Page 46 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
“Do you not date? I thought you went outwith that guy a while back.” The fishhook twisted in his gut to thepoint he lifted a hand, rubbing knuckles against his hard sternum.“I know Bane didn’t like him, but if you did…?”
“I went on one date.” Back to him, sherearranged the pans on the stovetop. “My first date.”
Sour spit pooled in his mouth, and he wasglad she couldn’t see his expression.
“My only one.”
“What was wrong with him?” Blood pounded inhis head as his jaw clenched tightly. He didn’t try and examine hisreaction this time, instead focused on listening for her answer incase there was an asshole in town who needed the shit beaten out ofhim.
Marian shook her head, the braided tail ofhair brushing her shoulders.
“No, honey.” Looking away, he stared out thewindow as he tried to slow his racing thoughts. Hewanted—needed—her to talk to him, to know she trusted himwith her secrets.She’s my friend, that’s all.“Somethingmust have happened if you didn’t want a repeat.”
“He was okay.” When she paused, he glancedover at her again to find her looking at him, a strange expressionon her face. “It was good.”
“I’ll take you on a date.” The offer thatcategorically didn’t feel throwaway was out of his mouth before hecould clamp his lips shut, and panic swelled through him.
“You’re a hoot, Jim. I’m fine, though.”
Marian’s response didn’t do anything tosettle his nerves.Am I not what she’d like in a man?
It was a struggle, but Einstein managed tohold her gaze. “He didn’t hurt you or try anything?” Her immediatesmile and headshake reassured him. “You’d tell me if he had?”
“And risk you going to jail defending myhonor?” Marian’s laughter was light, belling through the room. “I’dsell tickets to the event.”
“That’s my girl.” He seasoned the eggmixture and dropped the whisk into the bowl. “Ready for youhere.”
Their conversation steered itself into lesspersonal topics from there on out as they fell into comfortableroutines, working around each other in a complicated but easydance. Einstein wasn’t sure if he was upset or glad when the dooropened and Gunny walked in, because that signaled a differentchange in the discussion, one where Marian would occasionallyinterject but was quieter. Then Bane descended the stairs, and uponseeing Einstein, called back upstairs to rouse Myrt and the boys.Within minutes, the kitchen had become the bustling center of thehousehold, and once Truck and Vanna walked in, followed closely byGunny’s family, a sense of completion swept over Einstein.
With a plateful of food in front of him, helistened to Gunny while stabbing another bite of eggs when he feltsomething. An awareness, like a ghost touch along his skin. Liftinghis gaze, he met Marian’s from across the island. Luke was next toher, pattering on about something, just as Gunny still was next toEinstein—but for an instant, a brilliant moment in time, it felt asif he and Marian were the only two people in the world. Her fulllips curved into a smile, tiny and delicate, but real. A smile sheseemed to reserve just for him. The corners of her eyes crinkled,and he watched pink sweep up her cheeks as she broke their gaze,looking down at her own plate.So fucking beautiful.
“Hey, man.” Something jostled him, and helooked away from Marian to find Gunny staring at him with a puzzledexpression. “You need rest before we ride?”
“Nah, nah. I’m good.” He shoveled a biteinto his mouth, then gestured a go-on to Gunny. But attempting tokeep his focus on the man was harder than it should have been,since Einstein found himself hyperaware of every movement Marianmade.
She lifted a biscuit to her mouth and hisjaw muscles clenched as if he were the one biting into it. Her lipsmet the rim of a glass of milk, and he salivated watching herthroat muscles work to swallow. He blinked and his imaginationfilled with the image of her bare. The long lines of her back drewhis gaze down the curves of her silhouette, a tempting glimpse ofthe tease of breast only visible from the side.
The fuck is wrong with me?
Angling himself more towards Gunny, he cutoff any line of sight he had to where Marian stood, determined tobring his focus back to where it should be. These men were hisbrothers. Maybe not under the patch, but individually and as agroup they’d taken him in and kept him safe, just like Retrohad.
Catching feelings for Bane’s sister-in-lawwouldn’t be looked on with approval. Which meant even if he couldget past his own sense of betrayal to Lauren for looking at anotherwoman, he couldn’t go there. Dolph’s long-ago words would nevercome true.
Just as well I’m not attracted to her inthat way.
***
Marian
Ducking her head, she murmured to Myrt, “I’mheaded out. Make Thad help with the dishes. I’ll be taking Lukie tothe movies after, so we won’t be back until late.”
Corner of her lip smeared with jam, Myrtglanced up and nodded. Then her brows drew together. “I didn’t knowyou worked today?”
“I’m not on the schedule, but after a lateaway game, it’s a fair bet at least one of the girls will call in.”Licking the pad of her thumb, she cleaned away the jam. “You’re amini-mess, Myrtie. Love you.”
“Love you too.” The immediate response madeher smile. In the years since they’d been reunited, the sisters hadworked hard at their relationship, finding their way past anymisplaced anger at their father and others to a place where theywere both comfortable. She turned and lifted her hand, Gunny andVanna returning the wave.
Einstein was engrossed in whatever Gunny wastelling him, not even looking up when Gunny paused in his spiel.Dang it.He was still being weird about the awkward momentthis morning. Even after all her efforts to make him comfortable,she was afraid he would twist it in his mind further than healready had.
