The Trouble with Tomboys (Tommy Creek #1)(11)

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

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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 *footing 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.

33



Linda Kage





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.

B.J. ignored the others and raced after Grady.

As he stepped into the elevator, she hollered, “Hold that door!”

Another man entering glanced back. When their gazes met, he spiked out a hand, accommodating her request.

“Thank ya, sir,” she said breathlessly, slipping inside and settling herself next to Grady.

He must’ve known it would look childish to hop off, so he merely stood stiff as a board, hands fisted at his side, and studied the numbers above the door as they lit one after the other.

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B.J. exploded. “What the hell is wrong with

you?”

The other passenger lifted his face, his eyes wide and startled, before he no doubt realized she was ripping on Grady and not him.

“I was actually racing after you to apologize. But you know what? Screw that. I’m not sorry about what I said, because it’s about time someone threw an ice cold glass of reality right in your face.”

When he refused to meet her glower, she set her hands on her hips. “You make everyone in Tommy Creek uncomfortable whenever you’re around because you freeze folks out like they should all feel ashamed they’re alive and your wife isn’t. Well, you know what? That’s just the way it happened. Time to move on.”

He continued to stare at the numbers, but his jaw worked furiously, tightening and loosening, tightening back into a knot and then loosening again. “Go to hell,” he said in a low, warning baritone.

The third occupant of the elevator backed

against the wall and darted skittish glances from Grady to B.J.

“No. You go to hell,” she countered, jabbing her finger his way. “I’m trying to give you helpful advice on—”

“I don’t need your advice,” he snarled. “I just want to be left alone.”