“You’ll find a good one. He might not be in a bar or a club, but he’s out there somewhere, babe.”
“It’s so nice to know one of us still believes that. Now, what happened between you two other than the obvious?”
Blue shrugged and found her place against Neil’s chest again. “I left. He was asleep, and I left in the middle of the night. Well, it was more like five in the morning, but still…”
“Oh my God, B. You left him sleeping? Did you at least leave a note?”
“No. I got dressed and walked out. I was in no shape to… I shouldn’t have let things progress to that point. I was sad and feeling alone, and he walked in. We started talking while he waited for his beer, and I liked it. I liked him. He made me laugh, and for a while, he made me forget my sadness.”
Neil clucked his tongue. “Bad form not to leave a note saying good-bye. You’d have kicked my ass across three counties if I did something like that. I take it neither of you knew the other was going to be here today?”
“No. I think if he’d known it was me, he wouldn’t have come at all, friend request or not.”
“Friend? Who?” he asked, his voice excited and full of nosy curiosity.
“He’s a friend of Decker’s, and when he got to town, Rosie asked if he’d be interested in taking a look at the wiring in the big house.”
“Damn, it’s a small world.”
“No shit. I think he probably wishes it was a whole lot larger. Anyway, I apologized to him right before you showed up.”
“What did he say?”
“That it didn’t matter.”
“Ouch. Men can be so cruel. You believe him?”
Blue sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t think he meant it, but I probably deserved to hear the words.”
“How do you know he didn’t mean it?”
“Everything he feels is in his eyes. I noticed that when I first met him. Every emotion registers there. He tried to be cold and heartless, but he couldn’t. His words were perfectly unfriendly, but his eyes said something completely different.”
Neil squeezed her shoulder. “Are you sure? Are you sure you didn’t just imagine it or hope he didn’t mean it?”
Blue poked him lightly in the ribs. “I’m not the fanciful, romantic one, Neil. That’s you.”
“So, he’s hurt?”
“I honestly don’t know what he is other than angry.”
“Five years is a long time to be angry at someone, B. Especially a one-night stand, unless it was just that exceptional.”
“Unless the one-night stand could have been more had one of the participants not left like a thief in the night.”
“Well, there is that. He wanted more?”
Blue nodded and rubbed the soft cotton of Neil’s shirt between her fingers. She used to rub satin ribbon between her fingers as a child. It was something she did when unpleasant things were going on around her. She still did it when she was upset, but whether out of habit or because it calmed her, she really couldn’t say. “It’s silly, but… He wanted breakfast. Before he fell asleep, we were laying there, and he was talking about having breakfast. He wanted to go to the diner down the street from his hotel was the next morning.”
“That’s not silly. It’s very sweet. He obviously liked you and you… What are you going to do now?”
“Beats the hell out of me. He said he’d let me know Monday if he still wants the job on the house, so I guess I’ll be waiting until then and going through my weekend as I normally would.”
She didn’t want to do that, knowing Cort was so close. No, she wanted to do what she’d done before—run.
She sighed and shifted a bit against Neil. She wasn’t being completely honest with herself either. What she really wanted was to see Cort again, try to talk to him. She knew the night they’d met that she was in no shape to get involved. Hell, she’d never been in any shape to get seriously involved with anyone but especially not then. She was well and truly alone in the world, and she’d been scared shitless.
Now, though, years later, she was stronger, making her own way, her own name, and aside from dipping into the family trust to make all the upgrades and get through the red tape to make her aunt’s dream come true, she was making her own money.
Too bad she hadn’t had a job this weekend that took her away from here. She sat up on the edge of the cushion. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Coffee. I’ve only had two cups today and could sure use another.”
“How about I make us an iced coffee to take up to the house? I made some rum cake.”
“Bad girl, tempting me with alcoholic cake. You know I can’t say no.” They got up from the couch, and Blue led the way into the kitchen. “So, he’ll be at Rosie’s cook-out, wouldn’t you think?”
“I suppose so. I didn’t even think about that.”
“You know, it’s been a few months since I’ve seen Rosie, and I have yet to meet her new man. We should go, make an appearance.”
“I don’t know, Neil. Maybe I should just leave well enough alone. Let him have his anger or whatever it is.”
“But you said his eyes changed. If you really believe that, if you really believe he didn’t mean what he said, then you have to try. At least, that’s what you always tell me.”
“Yeah, and then you get your heart broken and come crying to me.”
“As if you care. The point is, if you want another shot, even if it’s only just another one-night stand, you’re going to have to make the first move.”
“Hey. I’m the one who does the counseling and advice giving. You’re the one who’s supposed to ignore it. That’s the way this friendship works.” Neil stuck his tongue out at her, and Blue simply laughed. She opened the fridge and took out the pitcher of her latest addiction: coldbrew coffee. “You’re going to love this. It’s like nothing else you’ve had coffee wise, and you’re just going to love me for turning you on to it.”
“I’m sure I will. I’ve never not loved anything you’ve made. Now stop changing the subject.”
