Bull (The Buck Boys Heroes 1)

Hope swims in his eyes, so I drop my gaze to the floor as I tug my hand free from Graham’s. The lies are weighing heavier on me as each moment passes. I hope Graham takes my silence as a hint so he can answer Lloyd.

“Dinner was delicious,” Graham says. “We snuck out to get a drink at a special spot.”

Special?

The only thing special about it is that it’s a hop, skip, and jump from the lobby doors of this building.

“Sela and I would go to a bar in Greenwich Village every Friday night after work,” he begins before he takes a breath. “It was called Lawtons back then. Now, it’s Tin Anchor. So much has changed.”

Sorrow edges his words, so I glance at him.

“Time has a way of changing things,” Graham offers.

“That’s the truth,” Lloyd punctuates his words with a nod of his chin. “Some changes are for the better, right, Bull?”

Bull?

My head snaps in Graham’s direction because what the hell? Bull? Is that a nickname?

In some abstract way, it fits.

Mr. Locke is bull-headed. He doesn’t take bullshit from anyone. I bet he’s like a bull in bed.

Wait. What?

I shake off any thought of what my boss is like between the sheets.

“Some changes are for the better,” Graham agrees without a glance in my direction. “Why don’t I see you to your room, Lloyd?”

“I am getting tired.” Lloyd turns to me. “I promise I won’t keep him for too long, Trina. He’ll be beside you in bed before you know it.”

I ignore that last remark because I’ll be alone in bed before I know it and for the foreseeable future.

“Sweet dreams, Lloyd.” I move to kiss his cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You can count on that.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Goodnight, Trina.”

Graham reaches for Lloyd’s forearm as he leads the older man down the hallway toward the guestroom without a single glance back.

Chapter Nineteen

Trina

I pocket my wedding rings just as I swing open the door to the café that Aurora works at.

I had brunch with Lloyd and Graham before my husband announced that he would be meeting with a watch designer who is only in Manhattan for a day. Lloyd scoffed at the idea of hiring yet another new designer, so he insisted on tagging along to the meeting with Graham.

Given that it’s Saturday, I was surprised but grateful to have a few hours away from my make-believe life.

Stopping in here to see Aurora helps me two-fold. I get to see her beautiful face, and I can pick up a cup of Clara’s favorite coffee to take to Brooklyn with me.

My sister never complains that the coffee is lukewarm by the time I hand it to her. She always pops off the lid, shoves it into the microwave, and sixty seconds later, she’s enjoying her first sip.

Bringing her a coffee a few times a month is the least I can do.

Clara gave up her job as an accountant and stepped in to run the bakery after my folks retired. They both still show up to work in the kitchen or behind the counter for a few hours each week when they’re in New York, but it’s Clara who handles everything from hiring staff to ordering flour and sugar.

She said she’s always known she had sugar running through her veins because managing the bakery makes her happier than anything else.

I look to where Aurora is busily making a drink that is topped with what looks like whipped cream and cinnamon.

I may have to break out of my routine and go for one of those today.

As soon as she spots me, her face lights up. “Trina! Hey!”

I raise a hand to wave at her from the back of the line. “How are you?”

“Busy,” she replies with a chuckle. “I’ve missed you. I stopped by your apartment last night, but you weren’t home. Did you have a hot date?”

Both women in front of me, who are waiting to place their orders, turn to look.

I smile at them and shrug. “No hot date. No date at all.”

It comes out sounding way more awkward than I intend.

Aurora hands the beverage she prepared to a man in a suit before she replies, “I guess that was wishful thinking on my part. Given how many brothers and sisters you have, you must have been hanging out with one of them.”

I tell myself that I’m not lying to her if I don’t say another word on the subject.

I wait patiently while she prepares the orders of the two women in line in front of me.

One approaches me after she picks up her latte. “If you’re single, I have a brother you should meet. I can give you his number.”

I laugh that off. “I’m sure he’s great, but I’m not looking for anything right now.”

“She’s taking some me time.” Aurora curls her fingers to toss air quotes around the last two words. “That means no he time.”