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“Areyou sure this is a good idea?” Andi asked, sounding uneasy as we entered The Stag Pub to meet with Colt. “We’ve tried having dinner, and it didn’t really fix anything.”
“Well, maybe you just need a mediator to help you along,” Wes said.
Andi looked skeptical. “You’re not just here to threaten him into making it work with me, right? If you really want me out of your house, I can go stay at Dad’s. He and Mom are heading out of town soon, so…”
“It’s not about getting you out of our hair, Andi,” Wes said.
“We want you to be happy,” I added, because it was true.
Andi might be putting a cramp in our sex life—but that wasn’t really her fault. She should be able to rely on her brothers without worrying she might intrude on a secret affair.
And it wasn’t like we were really suffering. The silent sex with Wes had been incredibly intense. I was a very vocal guy and holding in the sounds that wanted to spill out made my body react even more strongly to every sensation.
Did I want the freedom to be with Wes without worrying we’d be busted? Of course. But as long as we continued this affair, there would always be some chance of that happening. At least with Andi staying at our place, it kept us from being too reckless.
“This isn’t only about you two though,” Wes said. “There’s been tension at work. We could all do with a good talk.”
“Huh.” Andi smiled. “I didn’t see it before, but now I do.”
“See what?”
“You, as a boss. You’re good at it, aren’t you?”
“He’s great at it,” I said.
As much as Wes credited me as his equal partner, he was better at leading the crew. Better at obtaining their respect, at diffusing disagreements, at charming cranky residents like Mel Goble and closing sales with new clients.
Colt arrived shortly after we’d grabbed a four-top off to one side of the bar. The newer booth seating that stretched along the far wall—an improvement made with the help of Laurie’s investment in the pub—had filled up early, but this gave us more privacy anyway. It was a weeknight, so while the pub did a steady business, it wasn’t packed like it was on the weekends.
“Hey.” Colt stopped next to the table, hands shoved in his pockets. He nodded to Wes and me, but his gaze went straight to Andi. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“Sit down,” Wes said. “Beckett and I will grab a pitcher while you look at the menu.”
“Cool, thanks.” He pulled out the only remaining chair, directly across from Andi and sat down. “I’ll probably just get the special.”
“He loves the Philly,” Andi said with all the proprietary warmth of a long-time girlfriend.
Colt smiled, looking almost bashful. “Yeah, I’m predictable, I guess.”
“Oh, there’s nothing wrong with liking what you like,” she said quickly.
“Thanks,” he said, sounding awkward.
Wes and I headed over to the bar. We could have waited for a server to come by the table, but this way Andi and Colt could have a few minutes to talk privately.
“You think this will work?” I asked.
Wes glanced at them, a frown creasing his brow. “Not sure. If they get any politer, they might actually become strangers.”
I huffed a short laugh. “I guess they’ll need a little of that Wes Potter charm to help them along.”
He grinned, charm in full effect and making my insides flutter as if I were a young boy with his first crush.
“Maybe. But I’m hoping maybe a little Beckett Monroe good sense will do us all good too.”
I raised an eyebrow. “How do you mean?”
“This isn’t just about them. Colt’s struggling at work, and I can’t help but think that’s partly on us.”
