Risk (Gentry Boys #2)(33)

“You all right?” I asked when I caught up with her in the kitchen.

She smiled weakly. “Yeah. Just had a bad morning. Boys were fighting. It gave me a headache.”

“The Gentry boys?”

She laughed. “There are no other boys, Truly.”

I chuckled. “Don’t I know it.”

Her face got serious all of a sudden. She took note of the makeup on my face and the breezy skirt I’d paired with a sleeveless white blouse. “You seeing him again tonight?”

“Supposedly. Was the fight his fault or something?”

Saylor seemed reluctant to tell me anything about Creed. I couldn’t blame her. I scarcely knew where I stood with him. I couldn’t expect Saylor to make heads or tails out of it.

“They’ll sort it out,” she smiled. “They always do.” She started loading drinks onto a tray. I remembered that I’d promised myself I would find a way to talk to her about something.

“Hey, Saylor?”

“Yeah?”

“Is Chase all right?”

Her hand froze in midair. “What do you mean?”

I sighed. When I saw Chase at the game making some kind of furtive deal, I told myself it was none of my business. That was likely true. But my conscience had tugged at me all morning. I still felt as if I didn’t know how to bring it up to Creed. So instead I told Saylor what I’d seen.

She looked upset. She chewed on her lip and her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t want to believe it,” she sighed. “Remember when Chase was jumped a few months back? I knew he kept taking pain pills long after he should have stopped. I brought it up to Cord once but he said it was nothing so I let it go. I didn’t think about how Chase might be getting more pills and whether he was really still taking them. I didn’t want to think about it.” Saylor cocked her head and gazed at me sadly. “It’s amazing Truly, the things you can block out if you make up your mind to do just that.”

In my head I heard my own scream of agony. I heard a tiny cry.

I know, Saylor. I really do know.

Julie floated by and gave us the evil eye. “How long are you guys going to stand there and gossip while I take care of the whole goddamn dining room myself?”

“Oh, shut up you platinum twig,” Saylor grumbled and then pushed her aside.

“That’s good advice, sugar,” I told Julie cheerfully while she fumed in silence.

Cord and Creed Gentry strolled in ten minutes before closing time. They sat down and ordered some sodas, presumably so Ed wouldn’t trouble them about taking up space. Julie didn’t bother with Cord but she did try to get Creed’s interest. I watched from a distance, smiling to myself when he continued his conversation with Cord as if she wasn’t even there.

Saylor walked straight over and planted a kiss on Cord. I tried to stay focused on the remaining few customers. I glanced over at Creed several times but he was always talking to his brother.

When the last check had been settled I paused in the hallway outside the restrooms. There were a few rustic pictures decorating the wall along with a small mirror. I shook my hair out after removing the black plastic clip that had kept it secured all day. I peered at my reflection critically.

His arms were suddenly there, crossing in front of my chest, holding me securely.

“You avoiding me?”

“No,” I breathed, leaning back into his muscled heat. He felt so good. He smelled so good. I could feel his rigid arousal pressing into my back.

“Then let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Soon,” I promised, meeting his blue eyes in the mirror.

Creed kissed my neck and then returned to his table. I started to hustle to get everything done. Saylor came around and bumped my hip.

“Go ahead,” she said. “How many times have you stuck around here pulling double cleanup duty for me? Get lost.” She swatted me with a towel.

Cord kicked Creed in the shin when I approached. Creed stood and gave me a good long look, his gaze settling on my chest. He smiled.

“Cut it out,” I complained.

He seemed confused. “What?”

“Quit molesting me with your eyeballs.”

“Okay,” he shrugged and made a blatant grab for my breasts.

Cord started laughing. When I glared at him he only laughed harder. “Well, he wasn’t using his eyeballs.”

“Stop teasing her,” Saylor shouted from across the room.

Creed reached his hand into my purse. “We’ll take your car.”

I watched as he withdrew my keys. “I suppose you’re driving again?”

“Always, honey.”

Creed waited until we were out of the building and around the corner before seizing me for a deep kiss. No man could ever get me worked up this quickly. I figured Creedence Gentry could likely do whatever he pleased with me and I wouldn’t object in the slightest.

“I’ve waited hours for that,” I whispered as my arms went around his shoulders.

He pressed his forehead against mine. He held me like that with his eyes closed.

“Something wrong?” I asked, thinking of what Saylor had said about tension between the brothers.

“Not when I’m here,” he answered then kissed me quickly before turning to open the door to the car.