“Yeah, what’s the big deal?” Slade asked. “It’s just a question.”

  “Well, I don’t want to talk about it.” I looked across the bar and stared at nothing.

  Theo snapped his fingers like he just realized something. “I get it.”

  “Get what?” Slade asked.

  “Why Conrad is so uptight about this.” Theo gave me a triumphant look. “You’re afraid to propose because you think Lexie will hurt you the way Beatrice did. Come on, man. Lexie would never hurt you.”

  “That’s it?” Slade asked. “That’s why this relationship won’t go any further?”

  I was irritated that they figured it out. “My relationship is none of your business.”

  “Lexie is a sweet girl,” Slade said. “She would be your perfect wife. Don’t be scared.”

  “Yeah,” Theo added.

  “Look at it this way…” Slade started talking with his hands again.

  I rolled my eyes because I couldn’t believe I was getting advice from Slade of all people.

  “No matter who you’re with or how stable your relationship is, you’re going to get hurt.” Slade had a serious look in his eyes like he knew what he was talking about. “So don’t shy away from things out of fear. Enjoy what you have to the fullest and give it everything you got. Because no matter what, it will end in heartbreak.”

  I stared at him blankly, unable to believe Slade said something so wise and heartfelt.

  “Wow…that was some deep shit,” Theo said.

  Slade shrugged. “All people care about is the pretty package on the outside. No one cares what’s on the inside.” He drank his beer then wiped the foam away from his lips. “My relationship with Trinity has been filled with pain from the beginning. But there’s far more joy and happiness so it makes it worthwhile. Of course I get scared that she’ll meet some fancy model that sweeps her off her feet. Sure, I get scared that one day Trinity will finally realize she’s way out of my league. But even if that did happen and I lost her, I wouldn’t trade in what we had for anything. What I have with her is sacred, whether it lasts forever or not. Conrad, you need to hold up your fists and tuck your chin as you get deeper in this relationship with Lexie. You will get hurt. Just accept it and be ready for it.”

  Theo nodded slowly. “You know, Slade has a point.”

  Yeah, he did.

  Slade continued on. “Before I got married, I thought marriage was the stupidest thing in the world. It’s the same thing as being boyfriend and girlfriend. It’s just a marriage license, a piece of paper. But now that I’ve been married…I was totally wrong. It’s been the best experience of my life. Combining everything I have with her and really making us a single person is just…there are no words. It’s beautiful, man. Really beautiful.”

  At least my sister wound up with a hopeless romantic—like she always wanted.

  “Just take the plunge,” Slade said. “You won’t regret it.”

  This conversation had gotten way too serious for a group of guys at a bar. “Let’s talk about sports or something.” I cleared my throat. “I’m starting to wonder if I’m gay.”

  Slade winked. “I have that effect on people.”

  I grabbed a handful of peanuts and threw it at him. “Shut the hell up.”

  Chapter Six

  Jared

  “What did I tell you?” Beatrice walked across the new cobblestone floor with her arms across her chest. She wore dark denim jeans that hugged her body like a glove, and the black razorback top highlighted her slender arms and petite shoulders. Her hair was pulled into a braid over one shoulder, and I loved how classy it looked. Her soft strands of hair were slightly coming loose, but that only made it look better.

  Beatrice looked around at the new counters and intricate moldings in the walls and the ceiling. Then she turned to me, her bright green eyes flashing like emeralds.

  Her frame was so petite. When I wrapped my arms around her, I could circle her twice if my body was able to bend that way. The sun kissed her skin, so it was naturally darker than mine. She had intelligent eyes, and at all times of the day her thoughts were running across them like a TV screen.

  Her nails were painted a vibrant pink, bringing some color to her outfit. A white gold bracelet sat on her wrist, making her look elegant and refined. She always held herself with grace, like no amount of weight could ever make her back bend in weakness.

  She was a strong woman that couldn’t be conquered by anything. She lost more than she could handle but that didn’t make her shoulders sag. While her features were distinctly feminine, she carried the strength of a Roman soldier. Sometimes that power radiated in her eyes. Sometimes it was just in the way she carried herself.

  My eyes honed in on her perfect lips. They were pink and full, and I wondered how they would taste. They had a distinct curve to them, like a bow. Her features blended so well with the rest of her face, making her look as perfect as a doll. She didn’t wear much make up because she didn’t need to. She was stunning all on her own.

  “Jared?” She raised an eyebrow as she looked at me.

  “Huh?” Did she say something? “Sorry?”

  “Did you not hear me?” An amused look was in her eyes. “You’ve been staring at me for, like, five minutes.”

  I was? “Sorry…I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

  Beatrice dropped the conversation, fortunately. “What do you think?” She moved around the bar as she examined all the changes. “I love it. How about you?”

  Honestly, I hadn’t look once. Now I turned my head and examined all the replacements. It looked nothing like it did when I originally bought the place. Now it felt like a doorway to Italy, but a lot more convenient than flying all the way there. “Yeah, it looks nothing like what I originally bought.”

  “And that’s a good thing.” She felt the moldings with her hands then touched the tile of the bar. “People are going to love it. Once we open we’ll have more business than we can handle.”

