taking his arm from my shoulders to pull out some bills so I dropped my arms.
“Well, if that’s true, it’s not my fault.”
“Gotta put some meat on you, Duchess. No one’s lookin’ at Kami’s ass,” Max lifted his chin t
o the bartender to keep the change, flipped his wallet closed and shoved it in his pocket.
“She’s sitting down.”
“They were checkin’ you out when you were sittin’ down too.”
“My behind?”
He looked at me and stated, “Nope, your hair, face and, sometimes, tits.”
I gasped then breathed, “They were not.”
He grinned. “Babe, they were.”
“You’re full of it.”
He shook his head and his eyes went over my shoulder then he grabbed two of the beer bottles from the bar and handed them to a passing Steve who was making his way back to the pool table. Steve smiled at me but said no more before he moved off to join Brody.
Max handed me a beer and took the other one. Then his arm slid around my waist and he pulled me to his front.
“Why d’you find that hard to believe?”
I explained it to him, “They’re just looking at me because they’re curious because I’m with you.”
“Maybe that’s why some of the women are lookin’ at you. The men are lookin’ at you because you got a pretty face, great hair and nice tits.”
“Max!” I snapped.
“It’s true.”
“You just like me.”
He shook his head and his arm got tighter. “Shockin’, Nina Sheridan fishin’ for compliments.”
His comment annoyed me for it was patently untrue therefore I pulled back from his arm but it just got tighter so I gave up and snapped, “I’m not doing that.”
He was grinning again before he remarked, “Christ, you go from sweet to pissed faster ‘n lightnin’.”
“Only because five minutes ago I was in the mood to be sweet then you were annoying.”
His brows went up. “Tellin’ you you’re hot is annoying?”
“Telling me all the guys are checking me out when they aren’t is annoying.”
“Babe.”
“Max.”
We seemed to be at a stalemate then he sighed.
Then he said, “I’ll tell you somethin’, whether you believe they’re lookin’ or not, you gotta know, I don’t care they look. They can only guess what that ass, tits and hair promises but I know.”
I rolled my eyes even though my stomach pitched in a good way. Max started laughing and I hoped, since I knew now that he could read my face, that what my stomach did wasn’t written there.
“I’m going to go talk to Harry now,” I informed him when he’d controlled his amusement.
“Yeah, you can do that after you kiss me.”
I decided to give in and avoid the inevitable argument so I leaned up, placed a hand on his bicep and touched my mouth to his. Then I pulled back several inches but Max jerked me forward again so I was plastered to him.
“That’s a kiss?” he asked.
“Um… yes,” I answered surprised to find myself plastered against him.
“Honey, not even close.”
My eyes got wide as I understood his meaning. “I’m not making out with you in a bar.”
“Why not?”
“Why?”
His face again dipped closer. “Because, first, I want you to. And second, whether you believe it or not, guys are checkin’ you out and that’d be me stakin’ my claim.”
“Staking your claim?”
“It’s a guy thing.”
“It’s a Macho Mountain Man thing.”
“Same thing.”
“You’re impossible.”
“You gonna kiss me or what?”
“If I don’t, you’re just going to kiss me anyway, aren’t you?”
Again, he gave me a grin. “You finally got that?”
“Impossible,” I muttered.
“Kiss me, Duchess.”
With nothing for it, I did with (possibly) my mother watching, his mother watching and my stepdad watching. Not to mention his sister, best friend, Arlene and half of Gnaw Bone. However, when he released my mouth, I didn’t have it in me to care.
“See you’re back to sweet,” he muttered, his eyes moving over my face.
“You’re a good kisser,” I muttered back.
His forehead touched mine before he said words that changed my world.
“You’re better,” he whispered, I melted deeper into him and he finished. “Best I ever had and I mean that with everything you do with your mouth, even when you’re usin’ it to tell me I’m annoying.”
My arms, which had gone around him during our kiss, tightened in a spasm.
“Really?” I breathed.
“Absolutely.” He was still whispering.
Suddenly I felt like crying and to hide it I tipped my chin down and tried to pull away.
Unfortunately during our kiss, Max’s arms had both gone around me too so this effort was moot.
“Duchess?” he called and when I continued to avoid his eyes, one of his arms kept me locked to him while his other hand came to my chin and forced me to meet his gaze. When his caught mine, he murmured, “What is it, baby?”
What it was was a lot, including the fact that maybe, just maybe, I was going to be special in some way to him too.
And that meant the world to me.