“Fine. What if he walks out on me? Does to me what I did to him?” She couldn’t express how much she hated the vulnerability in she heard in her voice, that she felt in every beat of her heart.
“Would you deserve any less?”
“Ouch.” Valid question or not, it still sucker punched her. “No, but two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“You could always explain to him why you left, and maybe that would keep him from doing you like that.”
“I don’t know why I left, Neil,” she hedged.
“Sure you do. It’s why you’ve always left. It’s why relationships never work out for you. It’s why you like to play, like to pose, like your tattoos, like your freedom to do as you wish. If you flit through, no one can get close enough to leave you.”
Blue shot him a sidelong glance, a retort on the tip of her tongue, but she bit it back. It was time to change the subject. “Do you want caramel or vanilla?”
“Chicken shit.”
“Undoubtedly,” she conceded. “But that still doesn’t answer my question. Caramel or vanilla?”
“Vanilla.” Neil opened the cabinet beside the fridge and grabbed two glasses. “We need to go to Rosie’s barbeque.”
Blue looked up, suspicions starting to form in her head. “How did you learn about that?”
“She told me.”
He was still oblivious to the clicking of things in her mind. Son. Of. A. Bitch. “When?” She planted her hands flat on the counter and looked down at the smooth surface.
“When I stopped by the diner earlier on my way out here.”
“I thought you said it had been months since you’d seen her.”
“Uh… It has. Until today.”
She was still staring down at the countertop. “What are you up to?”
“What? Nothing. I just got here, remember. I’m just now being filled on everything.”
Blue didn’t believe him. They were up
to something, he and Rosie. “You’re lying to me. You two are up to something.”
“I swear, B. We—”
“Don’t. Not another word. He’ll be there, and so will I. This is why Rosie’s having the barbecue today. It’s because of him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t do it on a day she’s been working. This is a set-up. I’m not working out of town this weekend, so y’all figure it’s a great time to set poor little Blue up with the hot sexy electrician. Dammit, Neil.”
“Hey, we didn’t know y’all had history,” he offered in his defense, though there wasn’t a shred of conviction in his voice.
“Would itT not the point. The point is he’ll hate seeing you with me because he doesn’t know I’m gay.”
“I’m not interested in playing games, Neil. I don’t think he would be either.”
“Who said anything about playing games? We’re two friends going to a barbeque at another friend’s house. If a man who has the hots for you, be they irritating to him or not, is going to be there, well, he’ll just have to deal with it. Besides, Rosie says that her new man is incredible with a spatula and a grill, and you know I never turn down free food.”
Blue rolled her eyes up and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes, I know.”
“This guy makes you feel things, B. Don’t be afraid of that.”
Her friends had the best of intentions. She knew that and loved them for it but poor Cort… He wasn’t going to know about this ahead of time she did. He was going to be blindsided by the set-up.
She turned back to busying herself with the iced coffees. She measured out the vanilla syrup into one glass and caramel syrup into another. “You’re not playing by the rules of our friendship, Neil,” she said with no malice or heat behind her words, “There’s an ice tray in the freezer with cubes made from coffee. Get that out and put those cubes in the glasses.”
“So we’re going?”
“I have to take the cake. I guess I know why she was twisting my arm about it.”
“Great.”
“Now can we talk about why you’re here? Or is this is? The set-up?”
Neil handed the glasses back and watched as Blue poured coffee over the cubes. “No actually, that’s not why I’m here, but my reason isn’t nearly as interesting as your story has suddenly become.”
“I need some half and half, please. It’s in the door of the refrigerator.” When Neil got it out and handed it over, she poured a quarter cup into a measuring glass and poured it on top of each of the coffees. She took a long handled spoon and stirred them to incorporate all the syrup with the coffee and cream.
“You sure I’m going to like that?”
Blue handed a glass to Neil, along with a straw. “You’re going to love it. I swear. I saw the recipe online and tried it one day just for something different. Sip slowly, though. It packs a powerful jolt.”
“But I like powerful jolts,” Neil teased but did as she’d said, taking two slow sips.
She watched the way his eyes widened. “Told you.”
“Holy shit, B. That’s… Wow. I think I might just move in now.”
“The offer is always open, babe, you know that.”
“I know, but I’m not going to find Mr. Right here in the sticks.”
“You don’t know that. Rosie did.” She wasn’t going to add that maybe she had too…or rather a second chance with Mr. Right here in the sticks.
“Blue Ridge isn’t exactly crawling with gay men. I think I’m the only one who’s ever even visited here.”
Blue took a sip of her own coffee and smiled as the sugar and caffeine started to hit her system. “C’mon. Let me ply you with a piece of rum cake. Maybe that’ll loosen your tongue to explain to me why you’re here.” She tugged his arm and led him back out through the living room to the front door.
“What did your man think of your tattoo pictures?”
“At first or just before he left?”
“Different reactions?”
“He was fascinated by them on one hand and on the other he was really upset about them. Told me they shouldn’t be hanging up for just anyone to see, especially that one.” She pointed to the one that had sent Cort into a tailspin of reaction.