  “Yeah…we probably will.” This project with Beatrice had taken up a lot of my time, but it didn’t feel like work. It was fun designing our new bar together. When we discussed business tactics and marketing strategies, it wasn’t boring. Everything with her was an adventure.

  She tilted her head as she looked at me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Actually, no. “I’m just speechless at how great this place looks. You did an amazing job.”

  Suspicion came into her eyes. “You never compliment me.”

  “Well, I am now. Savor it and treasure it. Who knows when it’ll happen again.” I gave her a smile to reassure her.

  She rolled her eyes and turned away. “Now that’s the Jared I know.”

  ***

  “How’s the new bar going?” Shane asked while we sat across from each other in the booth. He sipped his old-fashioned and I stuck to my beer. When you drank as much as I did, you had to steer clear of the hard stuff.

  “Good. It’s looking really nice. Beatrice has a knack for this sort of thing.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.” Shane met Beatrice a few times, and he definitely had a thing for her. But then again, who didn’t have a thing for her? “She just has that gift, you know?”

  “Yeah.” I sipped my beer then rubbed my temple. She was all I could think about lately. When I wasn’t with her, I wanted to see her. When I was around her, I wanted to be close to her. And when I slept…she came to me in my dreams. I had no idea what the hell was wrong with me. She was just my friend but something had changed. Now I thought about her constantly, wondering what she was doing or if she was thinking about me.

  Shane scanned the bar. “Two hot brunettes in the corner.”

  I didn’t even look. “Go for it.”

  “You’re with me on this?” he asked as he rested his elbows on the table and kept looking in their direction.

  “I’ll pass.” Catching tail wasn’t my thing anymore. I hadn’t done it in so long I wasn’t even sure how to do it. Do I shake their hand? Open up with a joke? I didn’t have a clue.

  “Come on, man. They’re so hot. Tiny waists with big asses.”

  I sipped my beer again. “I’m good.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Dude, you’ve been divorced forever. Get your dick wet.”

  I shot him a glare. “I just don’t want to, alright?”

  A slow smile spread across his lips. “Does this have anything to do with…Beatrice?”

  My heart accelerated but I kept my face stoic like nothing had changed. “Why would this have anything to do with her?”

  “Because you haven’t gotten laid since Beatrice came into your life. You do everything together. You two are stuck at the hip like those weird twins that come out of the womb with their shoulders webbed together.”

  I shook my head slightly. “Good comparison.”

  “I’m serious. You have a thing for this broad.”

  “She’s not a broad,” I barked. “And of course, I don’t.”

  He made an incredulous face. “Dude, why are you in denial about this? You think I’m going to run off and tell her?”

  Was I in denial? “We’re just friends.”

  “But you want to fuck her, right?”

  Now I was mad. “Don’t talk about her like that. I’ll slam your face through the window. I mean it.”

  Shane rolled his eyes. “I don’t get it. You have a thing for her but you won’t admit it. Why not? Why are you hiding? What are you afraid of?”

  A lot of things.

  “You never talk about Lexie so I assume you’re over her.”

  Actually, I hadn’t thought about Lexie in a long time. It just crossed my mind in that moment. When was the last time she entered my thoughts…?

  “Go for Beatrice,” Shane insisted. “She’s cool and hot.”

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “I mean, pretty. Whatever.”

  I drank my beer and remained silent in the hope the conversation would just go away.

  “Seriously, what’s the reason?” he asked. “Because I’m pretty sure she has feelings for you too.”

  That caught my attention. “You think so?”

  “Yeah. There’s no way she spends that much time with you without developing feelings…unless she’s gay.”

  The idea of her feeling something for me made me feel warm. But then it also made me feel ice-cold.

  “Why don’t you…start something up? Take her on a date?”

  I knew exactly why I refused to pursue anything with her. Beatrice was very special to me. She was smart, beautiful, and just a wonderful person. I would never hurt her. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I ever did. “It’s just not meant to be.”

  “Not meant to be?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Well, nothing is. Just ask her out and stop being a pussy.”

  “She and I are just friends. Once you’re in the friend zone you can’t get out of it.”

  “Says who?” he demanded. “Beatrice is one of a kind. She’s pretty, smart, and funny. She’s like a supermodel but she doesn’t act like it. You know, she’s not stuck up like other girls.”

  I tried not to smile at the mention of her being stuck up. When we first met she was the stiffest person I’d ever met. Fortunately, I got her to loosen up. “I like what we have and I don’t want to mess it up.” And I didn’t trust myself.

  “So, how are you supposed to date and find someone else if you’re hung up on her?”

  “Who said I would date anybody?”

  Now he looked more confused. “I don’t understand…what the hell is going on then?”

  I didn’t even know. I wanted to have another meaningful relationship—and do it right. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it just wasn’t possible for me. I couldn’t be monogamous with a single person. I was pretty much a sex-addict. Going from meaningless fling to the next was all I was capable of doing. “I’m not looking for anything serious. And Beatrice isn’t that type of girl.”

  He nodded toward the girls in the corner. “Then let’s pick up these chicks and fuck them until they’re sore.”

