Love Restored (Gallagher Brothers #1)(23)

He might kiss liked a damn sex god and rev her engine like no other, but he clearly wasn’t for her.

Graham had been married.

Sure, he’d said that the woman who so rudely ignored Blake’s handshake was his ex, but the woman clearly felt otherwise. Why else would she have done her best to put Blake in her place with that lack of handshake, the cool tone of her voice, and the way she’d said wife?

Blake was out. She didn’t have the time or the will to deal with that kind of drama. She had heap loads of her own to deal with. So what if she needed to use her hand to get herself off for the next few years? It didn’t matter that she’d broken three of her last four sex toys because she’d worn them out. She’d just save up for another, and get herself off like any woman with a healthy sex drive should.

She did not need Graham Gallagher and his beard of glory.

Her Bluetooth rang at that thought, and she prayed it wasn’t Graham. Even as angry and humiliated as she was right then, the deep growl of his voice might just make her orgasm without even trying.

And that was one thing she couldn’t let happen. Not now. Not ever.

Thankfully, it was Maya calling, not Graham. This car might be slightly old, but since she’d bought it used, it had a decent Bluetooth for the price. That meant if her kid called when she was driving, she could still hear her baby’s voice and be safe. And when she needed to be in constant contact because the world wasn’t safe and there were things from Blake’s past that never quite went away, spending a little extra on this used model was worth it.

“Hey,” she answered, keeping her eyes on the road. “What’s up? I thought the shop was closed.”

“It is,” Maya answered, “And hey to you, too. I’m calling because you’ve been working for us for bit now, and we haven’t had time to get to know one another. I know it’s late notice, but you want to come over for a drink? Or cake?”

Blake laughed. What was with tonight and all the random invites? She’d been back in this part of Denver for how long, and no one had entered her life in a way that mattered. She had her neighbor, who helped Blake with Rowan. That was it. Now, she had a group of potential friends at Montgomery Ink...and Graham.

No, she didn’t have Graham. She had nothing with Graham.

Graham had his ex-wife and his demons.

Blake wasn’t part of that.

“You there?” Maya asked.

Blake nodded, then remembered she was on her phone, and that Maya couldn’t see her. “Yeah, sorry, driving.”

“You’re using handsfree, right?” Maya asked. “Because I’ll kick your ass if you aren’t.”

“I’m fine, Mom. I’m on Bluetooth.”

Maya laughed. “Mom, isn’t that awesome? I’m going to be a mom soon.”

Blake could practically hear the smile in the other woman’s voice. “Yeah, you are. So why did you invite me over for a drink?”

“I can watch you drink. Or we can eat cake. Border brought me cake, and I’m in a good enough mood to share it.”

“Why can’t you share it with them?” She exited off the highway, heading toward her home, but she could turn soon and make it to Maya’s if she dared.

“Because it’s boy’s date night and…damn it, come if you want to, don’t if you don’t. But just make up your f*cking mind.”

“You going to talk to your kid with that mouth?”

“Fuck you, Blake. Get over here. You know the address. I have cake.” And with that, her boss—and apparently her new friend—hung up on her.

Blake sighed but turned toward Maya’s anyway. She didn’t want to go home and clean the floors like she’d been planning. She had work to do around the house, and sketches to tweak for upcoming clients, and yet she didn’t want to handle any of it. She wanted a friend, wanted to talk.

And that might be even scarier than taking a leap into the unknown. Or maybe it was taking a leap into the unknown when it came to sharing with Maya.

Blake bit into her lip when she pulled in behind Maya’s car. Since the other woman had mentioned it was boy’s date night, she didn’t want to block in Border’s or Jake’s vehicle. And since both were still there, apparently, Maya’s men hadn’t left yet. It surprised her that she was nervous about seeing them. Jake in particular. But considering what she’d just witnessed at Graham’s, maybe she shouldn’t have been so surprised. Jake might not look exactly like his brother, Graham, but all four Gallaghers had enough traits that were similar that she couldn’t help but think of one while seeing another.

She turned off her car, closed her eyes, once more wondering why she was doing this, and took a deep breath before getting out of the vehicle.

Maybe if she just talked about nothing or a little about something more important, she’d feel better. It had been ages since she’d had someone to talk to, and since the first day she’d walked into Montgomery Ink and butted heads with Maya, she’d had a feeling the other woman would be someone she could talk to.

She was contrary like that.

Before she could knock, Border, one of Maya’s handsome men, opened the door. He smiled at her, the expression softening the hardness of his face. He was bigger than Jake, and probably even Graham—all muscles, hard edges, and sex appeal. He’d cut his hair brutally short, but she thought he might be letting it grow just a bit.