Page 47 of Forfeits

“Let’s go have another drink, now that our scene is over.”

“All right. But…won’t everyone know what we’ve been up to?”

Aiden laughed. “Hopefully.”

He took my hand and led me out of the room, locking the door behind us. He kept holding it as he took me back to the gaming parlor.

I was a grown man. Believe me, I knew how to be an adult. I had a twelve-year-old child and a deceased husband. I paid bills and made appointments and dealt with clients.

But for an hour, I had been able to forget about all of it. I felt lighter and more relaxed than I had in years, and it was all thanks to this man. He dropped my hand as we entered the parlor but I followed him to a table like a well-behaved puppy.

“Sit,” he said, using a gesture to indicate where he wanted me.

I sat. He must have sensed that I still needed his guidance as I slowly resumed the trappings of my regular existence. He took the key to the bar where Jacob was serving a customer.

Cheeky Robin appeared out of nowhere, batting his eyelashes and grinning.

“Well, well, well. Back for a little something after a little…something?”

“Hi, Robin. We’re not ready to leave yet,” I said.

“Wonderful. I’m glad you’re enjoying everything Maverick Molly’s has to offer.” He looked me up and down and put a finger to his chin, tilting his head. “Are you escaping a stressful corporate job? Or do you”—he looked around to make sure no one was in listening distance—“work for the government?”

“No, I’m an editor.”

“Oh!” He seemed surprised. “A wordsmith!”

I laughed. He was so damn cute, and I was feeling so relaxed. No sub drop so far, just a feeling of peace and familiarity. Maybe a drop would come later? I decided to roll with it and stop trying to predict everything.

“More of a bricks and mortar kind of thing,” I explained.

“Do you write?”

Robin’s questions charmed me. He seemed genuinely interested in my life.

“I have. Not recently.”

“Oh.” He frowned. “How come?”

I blinked, not expecting such a personal question.

“I’m…well…I have a kid.”

“Oh!”

“And my husband died a few years ago. So, I’m a single dad.”

He put a hand to his mouth in an almost comical level of pity for me. “Oh, you poor thing!”

The response was so genuine and so unexpected that I burst out a laugh just as Aiden returned with two whiskey sours. He placed one on the table in front of me and smiled at Robin.

“What’s the joke?”

Robin frowned. “This poor, poor man.”

Aiden looked confused.

“Fletcher?”

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