Page 137 of Kage

“So what? He deserves all the treats he can get.”

Laughing, I watched Tank gobble it up.

“Yeah, he does.” Not like I didn’t spoil him rotten. The fur bucket had me wrapped around his huge paw.

Jarvis grabbed a towel, acting like he needed to wipe the bar. “So, how are things?”

“Pretty good.” It was my standard answer these days when I was anything but okay. I’d slumped into more of a bad mood over the last few months.

“I see you’re still in town.” He lifted his eyebrows. He knew I was staying. He’d been out to the house more than once.

“Yeah, think I’ll stay a while.” He also knew perfectly good and well I had no intention of selling. I’d finally realized I wasn’t certain where the hell I’d go.

“Good to hear.”

I watched as he wiped the same spot three times. “Just fucking say it.”

“What?”

“Whatever it is you’re going to say. You’re chomping at the bit.”

“Fine. I will.” He tossed the towel and leaned over the bar. “Why the hell haven’t you tried to contact that woman? You know, the one you keep pining away for.”

“I don’t have her number.”

“Get your fucking head out of your ass. You’re a goddamn Navy SEAL. You can find her number.”

I took a long pull of the cold brew, giving him an evil look. “I’m not a SEAL any longer. Remember?” I’d tried to ignore Gray, but we’d talked a couple of times, the conversations allowing me to express my continued anger while discovering he’d really been kept in the dark. That didn’t mean I was accepting of how everything had gone down.

“You’re a fucking hard-ass, and you know it. Fine. Leave her a message on Facebook or drop a comment on Instagram.”

I faked choking. “You understand social media? I thought you were too old.”

“Well, hell, yes. My wife encouraged me.” He laughed. “I’m serious. You need to contact Juliette.”

“She wants nothing to do with me. She made that perfectly clear.”

“You don’t know shit about women. Do ya, son?”

“Meaning what?”

His huff was followed by him jerking a glass from under the bar, pouring himself a shot of whiskey. “They want you to fawn over them. She needs to know you care about her. She’s waiting for you to do that.”

“You don’t know Juliette.”

He threw back the shot and wiped his mouth with his forearm. “I know the way you two looked at each other. I know exactly what you were thinking when you thought you’d lost her. There wouldn’t have been a building left in Durango if something had happened to her. You’d have burned them all down. And the swoon on her face when you saved her, whew. The shit romance novels are made of. Don’t you dare go teasing me. My wife has opened up my world and our sex life because of some pretty spicy reads.”

I shrank back, shielding my eyes on purpose. “TMI, buddy. TMI.”

We both laughed. “I’m just saying, make contact with her. She’s still posting, but not as often. I think the shit with her dad really took a toll on her.”

“Which I feel guilty for.”

“Like you do that shit you’re holding from being overseas?”

I exhaled. I’d thought about Maddox several times over the last few months but hadn’t found the need or the courage to contact him. Maybe I was a fucking hypocrite. Juliette’s words flowed into my mind. She thought she knew everything about me and what I needed. Bullshit. “Let it drop.”

Jarvis shook his head. “I’m just suggesting you have nothing to lose if you say hi. Nothing at all. Except maybe your goddamn surly attitude.”

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