  That didn’t sound appetizing to me. “I’m just not in the mood tonight.”

  He rolled his eyes in a dramatic way. “Seriously, I don’t get you.”

  I stared at the table and tried to think of the right response. “Neither do I.”

  ***

  Beatrice grabbed the patron then poured two shot glasses. We were in my living room while the movie played on the TV. She had a mischievous look on her face like she was up to something. “Take a shot.”

  I eyed the glasses and tried not to smile. “Are you going to take one?”

  “Yes.” She put down the bottle and grabbed her shot glass.

  “You...?” I couldn’t keep the skepticism out of my voice.

  “I’m wild, baby.” She put the glass to her lips then downed it. Then she made a disgusted face like it took all her strength not to spit everything back out.

  I watched her cringe and tried not to laugh.

  She managed to get it down but she still had a sour look on her face. “See…I’m wild.”

  “You need some water, sweetheart?”

  “No, I’m okay,” she said in a high-pitched voice. “It just burns.”

  I downed mine then set the glass down. It was smooth like water. “So, why are we doing shots?”

  She coughed a few times before she could breathe normally again. “To celebrate our new business.”

  “We haven’t opened yet.”

  “But we’ve still come pretty far.”

  “So…you want to celebrate by doing something you hate?” Beatrice had slowly let loose around me. Now that we’d been spending so much time together and we’d known each other for over six months, she let different sides of her personality come out. She was actually really goofy and funny when she felt comfortable around someone.

  “I don’t hate it…I just don’t love it.”

  “Then why are we doing it?” I poured myself another glass then downed it.

  “Because.” She gave herself a refill. “It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

  I eyed her glass. “I think one is enough for you.”

  “I can do two,” she argued.

  “I’m afraid your body will melt into a puddle on the floor.”

  She gave me a defiant look before she downed it. This time she cringed even more. Her lips were pressed so tightly together I could barely seem them. She finished her last swallow before she took a drink breath. “See…I’m a badass.”

  This time I couldn’t help but laugh. “Two shots does not make you a badass.”

  “Hey, I’m a woman.”

  “What does that matter?” I asked. “I know women who can drink more than I can.”

  “Well, it was still an improvement. Now I’m up to two shots.”

  I clapped. “I’m so proud of you.”

  She hit me playfully on the arm. “Don’t tease me.”

  “It’s my job. And I take it very seriously.”

  She poured herself another glass.

  I grabbed the bottle and yanked it away. “You’ve had enough.”

  “Talk about a party-pooper.” She pouted at me.

  “I don’t want you to get sick. You don’t need to prove anything to me, Beatrice. You’re the coolest chick I know. You don’t need to drink a lot of alcohol to prove that.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you just give me another compliment?”

  I don’t know. Did I? “No.”

  “You said I was the coolest chick you knew.”

  “No, I didn’t,” I lied. “You’re so drunk that you’re hearing things.”

  “I’m not even drunk.” She pointed at me. “You did say it. You think I’m the coolest chick ever.”

  “You misheard me,” I said. “You’re the coldest chick ever. You need to listen better.”

  She smiled like she knew I was lying. “Nope. I know what I heard. Two compliments from Jared in one week is pretty incredible.” She poured herself another shot. “And we need to celebrate.” She downed the glass. She cringed again, but this time I could tell she wouldn’t be able to keep it down.

  I quickly handed her a towel then ducked.

  She held the fabric to her face then spit the liquor out. She caught her breath before she lowered the damp towel. “Okay…I’ve had enough.”

  “Told you.” I gave her a smug look.

  She leaned against the couch and rested her hand on her stomach. “I think I’m a little drunk…”

  “It’s pretty sad that you aren’t sure.” I turned on the TV. “What do you want to watch?”

  “Shark Week!” She fist-pounded the air.

  “Uh…that’s not on right now.”

  “Oh…” Her face fell in sadness. “Then something on Animal Planet. That’s the best channel.”

  “If you say so.” I put it on then lay on the couch. I left the liquor on the coffee table and decided to clean it up later.

  Beatrice remained on the ground, still touching her stomach like she ate too much.

  It was a documentary about African elephants. They were the largest land mammals, and it wasn’t hard to figure out why.

  Beatrice rubbed her temple and groaned. “I have a headache.”

  It took all my strength not to roll my eyes. She was such a lightweight that she powered ahead to a hang over. I left the couch and got her a large glass of water. I didn’t give her any pills because you weren’t supposed to take them with alcohol.

  I lay back on the couch while Beatrice sipped her water. Tonight, we were supposed to be celebrating our success. Instead, Beatrice was dealing with her inability to consume alcohol like a normal person. But staying home was fine with me. Beatrice and I always had a good time no matter what we did.

  Beatrice sighed then stood up.

  “You need help getting to the bathroom?”

  “No…” She immediately moved to the couch and crawled on top of me.

  I flinched instantly, unsure what she was doing. My heart immediately kicked into overdrive and my muscles twitched. She was getting close to me and I didn’t know what to do. An alarm was going off in my mind, telling me I shouldn’t let her near me.

 

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