Okay, part of what it meant was that he hadn’t had any for a while, but part of it was about Penny. He liked who she’d become and he’d always enjoyed her in bed.
“I’m tempted,” she said, raising herself on tiptoe and lightly kissing him. “Very tempted.”
“Good.”
He stepped back as she climbed into her car. After passing her the leftovers, he waited until she’d driven off before getting into his own car and heading home.
The streets were empty, the drive quick. Good news, because he didn’t want too much time to think. Not about Penny or wanting her, or Lindsey or even Dani. He wanted to clear his mind and fall into bed. Tomorrow he would have more answers. Tomorrow—
Cal rounded the corner and saw his house. There were several lights on in the windows and a strange car parked in front. As both Reid and Dani had a key, he figured it could be either one of them. Not Reid, he thought, hoping his brother hadn’t brought Naomi over so they could do it in a new location. His cleaning service had just changed the sheets.
But when he pulled into the garage, the door to the house opened. The man standing there was tall and muscled, with a military-short haircut. Cal grinned.
“Walker,” he called as he got out of his Z4. “When did you get home?”
“About three hours ago. I picked up a rental car at the airport and drove here. Hope you don’t mind me crashing at your place for a few days.”
“Stay as long as you like.”
They hugged, then walked into the house. Cal led the way to the kitchen and saw the bottle of Scotch already on the counter.
He grinned at his younger brother. “Just like I raised you.”
Walker picked up the bottle and poured his brother a glass. After handing it over, he picked up his own. “You always did keep the good stuff around. I respect that.”
They toasted each other silently, then moved into the living room. As always, Walker took the club chair that faced the door and allowed him to sit with his back to the corner of the room.
Cal studied his brother. There were no new visible scars, which was good. Walker looked tired and there was something in his eyes. He’d seen things, done things. It came with a career in the marines.
While Cal had taken a job in the family business after college, both Walker and Reid had escaped. Reid had lived and breathed baseball—when he wasn’t living and breathing women—and had never looked back until he’d blown out his shoulder last year.
Walker had gone from his high school graduation straight to the marine recruitment center. He’d shipped out a few weeks after that. Gloria had been furious—not only had she lost another Buchanan, but Walker hadn’t gone to college first. He’d entered the military as a grunt.
“How are you?” Cal asked after they both had a chance to sip the Scotch and appreciate the fire Walker had expertly built.
“Good.”
“You seeing much action?”
“Some.”
Walker had spent much of his past tour in Afghanistan. He sent regular e-mails that didn’t say much more than he was fine. There were no details about his day or his assignments.
“How about you?” Walker asked. “You said you’d taken over The Waterfront.”
“Only for four months. The place was such a disaster, Gloria closed it.”
“Then called you in to rescue her.”
Cal shrugged. “It’s four months,” he repeated. “Then I go back to The Daily Grind.”
“Dani and Reid okay?”
Cal nodded. “Dani’s still frustrated because Gloria won’t let her leave Burger Heaven. Reid’s settling into The Downtown Sports Bar. He’s popular, which brings in the customers.”
“All the waitresses still built and nearly naked?”
“You know Reid.”
Walker grinned. “I’ll have to stop by.”
“We should all meet there. How long’s your leave?”
Walker sipped his drink, then put it on the side table and leaned forward. “I left the corps.”
Cal stared at him. “Retired?”
“It’s been fourteen years, so that’s what they’re calling it.”
Cal couldn’t imagine his brother doing anything else. “Why?”
Walker shrugged. “It was time.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure. I thought I’d stay here for a few days, then go get my own place.”
“Sure. Stay as long as you like. I’m working twelve, fifteen hours a day, so I’m never here. And my love life sucks, so you won’t get in the way of that.”
Walker picked up his drink. “Not seeing anyone?”
“Not in a while.” He thought of the kiss he’d shared with Penny and decided that didn’t count. If he couldn’t explain it to himself, he sure as hell wouldn’t be able to explain it to Walker.
“I thought you’d be in until they kicked you out,” Cal said. “Are you all right?”
“Fine.”
Cal wasn’t sure he believed him. There was something about Walker’s eyes—something dark.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked.
Walker looked at him. “Have I ever?”
“No. Want to get drunk?”
Walker grinned. “I wouldn’t say no.”
“Good. I’ll call Reid.”
“Won’t you be interrupting?”
He thought about Reid and Naomi. “Probably,” he said cheerfully. “But why shouldn’t he suffer, too?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I WANT TO SAY it’s the salt,” Penny said as she picked through the bowl of nuts and fished out the hazelnuts. “But I think it’s more than that. If it was just about salt, then any nut would do. The craving is very specific.”
She glanced up to see Reid shudder.
“What?” she asked, holding in a laugh. “You don’t want to hear about my cravings?”
“Not especially. Some of them have grossed me out.”
“This from a guy who used to spit on national television.”
Reid wiped another glass and set it behind the bar. “I never spit.”
“All baseball players spit.”
“Some don’t.”
