Torch (Unbreakable Bonds 3)

White teeth flashed in a grin. “I remember that feeling. He’d fall quiet and then look at me with that grin.” Noah shook his head. “My heart would pound like I was about to jump out of a plane, but I knew I’d do whatever mad scheme he cooked up.” Noah paused, his blue eyes locked on the beer he held with both hands and his grin fading almost as quickly as it had appeared. “Does he ever talk about her with you? Talk about good memories or anything that involves her?”

Ian shook his head, swallowing against the tightness growing in his throat at the thought of Melissa. “No,” he croaked and paused. He sipped his beer and started again when he was sure his voice was firmer. “We’ve tried a couple times, but he closes up, walks away. We were afraid that he’d disappear again so we stopped pushing.”

“Would…would you tell me about her?”

Ian sat up straight, his hand convulsively tightening around his beer. Of all the things he’d thought they’d talk about, he’d never expected to hear that request from Noah. “I…I—”

“I don’t mean anything really personal,” Noah hedged when Ian seemed to hesitate. “She was just such an important part of Rowe’s life, I hate not knowing her, not having really met her.”

Taking another quick drink of his beer, Ian told himself that he could do this. He needed to talk about Melissa, keep her memory alive. “She was…insane,” he started and then softly chuckled. “And so energetic. She was the only person I knew who could keep up with Rowe and his mad plans. And dirty.” He laughed again. The words were coming so much easier, like a dam had broken around the memories. “She and Snow would get together and tell the raunchiest stories. She could make a porn star blush. She used to love trying to get Lucas to blush.”

When Ian stopped, he found Noah watching him with a wide smile on his lips, but a heavy sadness in his bright blue eyes.

“In other words, perfect for Rowe in every way,” Noah murmured, his voice low and rough.

“You’re worried about him?”

Noah flashed him a bright smile that didn’t wash the sadness from his eyes. “I don’t think there’s ever been a moment since I first met Rowe that I didn’t worry about him. It’s a full-time job in itself, but I’m glad he has you guys.”

“We drive him nuts, checking in. I get to see him a lot more than the others because he comes to Rialto, but Lucas and Snow both started to smother him for a time. He puts up with it well.”

“He loves them. Loves you all. I could see that right away.”

Nodding, Ian picked up his napkin, then ran it through his fingers. “Those three are the most incredible people I ever met. We bonded immediately and I wasn’t in the best situation. They…did things to help me before they really knew me. Big things. I owe them everything.”

“I didn’t get the feeling they felt owed. Not that I was with them long, but you’re all tight. Really tight. And Rowe talked about them a lot when we were working together. He felt like they were family and from what I could tell, that’s how they feel about you.”

“They do.” Their food arrived and Ian closed his eyes and inhaled the incredible aroma of dried chilies, pork and tomatoes. He was grateful for the distraction, hoping he could find a way to move their conversation in a lighter direction.

Noah took a bite of his curry and grunted. “Good. Have you come here with Rowe? He’d love this.”

“Know a lot about him, don’t you?”

He nodded. “Know a lot about him, but more importantly I know what the man likes to eat. I’m pretty sure he’s all stomach. I made us these spare ribs last night. When Rowe ate them, I thought he was going to fight the dogs over the bones.”

Ian chuckled at the image, shaking his head.

“We spent nearly four years together,” Noah continued. “That’s how I knew about Snow and Lucas because he kept in touch with them often. I actually used to be jealous. Good thing I hadn’t actually seen them because, damn.” Noah sipped his beer. “You fit right in, so how are you the single one in the group?”

Ian grinned. “Because I’m the prettiest?” He couldn’t hold the smile because it was just too ridiculous a statement. “I’m kidding. Rowe is the prettiest. He’s just sneaky and only reveals the truth when he pulls out the big guns. That smile.”

Noah didn’t say anything at first—just dug into his curry. In fact, it was the first time Noah refused to look at him since they’d sat down. Little lines of tension dug in between his brows and around his mouth that hadn’t been there before. “Damn smile,” he muttered.