Page 34 of Second Chance

17

Dancing Around the Issues

[Mati]

The next couple of days pass in a blur. I work. I coach. And I try my damnedest to forget what happened with Denton. I blamed him moments afterward, but days later, I fault myself. What we did—what he coached me to do—was nothing like I’d done before. I didn’t lie when I said I didn’t get myself off. I don’t. I always had Chris. We took care of one another. It wasn’t always mutual—sometimes one or the other of us had it better—but we kept our needs between us. That was our marriage.

My ass in the air, humping a pillow, touching myself while Denton guided me from behind—was on a whole different level.

And I liked it.

When I shouldn’t.

Because I felt guilty over what we’d done. What I did.

Yet, I played the scene on repeat in my head, and I even attempted the actions again as best I could nights later. Surprisingly, it wasn’t quite the same without Denton, his voice in my ear, his hands on my skin, and this puzzled me.

I shouldn’t be attracted to him so instantly after twenty-seven years. It was like I was a fourteen-year-old once again, filled with pent-up frustration regarding him.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Billy calls from his desk as I enter his office to grab my purse. The waitstaff has a small area to hang their jackets and lock up personal belongings near the kitchen, but I have a locker in Billy’s office. Perks of being his sister.

“They aren’t worth that much,” I sigh, closing the locker with more force than necessary.

“Sit,” he commands, his forehead furrowing as he looks at me. I fold into a chair before his desk. His office isn’t imposing, and the chair rests to the side, against a wall but still opposite him. “What’s going on?”

I shrug, feeling the weight of my older brother’s eyes. Of all my brothers, Billy is the one I’m closest to even though Charlie comes right above me in birth order. Billy and I are similar in that we both married our high school sweethearts. We fell hard for the one and loved even harder. Billy’s loss wasn’t quite like mine, in that he and Rachel divorced, but it didn’t hurt any less for him. The difference is Billy almost immediately started banging women, while I’ve been a hermit toward anything sexual.

When I don’t respond, Billy speaks again. “Seen Denton?”

“No,” I offer too quickly, too loudly. “Why would you ask?” Defensive doesn’t begin to describe my tone, or maybe it’s guilt mingling in my question.

“He was here last Friday. We saw him chase after you after the whole Kristy thing.”

“He did not,” I singsong, and a thought occurs. “What was she doing here anyway?” I hadn’t asked Denton yet about his ex-wife. When I heard they married, my heart ached, but I was deep in my own fresh marriage, preparing for the birth of twins. I didn’t have time to ponder Denton’s decision. He’d made his bed. He must have loved her. After all, he took her with him on the road trip and left me behind.

“She was looking for me.”

My brows rise. “Why?”

The silence falling between us answers my question.

“Nooo. Billy, how could you?”

“I was horny.” His honesty makes me laugh, and his fingers comb through his hair, forcing it to stand up a little. I’m not blind, so I recognize my brother’s a good-looking man with the silver streaks in his hair and darker scruff on his jaw, but good lord, he needs to keep his dick in his pants sometimes.

Pot meet kettle? I think. Not quite apples to apples, I decide. “That’s not an excuse.”

His eyes narrow at me like he’s trying to read something in my expression or tell me something. We’re close but haven’t ever mastered telepathy, so he’s forced to speak.

“It’s as good an excuse as any. You should try it.”

“Sleeping with Kristy.” I snort, knowing something like that will never be on my radar. Thought there was a little girl-on-girl action happening here. Denton’s words make me shiver.

“Not that, silly. Letting loose your horny.”

My mouth falls open. “Billy, I know it’s difficult to remember sometimes, but I am your sister. I don’t need to hear these things.”

“And I don’t need to know details about you either, but I know you’re lonely. And it’s human nature to have needs.” His eyes narrow further if even possible as he glares at me with a knowing look. “Sometimes those needs belong with someone other than yourself. Do you get what I’m saying?”