“What is up with that, anyway? Why all the spitting? Don’t the mothers call and say it’s disgusting? Because it is. Yuck.” She touched her stomach. “Okay, change of subject. I’m making myself queasy.”
“Fine by me.”
Lucy came out of the kitchen and walked toward the bar. “Here you go, hon.”
Penny took the large root beer float and sighed. “You’re a goddess. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I just turned in the order.” Lucy looked at her boss. “Want anything?”
“Not right now. Thanks.”
Lucy smiled and walked toward the lone table of customers in the bar.
It was three—that quiet time between lunch and happy hour. Penny knew she had to get back to The Waterfront fairly soon, but she fully intended to indulge herself first.
While Reid watched and pretended to gag, she dumped the hazelnuts into the float, then dug in with a spoon. The combination of cold, fizzy liquid, smooth, melting ice cream and crunchy, salty nut was pure heaven.
“You’re just jealous,” she said after she swallowed, “because you didn’t think of this combination.”
“Uh-huh. That’s me. Jealous.” He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. “You seen Walker yet?”
“No, and I can’t wait to. I was so surprised when Cal told me he’d left the marines. I didn’t think that would ever happen.” She glanced around the empty bar. “Is he coming here?”
“At some point. You sure are happy about him being home.”
She grinned. “I am. And don’t worry. I’ll never love Walker the way I love you,” she teased.
“Like I care about that.”
He probably didn’t. She and Reid had been friends too long for him to sweat she would ever leave him. Sometimes she thought
that she and Dani were the only consistent females in his life.
“Your real problem is Naomi,” she said as she scooped another spoonful of ice cream. “She’s never met Walker. You know how women fall for guys in the military.”
“It’s very possible she’ll be interested.”
She glanced at Reid. “That’s it? You don’t care if the woman you’re currently sleeping with wants to move on to someone else?”
“Naomi and I understand each other. We have a good time together.” He grinned. “A very good time.”
She winced. “I don’t want details.”
“Your friend is very—”
“Stop!”
He chuckled. “Okay. I’ll play nice. Naomi and I are the same. We want to be involved as long as it’s good. When it stops being fun, or one party loses interest, it’s time to move on.”
She’d seen them in action long enough to believe he was telling the truth. But seeing and believing weren’t the same as understanding.
“Don’t you ever want something more familiar?” she asked.
“Why? Variety keeps things interesting.”
“For a while, but people are hard-wired to pair bond.”
“Cal always said I had a screw loose.”
She stuck a straw into her float. “Reid, I’m serious. I worry about you. Doesn’t the series of one-night stands get old? Don’t you ever want to settle down?”
“No. Not even a little. Look around, Penny.” He waved at the bar. “I can have a different woman every night of the week. No one expects me to show up at a certain time, eat dinner and then watch TV. I can come and go as I please, my life is always interesting. Why would I trade that in for one woman, a couple of kids and a mortgage?”
“Because you fell in love.” It was a familiar discussion, but no matter how many times they had it, she never understood. “Don’t you want to be a part of something? Don’t you want to leave your mark on the world?”
“I’ll be in the history books.”
“Not because you were a great pitcher. Because you cared about someone. Because you—” She stopped. “Sorry. I know we agreed not to talk about this anymore. We always fight.”
He stepped toward her and briefly touched her cheek. “We don’t fight. You get upset because I don’t want what you think I should have.”
“I worry about you. I don’t want you to grow old alone, with no one to care about you.”
“I’m okay with that.”
Was he? How was that possible? While his lifestyle might sound fun to the average eighteen-year-old guy, she couldn’t help thinking that in the bright light of morning, it wasn’t all Reid made it out to be. But maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part.
None of the Buchanan men had been very successful at love. Only Dani had a happy, stable relationship, and she wasn’t even a Buchanan. A fact Penny still had trouble comprehending.
“How’s Junior?” Reid asked.
She suspected he was trying to change the subject and she figured that was probably a good idea.
“Good. I’m having a textbook pregnancy, although I still manage to freak out about everything.” She put her hand on her growing stomach.
“How much longer?” he asked, his eyes dark with concern.
“A week,” she said. “I know that crossing the date where I lost the baby before doesn’t mean anything, but it still feels like I’ll be able to relax a little once it happens.”
“It makes sense,” he said gently. “You want to break the streak.”
He was right.
“I keep telling myself I’m fine. The doctor says the same thing.”
“You’ll believe it when it happens,” he told her. “So what’s going on with my brother?”
She sipped on her float. “What do you mean? Cal’s fine.”
“He came in here ready to tear off one of my arms when he found out you were pregnant. He wanted to know all about the guy.”
Penny felt her cheeks heat and she was careful to focus all of her attention on the tall glass in front of her. “I doubt he was that upset.”
“You weren’t here. He wanted to beat the crap out of me.”
Unable to help herself, she looked at Reid. “I know that’s not true.”
“It may be an exaggeration, but there’s something going on.”