I didn’t tell him that, instead, I said, “That was just a nice thing to say.”
“I like that,” he replied as his hand left my chin and curled around my neck.
I blinked in confusion then I asked, “You like what?”
“I like that you don’t believe guys are checkin’ you out, you won’t accept that compliment, but you get soft when I tell you I like somethin’ you do for me.”
I bit my lip and tried to look away but Max’s hand at my neck tensed so I kept my eyes on his and demanded, “Stop being nice.”
He grinned yet again and his fingers gave me a squeeze. “Duchess, you best get used to that. I know you haven’t had a lot of experience with it but you should know, I intend to be nice to you on a regular basis.”
“Now you’re being nicer,” I informed him and it came out as an accusation.
“Yeah, babe, like I said, you better get used to it.”
I wasn’t sure that was possible. However, I was sure that I wouldn’t mind trying.
I decided to change the subject. “Can I talk to Harry now?”
He looked at Harry and replied, “Yeah.”
“Max?” I called and he looked back at me, I got up on my toes to get close and I whispered, “You’re the best I’ve ever had too, not just with your mouth, with everything. And when I say that, I mean everything.”
Then before I could witness his full reaction for what I saw with his face softening but his eyes getting dark and intense was enough, I pulled free from his arms and hurried to Harry.
Told you that you were selling yourself short, Charlie said in my head.
Oh be quiet, I said back.
I walked along the bar toward Harry, not looking back at Max and I felt my mouth smiling slightly but inside I was smiling a whole lot bigger.
I noticed that Harry was being given a wide berth. Both of the stools beside him were empty and no one was standing close.
I slid on a stool next to him, his neck twisted so he could look at me and I realized why he was being avoided. His eyes were red-rimmed with drink and maybe sleepless nights for his face was haggard and, up close, he looked even less happy.
“Hi, Harry,” I said softly.
“Nina,” he muttered and looked back down at his drink.
“You doing okay?”
“Nope,” he answered instantly then put the glass to his lips and threw back the contents in one gulp.
When he dropped his hand, the bottom of the glass crashed against the bar and I jumped.
Suddenly, and loudly, he shouted, “Jake!”
The bartender’s eyes came to Harry and Harry rapped his glass against the bar indicating he wanted another. Jake nodded and turned to the bottles of liquor behind him.
“Harry –” I started.
He cut me off. “Heard you’re movin’ to town.”
“Um… yes,” I affirmed.
“Figures,” he muttered strangely and Jake was there.
I watched him pour bourbon into Harry’s glass, Harry’s hand still wrapped around it and I looked up at Jake to see his eyes come to me. I shook my head slightly. He nodded his indicating he understood.
“Dude, you want another one after this, you gotta give me your keys,” Jake told Harry.
Without hesitation Harry reached into his jeans pocket, yanked out his keys and slapped them on the bar. Jake snatched them up and walked away. Harry took a sip of bourbon.
“Max and I’ll take you home.” I offered and Harry’s bloodshot eyes came to me.
“You know, I don’t get it,” he stated.
“Get what?” I asked.
He looked from my face to my lap then up again. “You live in fuckin’ England. England,” he spat out his last word and I jumped again, the venom in his tone surprising me. “You come to town, drive straight fuckin’ through, straight to Max’s. Now you’re sittin’ with his Ma and his sister at The Dog, laughin’ and bein’ loud. Then you’re pressin’ up tight to Max and makin’ out with him. I mean, what is that?”
I didn’t know where he was going with this or why he was even talking about it or, most of all, why he seemed so angry about it, so gently I said, “Harry, I don’t understand.”
“It’s just him,” Harry told me. “Been that way as long’s I can remember,” Harry’s eyes went across the bar to Max and his unhappy face went tight, “always.”
I was getting uncomfortable with the conversation and not knowing what to say I watched him take another sip.
“Harry, maybe –” I began but Harry looked back to me and what he said shut me up.
“Knew Anna,” he informed me, “knew her for forever. She was a sweet little thing. Wasn’t pretty though. Sweet as hell, always. Funny, Jesus, so fuckin’ funny. But not pretty.”
I stared at him, having seen pictures of Anna I couldn’t believe he didn’t think she was pretty. She was beautiful.
Harry continued, “Then, she got pretty. Like the ugly duckling story, in high school, she turns into a swan. She’d had a crush on Max for fuckin’ years. Years. He didn’t notice her, didn’t know she fuckin’ existed until she got pretty. Then he noticed her all right. Everyone did.”
The Gamble Page 50
