Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men 9)

But then…then Colton’s face flashed through my head. An image of his ornery grin and glittering brown eyes trickled in, followed by the look on his face the last time he’d come inside me, and the feel of his hands as he held me so tenderly afterward, his voice in my ear as he told me his secrets. And then I felt as if I’d betrayed him for even having one iota of doubt about us.

Chad had been right; when it came down to it, there was no difference between us. We were all human. And besides, I’d just proclaimed my proud, sturdy stock. I could weather a little nasty talk. I wasn’t going to let any barbed words or censorious glares buckle me under. Nothing was going to take away the joy I experienced whenever I was with Colton.

That was until I walked into the Forbidden Nightclub later that afternoon and saw his brother behind the counter, setting up for our shift.

His head was bent as he rested one hand on the bar’s countertop and checked the CO2 tanks connected to the tap under the counter.

I slowed to a stop, not sure how to act around him now that I was sleeping with his brother behind his back…per his brother’s request.

When I’d first met him, I had decided I liked Brandt for practical reasons. He was handsome. He was helpful with training me when I’d started working here. And he’d been so congenial and easy to talk to. All that had made me think he’d make perfect boyfriend material. And being close to him, like when he’d leaned past me to grab a glass, I would feel delicious chills.

But I’d never felt a dramatic spike in my blood pressure at his mere approach, not like I did every time Colton had come around. So that told me right there that I’d just wanted to like him more than I really had. Still…it felt weird that I’d switched my interest between brothers like this.

Blowing out a breath, I approached the bar. As I drew closer, I realized he’d known I’d still been thinking of him at his wedding. He’d purposely tossed Colton at me, which still irked my conscience, but it also meant he probably right at this moment thought I was carrying a torch for him.

When he glanced up and his gaze instantly went cautious, I ground the back of my teeth, not sure how to handle this.

“Hey,” I greeted with a friendly smile. “I don’t think we’ve worked together since you tied the knot.”

“Yeah, I know. I asked to have my hours cut damn near in half.” He sighed wearily and rubbed a hand over his face.

I gulped, suddenly guilty because he’d backed off from making a living just to avoid me. But shit, he didn’t have to quit his job because of me. What the hell was I going to do to fix this?

But then he added, “This doctorate program is kicking my ass, and clinicals…fuck. I don’t know how I have time for anything. Then Sarah’s trying to convince me it’s okay to stop working altogether until I’m done with school. She got a decent job this summer, working from home. But seriously, what the hell kind of lame-ass man would I be if I put all the monetary responsibilities squarely on her shoulders?”

“Probably one who’d make your wife deliriously happy,” I answered without thinking.

Brandt blinked and shook his head. “Excuse me?”

My face heated, and I took a moment to hurry behind the counter with him to stow my purse and coat away before turning back and answering as politically correctly as I could. “I’m just saying…I find Sarah to be a very proud woman. She likes it when she goes above and beyond her disability to accomplish something. So I just thought, you know…if she had the chance to support you, heck, support the both of you with her income alone while you finished school,

she’d just…I could just see her loving that.”

Brandt stared at me a second, his mouth falling open before he said, “Huh. You may be right. In fact, I think you’re pretty spot on with that idea.”

“Of course I am.” I sent him a little grin over my shoulder before I turned away to prepare the cash register. “I know how my fellow woman thinks. And this kind of opportunity would tickle her like you wouldn’t believe. Trust me. Plus, it would take some stress off your shoulders, and…well, I’m sure Pick would give you your job back if it didn’t work out.”

Brandt rested his back against the counter next to me and fiddled with his bottom lip as he contemplated my words. “You make a good argument.”

I laughed and patted his arm. “I have my moments.”

As I dropped my fingers, I realized something. I still liked Brandt—he was a likable guy. But I think I’d come to like him now mostly because he was related to Colton. It was like brotherly affection.

“Hey,” Pick said, popping out from the back hall. “How’s opening going? You guys need anything?”

I jumped, not expecting him, as Brandt turned to answer him. “All good here, boss.”

Pick rolled his eyes at the term and glanced toward the exit. “Some of the guys are coming by for a drink tonight. Let me know when they get here, okay?”

His attention veered back to Brandt, the question obviously addressing him and not me, since I had no clue who “the guys” were.

Brandt seemed to know who Pick meant. He groaned and winced. “Jesus, you all are pathetic. You know this place is a college scene, right? If you old geriatric fogies crowd in here for your milk and Metamucil you’re going to scare off the real customers.”

“Hey, fuck you, kid.” Pick—who had to be in his early thirties—pointed threateningly even as he laughed over Brandt’s summation. “Back in our day, we made this joint. Don’t bash the legends.” He glanced at me and started back toward his office again. “Keep this jackass in line, Juli.”

After he was gone, I shook my head and sent Brandt an amazed glance. “Then again, maybe Pick wouldn’t give you your job back if you left.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Eh, Pick’s like family. I don’t have anything to worry about from him.” Then he opened the cooler and frowned inside. “We don’t have much Angry Orchard. If Asher shows up, that’s what he’ll want. I’m going to go check the back for more.”