The Trouble with Tomboys (Tommy Creek #1)(10)

She shook her head. God, what was wrong with her? This poor man had lost his wife and child, and she could only wonder what he looked like naked?

How sick was that?

And what did he look like naked?

She continued to study him, awed by his

composure. Sure, he’d had two and a half years to get over the loss of Amy and the baby. He’d had time to deal, but still...there had to be a gaping hole right smack through the middle of him.

He must feel so lost. She couldn’t remember a time when Grady and Amy hadn’t been together.

They’d been two halves of one whole. It was a wonder he made it through each day without her.

B.J.’s food came before she could gawk too much longer and make a total fool of herself. Grateful for the distraction, she tucked into her meal, cutting the beef into bite-sized pieces and drinking deeply from her beer to wash it down. She told herself to leave him alone. He looked like he wanted solitude. She was already torturing him enough by hauling him out on the town with her.

But she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. He’d started on his drink again and sat quietly across from her, looking content in doing just that, though he did rub at his forehead like he had a killer headache.

She pointed her steak knife at him and, with her cheek full of meat, said, “You sure you’re not hungry?”

He shook his head.

29



Linda Kage



“Need an aspirin?”

That earned her a sharp glance, his eyes a little shocked, probably because she’d noticed his pain.

But he answered, “I’m fine.”

“Great,” she said sarcastically. “Well, then, if everything’s just hunky-dory, order yourself another beer.” She nudged his empty container with the fork in her other hand. “Your bottle’s empty.”

Grady looked equally surprised he’d finished his entire drink.

As the waitress approached, B.J. pointed at both their empties. “We need refills please, ma’am.”

She’d downed two more by the time she

swallowed her last bite. Feeling relaxed and loose around the tongue, she grinned at Grady and sat back in her seat, patting her flat belly. “Let me ask you something, Slim. If it’s too personal, just tell me to shove off. ’Kay?”

He looked at her warily. “It’s too personal.”

She laughed and leaned forward, her voice low and confidential. “But I haven’t even asked yet.”

He edged a centimeter back. “If you think it might be too personal, then it is.”

“Yeah,” she agreed morosely. “You are a sight more modest than I am.” Then she ordered them both another round as the waitress came to clear her last plate.

“I don’t want any more,” Grady informed the

woman.

“I’ll drink his for him,” B.J. spoke up.

He pinned her with a disapproving wince like he wanted to warn her to slow down. But he kept his thoughts to himself, which made B.J. want to blurt out all of hers.

“You see, the thing is,” she said. “I’m curious, is all. I want to know if the first time you were with another woman after...you know, after Amy died, did you feel guilty like...like you were cheating on her or 30



The Trouble with Tomboys



anything? Did you have to close your eyes and imagine her face?”

Grady just stared at her; B.J. lifted a hand in apology.

“Okay, I know,” she slurred. “‘Shut the hell up, B.J.’”

She made a zipping motion across her closed

mouth but then kept talking. “I just thought that would have to be the hardest thing to deal with after your spouse passed on. Admitting you’re still alive even though they’re not and having to move on without ’em... God.” She shivered. “That must’ve sucked. How long did you wait before you slept with someone else?”

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 31



Linda Kage



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?”