AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Grady’s mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”
?
?How long—”
“I heard you the first time,” he growled, his lips barely moving.
“Then why aren’t you. . .”
Her question died at the vulnerable flicker in his blue eyes. But then his jaw hardened and his nostrils flared. He jerked his gaze away, and she watched his throat work while he swallowed.
Suddenly, it became clear.
“Oh. . .my. . .God,” she whispered, stunned mute for a moment before she was able to yelp, “Holy shit, Slim. You mean, you haven’t had sex since—”
She realized she was talking too loud when a couple at the next table over stopped eating to send her a scandalized scowl. Grady glared at her like he might reach across the table and strangle her.
She lowered her voice to a hiss and leaned across the table. “Good God. Amy’s been dead for over two years.”
“I know exactly how long it’s been,” he snapped, his eyes flashing hot.
B.J. pulled away immediately, realizing how rude and obnoxious she sounded. “Okay, okay,” she said. “I’m backing off. I’ve definitely overstepped my bounds.”
She closed her mouth, shutting up for about two seconds before she said, “It’s just. . .damn. What’re you trying to do to yourself? Win the monk of the year award?”
Through gritted teeth, the words “I thought you said you were backing off,” rumbled from deep within his chest.
But B.J. had drunk one beer too many. “Well, I can’t, okay. Frankly, I’m worried about you. I mean, Jesus, Slim. This is not healthy. Men have to have sex. I grew up with four guys. I know. They can’t function without it. You just need to find some anonymous woman and get yourself laid, man.”
Grady made a sound that wasn’t quite an incredulous laugh and not quite a sob. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” He lifted his eyes and defensively retorted, “Guys go without sex all the time.”
“Yeah,” B.J. snorted. “They’re called priests. And priests aren’t the normal, average guy. They got some extra spiritual thing going on that makes them high on God and not women. Now, you may be a good Christian boy and all, but you ain’t that holy. You’re a normal, red-blooded man, and I’m telling you, you need sex or you’ll turn into a. . .a serial killer or something.”
Grady shook, looking feral, like she might be his first victim.
“Damn it,” she continued. “Don’t you think Amy would want you to move on and someday marry again? Or do you think she’d want you to dig a hole next to her and bury yourself in it for the rest of your life? Because, personally, I think she’d want you to go on and live a full, happy life.”
Starting to breathe hard, he sent her a pointed glare. “Why don’t you mind your own goddamn business and stay out of mine?”
He pushed his chair back and jerked to his feet. B.J. swallowed as he glared down at her. She wanted to apologize, but apologies had never come easily from her. Frankly, she was too ashamed to even speak. Lowering her face, she listened to him snort out a scathing mutter before he strode off.
“Everything okay?” the waitress asked, appearing at B.J.’s side.
“Yeah,” B.J. mumbled. “Just dandy.”
She rose to her feet and pulled enough money from her wallet to more than cover the bill. Glancing over, she watched Grady stride from the restaurant and gritted her teeth. Damn it. Everyone had been pussyfooting around him for two and a half years. It was time he woke up and faced reality. Amy was never coming back. He had to move on.
Suddenly angry with him for making her feel so shitty, B.J. tossed her wad of cash at the surprised waitress and hurried for the exit.
Chapter Four
Grady had already made it to the hotel by the time B.J. exited the restaurant.
It had started to rain, and a light drizzle coated her face. Pushing her drooping bangs out of her eyes, she dashed after him, streaking across the street and jaywalking to catch him before he made it to his room. She was soaked by the time she hit the entrance’s overhang and caught sight of him through the window. The miserable shower had drenched him too, but a heedless Grady marched determinedly toward the bank of elevators. She entered the fancy foyer and took off in pursuit.
Never one to bother with propriety, she cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Hey, Rawlings.”
He didn’t break stride, pause, or give any indication he’d heard her. But she knew he had, mainly because everyone else in the lobby stopped to glance curiously her way.
