Deuce Of Diamonds by KC Kendricks

Author:KC Kendricks [Kendricks, KC]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-05-05T09:57:52+00:00

Chapter 9

I had myself under control when Rick let himself back into the condo. I'd laid out towels for him in the master bathroom and left him to wash off the grit and grime of his travels alone, while I got plates and utensils ready for our dinner. I didn't set a romantic table in the breakfast nook, just a practical one.

The take-out arrived and I put all the little boxes on a lazy Susan, then knocked on the bathroom door to tell him the food had arrived. When he came out of the bedroom in my robe, he sank onto a chair, looking damp around the edges and even more tired than before.

"Smells good."

"Dig in. What can I fix you to drink?"

Rick's eyebrow rose as he sniffed the contents of the nearest box. "Water might be the prudent choice. I can smell the hot peppers in that one."

I handed him a pair of tongs and set a glass of ice water in front of him. "Go on. Be brave."

"Call me chicken. You taste it first."

I let out an exaggerated sigh and dropped a heap of the spicy dish on my plate. We spun the turntable around and around until we each had a bit of everything on our plate. We didn't speak and I didn't force the issue. The air was tight between us, full of the distance of the last three months and the need to exercise caution saying what needed to be said.

Rick nibbled at first, then gained momentum until his plate was empty. I was glad to see him eat. He was too thin. When he pushed his plate away, I handed him a fortune cookie. He laid it aside.

"I'm not going to look at that. I'm not up for some pre-printed crap and numbers that'll never hit in the lottery."

I swallowed the last bite of broccoli on my plate. "Since when are you so cynical? That's my job."

"You said it, Ian. Things happen to change a man."

The strained vibe between us plucked my nerves. I wanted it gone.

"Is now the time to talk about a few of those things?"

Rick's gaze darted to mine, then quickly away, but he remained silent.

I leaned forward, took his hand, and rubbed my thumb over the paler strip of white skin on his ring finger.

"You want to tell me what happened, Rick?"

His gaze slammed into mine, hot with anger that didn't touch me. "I was a fool to walk away from you. 'One more try,' he said. What a joke."

"I'm sorry." And I was sorry he'd been hurt.

"Jesus, Ian, I knew when I left you standing there on the street, leaning on your car and tipping your hat at Frank Bunson, it was a mistake to give Johnavan a last chance."

He'd seen my little act of defiance at Frankie-boy? Huh.

"Why was it a mistake?"

His mouth dropped open. "Why? Why? Why the fuck do you think?"

"I think all sorts of things, Rick. I'd like you to tell me the truth so I can make sense of some it.

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