She thought about their last encounter. Their last, very personal, encounter. Funny how three years ago she’d been so angry and so hurt, she’d never wanted anything to do with Cal. But now…
“We work together,” she said. “We’re becoming friends.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
Guilt made her cheeks heat even more. “I’m not. It’s just…”
Reid waited patiently.
“It’s just…” She repeated, then sighed. “I can’t explain it. We’re getting along. It’s nice. We seem to appreciate each other now in a way we couldn’t before.” She held up a hand before he could say anything. “I mean that in a nonromantic sense. We’re different people. It’s as if the stuff I really hated about him is gone and only the good stuff remains. Or maybe I’m the one who changed.”
“Sounds like a lot of hooey to me,” Reid told her. “You’re not falling for him, are you?”
“What? Of course not. I’m pregnant.”
“How do those two concepts relate?”
“I’m only thinking about the baby. Cal doesn’t want children.”
Something flickered in Reid’s eyes. “He might. Like you said, he’s different.”
“Not interested, even if it is true,” Penny said. “I don’t need a man in my life.”
“So why are you all fired up to get me a woman?” he asked.
“I’ve committed to people in the past. You never have.”
“I’m committed to my family.”
True enough. He’d also committed to baseball, but she didn’t want to go there. She’d seen the pain in his eyes when the games came on television.
“I find it very interesting that you and Cal are getting along so well now,” he told her. “And that neither of you were interested in getting serious while you were divorced.”
Penny did her best to look innocent. “Really? Cal didn’t have any long-term relationships?”
“No. There were a few women, but nothing that mattered.”
“A few? How many?”
Reid grinned. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t. I’m curious.” More than curious. What women? Who had Cal dated?
“Sorry,” Reid said. “I don’t tell on my brothers. Not even for you.” He looked toward the front door. “Hey. What’s up?”
Penny turned and saw Dani walk into the bar.
She claimed the seat next to Penny. “Hi. How’s it going?” She peered at Penny’s float. “What is that?”
“A root beer float with hazelnuts.”
Dani winced. “Does that fall under the craving category?”
“Nope,” Reid told her. “It’s just plain gross.”
“Men don’t appreciate these sorts of things,” Penny said.
“I’m not sure I appreciate them either,” Dani told her. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. Getting a tummy.” She tugged at her sweater to show off her bump.
Dani eyed her stomach, then looked at Reid. “Can I get a Diet Coke?”
“Sure. Want anything to eat?”
“No, thanks. I just need the caffeine.”
“Busy day?” he asked as he handed her the glass of soda.
“Oh, yeah. Lunch was standing room only.”
She didn’t sound very happy about the fact, but Penny couldn’t blame her. Dani had only ever wanted to be successful in the family business and Gloria had stood in her way at every turn.
She remembered what Cal had told her, about Gloria threatening to tell Dani the truth about her father if he didn’t toe the line. Penny knew it wasn’t for her to decide, but a part of her thought it would be better i
f Dani knew the real reason Gloria wasn’t on her side.
She looked at her former sister-in-law. Dani was short, with light-brown hair and hazel eyes. Her features were more delicate than her brothers’ and completely feminine. She looked enough like them that no one would ever guess the truth, yet there was much that was different.
Her lighter coloring, her petite build. Dani wore her hair in a short, stylish bob. Her tailored slacks and cropped jacket suited her slender body. Looking at her, Penny felt like a cumbersome giant.
Dani sipped on her drink, then smiled at Reid. “I’m going to change the subject to something very girly that will probably make you uncomfortable.”
He instantly took a step back. “Thanks for the heads-up. You two have fun.” He quickly moved to the other end of the bar.
“Men are so predictable,” Dani said. “I really like that about them.”
“It does help. What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the in vitro fertilization you went through. Not now,” she added. “But would you be comfortable talking to me about it at some point?”
“Sure. You can ask me anything you’d like. Are you thinking of doing that yourself?” she asked, not sure if she was treading in dangerous territory.
Dani nodded. “Because of his injury, there are some things Hugh can’t do and that’s one of them.” She wrinkled her nose. “We do other stuff you probably don’t want to hear about.”
Penny grinned. “I’d like to be drunk first and I can’t drink right now.”
Dani laughed. “Fair enough. Anyway, that’s in our future, so I thought if you wouldn’t mind telling me about it, that would be great.”
“Sure. I’ll give you the name of my doctor, too. She’s fabulous. Very easy to deal with and completely understanding of the panic that goes with the whole process.”
“It’s expensive, right?”
“Oh, yeah. The cost seriously cut into my ‘open my own restaurant’ fund, but I knew I wanted a baby before my eggs turned to raisins.”
“Good plan.”
Penny fished out another hazelnut. “You have a few years before you have to worry about the eggs to raisins thing.”
“Not that many.” Dani rubbed her fingers against her glass. “Why didn’t you…” She glanced over her shoulder as if checking to make sure Reid was still at the other end of the bar. She lowered her voice. “Why IVF? You could have picked some guy to sleep with you. It would have been cheaper.”
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