“Did you explain that one to him?”
“No. He wouldn’t have listened. He didn’t ask for one either. He just… He just didn’t like how exposed I am in that shot.”
“Such a prude. It’s beautiful.”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’m quite proud of it myself.”
“As well you should be. However, I didn’t tell him you were the one who took it. He might have punched you had he known when he opened the door, gay or not. Anyway, it’s a moot point, just as you and Rosie trying to set us up is.”
Neil shook his head. “Any man in your life other than him is not going to be a moot point. I may be gay, but I can tell when a man has it bad for a woman just as I can tell when one has it bad for another man. And—”he kissed the tip of her nose“—and, I’ve always been gay. I just… You helped me fully realize and accept it.”
Blue groaned. “Oh that is so not a ringing endorsement for a woman. You haven’t been telling people that, have you? You can’t go around telling anyone that.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, I do, and you still can’t go around saying things like that. It’ll make me sound like a horrid lover.”
“You’re not, though.”
“Maybe not, but if you tell them I helped you realize you were gay…”
“Okay, okay. I get your point.” Neil grinned. “He seems a bit uptight. Was he that way when you were with him?”
“I don’t think so. I think it’s a front, at least with me. I don’t know, though.”
“But you hope to find out?”
“Yep. I do.” She took his arm again and steered him out the door and in the direction of the large plantation house. “Now, stop changing the subject around to me and tell me what happened. Who broke your heart and sent you running up here?”
…
“Haven’t you perfected that damn recipe yet?” Cort asked just before tilting the beer bottle up and taking a long swallow. It was good to be with Decker and Buck again. It was good to be with the women who had stolen his friends’ hearts and weren’t looking to latch onto his. It was good to be away from Blue. Good God, it was good to be away from her. She had him all twisted up in knots, and that just wasn’t going to work for him. He was done obsessing about her.
The more he thought about it, the more he agreed with his first assessment of her. She was everything he wanted, at least the outside of her was. The image of her tight, curvy body, her expressive, soulful eyes, her hair that simply begged to be pulled, her tattoos… Shit. None of his lovers had ever had tattoos, and he wanted to see each and every one Blue had, up close and personal. He wanted to trace them with his fingers, with his tongue, cover them in his come and smear it into them.
But he couldn’t. He didn’t need to be wanting her. The sparks might still be there between them, but all these years later, what she did and with whom was none of his business. He didn’t care.
Right? Right.
“Yet?”
Cort looked over at Rosie, who’d asked, then nodded. “He’s been working on that recipe for more years than I’ve known him.”
“It’s the best burger I’ve ever had so whatever he’s perfected, I know what he can do if he ever gets tired of roofing.”
A bark of laughter sounded from the direction of the grill. “I’ll happily take up the grill duties at the diner, but you know my conditions.”
A look passed between the two lovers and Cort knew he had to ask. “What conditions?”
“New uniforms,” they both answered at the same time.
Maybe he shouldn’t have asked. “Something wrong with the current ones?”
“They keep her too covered up.”
Rosie glowered at Decker, but Cort caught the glimmer in her eyes.
They had a special chemistry. Cort couldn’t deny the twist of envy filling his gut. He wanted to ignore it, but he couldn’t do that either. He wanted that, what they shared.
Eventually.
At some point.
But not with Blue.
And if he chose to ignore the voice in his head screaming that he was a liar, well, that was his prerogative.
“I can’t go around naked, Decker.”
“I didn’t say you had to be naked.”
“Daisy Dukes and halter tops are close enough.”
“I didn’t say you had to wear Daisy Dukes.”
“No, you said I should serve breakfast in my bras and panties.”
“No. I said when you’re in the kitchen with me, you should only be in your bra and panties.” Decker winked, and Rosie stuck her tongue out at him.
“There’s an open… Oh never mind. We’re not changing uniforms.”
“Then I’m not going to work for you.”
The back-and-forth banter was quite telling for Cort. His buddy Decker had it bad. He’d noticed the same thing about Buck and Caroline the night before. How his friends had gotten so damn lucky, he’d never know. He wouldn’t deny his happiness for them, though. He couldn’t think of two men more deserving of that kind of love.
“Good.”
“Great.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.” Rosie stood and went inside with Decker’s gaze following her every move. It was few minutes before he turned his attention back to the task at hand.
The silence that ensued made Cort feel uncomfortable. He didn’t like being left with his own thoughts for too long. He got crazy notions about settling down and opting for a steady, long-term relationship with just one woman and the wouldn’t-it-be-nice scenarios. Nope. Nothing good ever came from those kinds of thoughts. He was better off if his mind or hands or preferably both were occupied with either eating, working, or working on eating a woman.
That particular train of thought led straight to mental images of Blue stretched out on a bed, a waist cincher wrapped tight around her middle, the curves of her hips and thighs framed to absolute perfection, and his mouth buried between her legs, his tongue inside her, and her moans filling the empty spaces around them.
Forever in Blue Jeans Page 3
