Page 65 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
Heat pressed against her temple, and Marianturned around to see Einstein moving back. It dawned on her thathe’d kissed her, a gentle thing, showing tenderness.I like whenhe’s affectionate.
Looking at Einstein, she told Monday, “Lethim know I’ll be in tomorrow, just like the schedule says.” Likewith Einstein’s sweet kisses, actions would speak louder thanwords. She glanced over her shoulder, frowning. “And noarguments.”
Monday’s mouth snapped closed, and onecorner of his lips quirked up. Gaze fixed on Einstein, he said,“Anything, brother. Don’t matter I’m wearin’ a different patch, youknow you can call on me for anything.”
“I do.” Einstein’s answer rumbled throughhis chest, vibrating Marian. “And I appreciate it more than you canknow.”
With a wave, Monday stood and walked away,his place on the couch immediately filled by Sharon, who wasleading a man by the hand. Sharon leaned close and noisily bussedMarian’s cheek. The man stared down at her tolerantly, and Marianlooked between them, recognition blooming in her head.
“Are you…?”
“This is my brother, Jason.” Sharon’sinterruption only confirmed what Marian had suspected.
“You’re Jason Spencer.” Glancing down,Marian futilely attempted to straighten her clothing. Her cheekswere hot, and she felt Einstein’s attention shift to her. “You, uh.You played for the Mallets.”
“I did. That was long ago and far away.” Hetousled Sharon’s hair, dodging her half-hearted swat at his hand.“I’m only on the margins of hockey these days.” He turned amulti-watt smile at Marian. “You a fan?”
“I wasn’t.”How much to say?She knewEinstein was listening closely, so she decided to stick with thetruth, albeit glossed over slightly. “Growing up, I didn’t have achance, not really. According to my daddy, sports were a man’sworld. But I have a sports-crazy brother, and we spent about sixmonths last year going through tons of old videos on the internet.He focused on the Tridents first, and after that began trackingback to where the players had come from. He applied to yourfoundation, but there wasn’t a team close enough.” She shrugged.“It’s all right. He’s got football and soccer to keep him busy.Seems happy enough with what’s here.”
“Oh, no. That ain’t gonna do at all.” Jasonlifted his head and glared around the room. “Gunny! Lane Robinson,get your ass over here, man.” He tromped away, each stampingfootstep helping communicate his ire. The patch on his vest was theone Gunny used to wear, and Truck.Jason Spencer is in theRWMC?“This is a travesty!”
“Now you’ve done it. He’s on a mission.”Sharon’s giggle was light and sweet. “We’ve got food. I expectyou’ll want to visit the necessary room before y’all come over toeat.” As soon as Sharon mentioned it, Marian became aware of thepressure low in her belly. “My brother has two passions. Family,and hockey. He counts the RWMC and all their friends as family, soif anyone needs him, that man’ll turn himself inside out to make ithappen. And with hockey, he pours himself into his foundationbecause, for him, when he steps on the ice, he’s just as excited ashe was the first time. Jase wants that for every kid he meets. Howold is your brother?”
“He’s a teen.” She shook her head. “Hereally is happy with what he has. Keeps his schedule full.” Turningto Einstein, she shifted, stilling when his hand at her waistclamped down. “I do need to…you know.”
“I gotta piss too.” Both hands to her waist,he lifted and held tight until she was steady on her feet. Pushingoff the couch with a groan, he looped an arm over her shoulders.“Shar, we’ll be back in a few. Tell folks not to come looking forus.” Sharon’s light laughter filled the air as they walkedaway.
Keeping close to her side, Einstein steeredthem through the crowd, pausing only briefly to speak to men,nearly all of those conversations consisting of him thanking themand promising to talk later. The men who also knew Marian acteddifferently than normal, not looking at her unless Einstein calledtheir attention specifically. Even then, their words were brief andrespectful in a notable way.
Finally on the other side of the room,Einstein tried to steer her up the stairs, but Marian resisted.“Where are you going?” Gesturing towards her room, she informed himof something he should already know. “My room’s this way.”
“Baby.” His knuckle curled under her chinand lifted. Einstein was leaning close, his mouth only a fractionof an inch away from hers. “Your room is literally feet from thisentire crew. I’ve been holding you for hours now, and I’m almostconvinced that this is real. To seal the deal, I’m gonna kiss youin ways I couldn’t in that damn diner. You want everyone to hearwhat you sound like when I’m doing that?”
“Um. Probably not?” Her stomach dipped, andshe swayed on her feet, his arm tightening around her in an instantas he pulled her closer.
The corners of his eyes crinkled, and hewhispered, “That’s what I thought.”
Chapter Seventeen
Einstein
He scanned the group as he led Marian up thestairs, and the pair of matching scowls from Bane and Gunny caughthis eye. Einstein offered each a serious nod, an acknowledgment ofthe silent message. He, more than any of them, knew how fragileMarian was right now.Logically they know I won’t do anything tohurt her, but after the last twenty-four hours, I can’t say I blamethem for the warning.What they didn’t understand yet was howprecious Marian was to him. How she’d already been his for the pastthree years.
Fucking hate I didn’t pull my head out of myass before now.
He couldn’t change the past though, as muchas he might want to. The idea of having so much lost time with herate at him, and when he allowed himself to consider how thingsmight have ended differently, it was enough to twist him intoknots. Her fingers gave a squeeze, and he realized he’d tightenedhis grip.
Can’t focus on that.
Glancing down, he noted the questioningexpression on her face and hopefully doused her doubts with a grinthat had to nearly split his face. Not because he wanted toreassure her, even though he did. But mostly because she wasfollowing his lead and was instinctively tapped into him in a wayhe’d never had before.
Guess that’s what happens when you build aconnection first.
He and Lauren had fallen into bed quickly,those first months together rotating around their time spent nakedand horizontal. He’d seen the physical side as one of the morecritical aspects of their relationship.More fool was I.Notthat things hadn’t evolved and grown into an emotional love. Heabsolutely had loved his wife. Loved her, missed her when theyweren’t together, and profoundly grieved her death. She’d been hisbest friend well before the end, and the hole she left behind inhis heart probably would never be filled.
The thing was…Marian didn’t seek to fillthat gap. Without even trying, she’d found her own space in hisheart, shoring up his fragile walls in the process. She’dintuitively known what he needed every step along the way and givenit selflessly. That desire to see him happier and settled was thebasis for what they had, because he felt the same way, and hadspent these years working to give her opportunities to grow,building her into an even stronger version of the woman he’d firstmet.
Taking the final step upwards, he turned toface her, walking backwards towards the room Bane kept set asidefor him. There was a connected bathroom to the nursery, with a doorthat locked. Capturing both her hands, he pulled her close enoughso she had to tip her chin up to keep her gaze on his face.Einstein couldn’t wait and stopped abruptly, arms closing aroundher as she stumbled into his chest. He bent his neck and pressedtheir mouths together, lips working against hers until she sighedsoftly, giving him an opening he took advantage of, slipping histongue inside to touch hers gently.
