“Sitter fell through, so he’s staying in for the night.” Cam flashed a smile. “It’s just us boys until the ladies meet up with us later.”
“Mate.” Link held up a beer.
Boone nodded and ordered a cold draft when Tiny, the not-so-small bartender, looked his way.
Tiny brought over a frosty mug, and they moved to a table a few feet away. Their server wasted no time coming over and grabbing a dinner order, then scooping up their menus after they asked for nachos, wings, and fries.
“It’s not fair, you know,” she said with a smile.
“What’s that?” Cam asked as they all turned toward her. A pretty girl, she was probably a couple of years out of college. And from the look in her eye, he also figured she was planning on hitting on one of them before too long.
“You boys can eat and drink and not worry about gaining an ounce of fat.” Her gaze landed on Boone as a soft smile curved her lips. “Must be a football thing.”
Bingo. Guess it was him.
He sat up a bit as something inside him stirred. It had been a while since he’d had sex, well over a month, now that he thought about it. His soon-to-be ex-wife had surprised him and Benji with a visit—she’d only been around for two days—but that first night, after a couple of bottles of wine and a whole lot of remembering, they’d slept together.
The server licked her bottom lip, her chest thrust out a tad more than it had been. “I’m Marlene, by the way. Anything you want, boys, just ask.”
“Will do,” Boone replied with a wink. Even in the dim lighting, Marlene’s blush was pronounced, and Wyatt waited until she disappeared into the kitchen before chuckling.
“I guess we know what you’ll be up to later tonight.”
Boone lifted his mug. Damn, but all of a sudden, he had an itch that needed scratching, and with Benji on an overnighter, maybe he’d take Marlene up on what she was offering. He didn’t know her. There was no history. He’d make sure she understood he was a no-strings kind of guy. He watched her closely when she waltzed out of the kitchen, Honey and her little guy, Gabe, on her heels. She had great legs and an ass and hips worth grabbing.
Honey walked over, shaking her head, and stared at Boone with a look he knew all too well. Kind of reminded him of his mother when she was about to lay into him.
“No.” Honey’s right eyebrow rose so high, he was impressed.
Cam elbowed him. “You’re in for it now.”
“No?” Boone replied, a little confused.
“No way, Boone. My staff is off-limits.”
Boone set down his half-finished mug. “What’s that?”
“Marlene is the best server we have, and I’m not losing her.” Honey grabbed back a piece of hair her son had fisted between his fingers.
“I’m not following.” He frowned.
“She’s too young.”
“How old is too young?” Link interrupted. At the look on Honey’s face, he shrugged and hid a grin. “Just asking for a mate.”
“I mean it, Boone.” Honey turned back to him. “Marlene is a dreamer, and she’s no different from all the other single women in town who think they’re the one you’ll finally fall for. It’s been a circus for months now.”
More than a little irritated, Boone sat back for a listen. “Since what does getting laid have anything to do with something permanent?”
“Nothing.” She swore. “Everything. You’ll break her heart, and she’ll miss a few shifts because she’ll be down in the dumps, and when she finally makes it back in, all it will take is for you to show up with another woman, and she’ll up and quit.” Honey leaned forward. “I can’t afford for her to quit. Do you understand?” She glared at Link. “I’m not asking for a friend. I’m telling you boys how it’s going to be, because Kelli quit two days after Boone broke her heart.”
“Who’s Kelli?” Cam asked, not even bothering to hide his grin, because the man was, hands down, the biggest shit disturber in Crystal Lake.
Honey swore again, and this time, Gabe repeated it, which brought a round of laughter from the boys and another one of those “mom” looks from Honey. Exasperated, she nodded at Marlene, who was on her way over with a fresh round of drinks. “Unless you’re interested in something more than getting laid, hands off my staff. I can’t deal with it. I can’t—”
Nash appeared from nowhere and scooped up his son.
“Your wife is on a rampage,” Cam said with a chuckle. “Thinks she can order Boone around. Tell him who he can and can’t see, socially speaking.”
“Now, Honey, I told you that—”
“He’s making eyes at Marlene.”
“Right.” Nash glanced his way. “Don’t go there, Boone. We need her.”
Boone held up his hands. “Okay. I read you guys loud and clear. Marlene is off-limits.” He turned to Honey. “I didn’t mean to start anything.”
“Don’t worry about Honey.” Nash kissed his wife on the cheek. “She’s been a little emotional these days. Did you tell them?” Nash asked, glancing down at his wife.
“No.” She started to scowl, but then her face kind of melted, and she leaned back into Nash.
“Tell us what?” Boone asked curiously. They were the real deal. Till death do us part and all that. Sometimes he thought he was missing out on something, but then realized it was something he’d never had and for good reason. Boon figured that kind of thing wasn’t for him, so why worry about it? What Boone had had with Amber was more like him falling into a situation and making the best of it. Neither he nor his ex could claim real love. It was probably why their separation had been a piece of cake—other than her abandoning their son, but for a long list of reasons, including her nonexistent mothering gene, he was fine with that.
Honey smiled up at Nash. “We’re having another baby.” Though her smiled slowly died when she nailed Boone with a look. “Which is why I can’t afford to lose Marlene. Got it?”
Boone got it, all right. No way was he messing with Honey Booker on that one. He’d have to look elsewhere to get his scratch looked after, and he was fine with that. Crystal Lake had grown a lot over the last few years, and there were a fair number of single women he could tangle with—women who didn’t run in his particular circle. No one would ever know.
Not like back in the day, when a guy couldn’t scratch his balls without someone calling him out. Or spend the night at his pal’s boathouse with a girl who had shiny dark auburn hair and a smile that still made him look twice. He thought about that for a moment, then looked up at Cam.
“So, what’s up with Poppy Fairbanks?”
Chapter Three
The July Fourth Eve Dance was always held in the downtown square in front of the fire department. Back when Poppy was a teen, she’d watch from her mother’s front porch as kids half drunk on cheap wine stumbled their way downtown in an effort to crash the dance with an older brother’s fake ID, or one stolen from a sister’s bedside table. Tonight was no different.
She sat out front, enjoying the cool breeze and hint of rain in the air, amused as a young boy and girl hung on to each other like lifelines, singing some song she’d never heard before, while sneaking kisses and giggling. Watching from the shadows, she was invisible to them, and when they stopped a few feet from her mother’s mailbox for a passionate kiss, she felt a bit like a voyeur—but she couldn’t help herself.