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Grabbing a coat from the closet, he saw the empty hanger, realizing that she’d taken Mike’s football letter jacket. It really belonged to her, but there was something about it that rubbed him the wrong way, and a little glimmer of anger toward Aisling popped up, and he recognized it and would deal with it, but right now, he wanted to feel it.
Chapter 7
Black Friday was one of the busiest bar nights in San Diego. Barnacle Ben’s hopped in spite of the weather, boats were docked in the marina, and gas heating towers lumbered precariously over diners who insisted on sitting outside on the terrace in spite of the fifty-degree temperatures.
At the counter overlooking the marina, Devon Lyon nursed a White Russian, mind a blank. The day had continued on even though Aisling had walked out suddenly, and he’d survived.She’s a friend, he kept telling himself. Only a friend. Mike’s wife. The comfort he’d grown to have with her hanging around during his days off was just that. Comfort.
If he felt disappointed, that was natural. It was like any friendship that had served a purpose for a period of time but was no longer needed.
“Hey, handsome! I never thought I’d see you in here again.”
It was Lila Conner, friend to man.
“I had to let the skin graft heal a little longer before I pickled it,” Devon said, laughing.
He’d had just enough to drink that he leaned in to hug Lila, his nose close to her neck, so he could smell her perfume, a light floral scent. While he nuzzled her neck, sniffing her, his arm tightened around her, pulling her close. Against his chest, her breasts were large and soft, and he didn’t try to pull away from her body, closing his eyes and allowing the feeling to move from his chest to his groin.
“I haven’t seen you for a while,” he murmured.
“You’re drunk,” she said, laughing, giving him an extra squeeze before she gently pushed him away and slid onto the stool beside him.
“A little,” he replied. “How have you been?”
“Okay. Having fun with Charlie, who’s working tonight.”
Charlie! That brought Devon back to earth, his erection disappearing quickly. “Charlie! I keep forgetting about you two.”
“Doesn’t he mention my name at work?”
“Never to me. Remember, I’m his subordinate. It would be inappropriate.”
“Well, you did a nice thing for me, Dev. He’s a lovely man. We’re comfortable with each other. Is that a bad word? You just sort of grimaced.”
“No. Comfortable is good. But are you a comfortablefriend? Or a comfortablelover? Big difference.”
“I think we’re lovers now. We were acquaintances having sex, but now it’s meaningful. If you’re still having sex after a month, you must like each other, right?”
“Right. I’ve never had a relationship that lasted that long, so I wouldn’t know,” he replied, and they laughed.
“Why is that? I don’t get it. You’re hot, you’re smart, you’re nice. Why no woman?”
“I’m not sure. I think the right one just hasn’t come along yet. I’m not really interested, you know what I mean?”
Sighing, Lila nodded. “I do know what you mean. Take Charlie. He has an ex and two kids in college. Where does that leave me? I want a family and children. I’ll take a guy with kids, but unless he falls in love with me, he’s not going to want to go that route again. He might not even want more kids if he loved me. So I’m biding my time. I’m thirty-four. I want to have a kid by the time I’m thirty-six. So he’s got two years.”
“If he doesn’t know before two years, you need to give him the heave-ho,” Devon said.
“Yeah, and you know ifyou’resaying that, two years is the absolute maximum.”
“Does he know about your money?”
“I never mentioned it. He knows I don’t work, so I’m guessing he must think I have a nest egg of some kind.” She looked out the window and then back at Devon, singing to the tune of “Beauty’s Only Skin Deep.” “Wealthy Mountain Singles, yeah yeah yeah.”
Nodding his head, he tried not to spit at her while laughing with a mouth full of Kahlua. “You know, if he knew money wasn’t an issue for you, it might make him more receptive to the long term.”
“Devon Lyon, you might have something there. I’ll think about it. If he’s interested, like you said, it has to be before two years are up. If he isn’t, I guess I’ll head to the sperm bank.”
“That’s really gross, Lila. If I don’t have anyone by then, I might consider making a donation.”
